Photo from the Guardian newspaper
I have heard a great deal of sympathy for the victims of the Haiti earthquake. How could anyone not be moved by the pictures and stories that we are sent so effectively? What is more unusual is the thought that I heard one person voice: surely they knew they were living in an earthquake zone? Why did they stay there? Although this may show a breathtaking ignorance of the difficulties presented by poverty and family in moving to another place, it nevertheless gives expression to something that may be going on beneath the surface.
We feel lucky to live in Britain where earthquakes are relatively small and rare. If we are lucky, how can we justify what we have, compared with those who can now be
seen to be so unfortunate. The solution might be to think that perhaps it is not all just luck. People who stay in places that are at risk must be taking a risk. If so, then we can blame them and feel better.
I am not suggesting that many, if any people are consciously thinking this, but it is a process that I know well and I would expect something like this to be brought in to protect us from the weight of survivor guilt and self blame. I know that I am not very deserving so I prefer to think that others are in some way less deserving. I will need to examine these feelings more closely and analyse the need for them. In the meantime, I will try to repair my guilt about being so much more fortunate than those with dead or missing loved ones, no clean water and nowhere to live by giving something to the relief effort.
So I am thankful for guilt and the consequent need to make reparation. Over time, the deeper thoughts and feelings can be more carefully examined and even the most reprehensible reactions can be acknowledged and then changed.
Filed under: Reflections
