Ankara

How can anyone know what to say when things like this happen? The attack in Ankara tonight has left me broken. As I write this the figure stands at 27 dead and 75 injured. The saddest part is how often this seems to happen now. As a human being, stories like this coming from anywhere in the world shake me every time. As someone who is half-Turkish, attacks in Ankara break my heart.

I am so tired of being scared for my family's lives when these stories hit the news. No one should ever have to go through that fear of waiting to hear if the people you love are safe.
I am sick of having to trawl through twitter and unconfirmed sources to find the latest news on what is happening because the British media doesn't see the story as big enough to fully cover.

When the attacks on Paris happened last year, all of my social media feeds were flooded with support and solidarity for the people of France - and rightly so. At times like these love and support is one of the only things we have.

There are no Facebook flag filters to be seen here.

It angers me that people aren't as informed as they should be, but I know that really my frustration lies in how difficult it is not being able to do anything. This is an issue that lies so very close to my heart, which makes it all the harder to be rational. But when one city is hit by terrorist attacks 3 times in less than 6 months it becomes hard to remain calm.

Turkey is not just some place I have visited several times, it is part of who I am and some of the people I love most in the world still live there. In recent months I have even begun to look into the prospect of living there myself for a short while, recently looking into the possibility of a trip to Ankara soon to explore certain options. 

This is a country that is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and interesting places in the world and I couldn't ask to have a better heritage. I am so proud to be a part of it and can only hope that one day everyone else can experience it and its enchantment without fear.

On Paris

As an English Literature student and a lover of books and someone who thinks of themselves as in at least some way a writer, I have never been entirely comfortable with the idea that words are not enough. 'A picture paints a thousand words' apparently, but if we're throwing around proverbs, personally I always fell more on the side of 'The pen is mightier than the sword'.
But in times like this, the the aftermath of events like those in Paris last night... It is in times like these that it does seem that there are no words for the horror and pure tragedy that has hit. As someone who lives by and through the written word I desperately wish to throw myself into writing yet every word I pen seems hollow and empty in the devastation left by the events of Friday night.

I have had to conclude that perhaps it is not that words are not enough, rather than we as humans is not yet ready for words, not yet. Not while everything is still so raw and fresh. Perhaps a better writer than I could put into words the heartbreak for Paris, for France and for all of humanity that I feel today. Personally I do not feel qualified or talented enough to put a voice to this.

I do feel that there is part of all this that we must be careful not to overlook. Over the past 24 hours I have seen my social media feeds flooded with words and pictures of support and solidarity with the French people. Yet I have also seen many people on social media sharing the phrase ‘I see humans but no humanity’.

I can't help but disagree. Perhaps it is pure naivety on my part but I cannot help but think that right now acts of humanity burn brighter than ever. Last night I was brought to tears looking through the hashtag PorteOuverte on twitter - filled with the people of Paris opening they arms to anyone who needed somewhere to stay. Taxis stopped charging, offering to drive people home for free. Sikh Gurdwaras opened their doors to anyone who needed somewhere safe to shelter. This morning photos have been tweeted of the queues of people waiting to donate blood for the many people in critical condition.
The pure kindheartedness of the people in Paris and all over the world brought a small glimmer of hope the the darkness that was Friday night. Of course it could not take away the pain and suffering of those who have lost loved ones, nothing can take that away. But simple acts of humanity shine brightly all around the world today and for that I feel incredibly grateful.

Who am I to make sweeping statements about humanity, especially at times like these. But I like to think - I really do hope - that it through each other and through humanity that we will survive,

Perhaps words are not enough in times like these. But maybe it is as close as we can get. 

'while there is still time' - Philip Larkin

One Week On

Well here we are, one week on from election day. This time last week millions of people across the United Kingdom were merrily skipping off to their local polling stations, to do their bit for democracy. We tweeted #IVoted and we clicked that little button on Facebook so everyone could see what good active citizens we were. We took Snapchats outside the polling station just so we could use those snazzy filters and show all our friends how political and involved we are. Suddenly it seemed that everyone was an expert in politics. And it all felt so good.
Of course there were plenty of people who mocked the Facebook check-in and moaned about how they couldn't wait for the election to be over so we could all go back to talking about "normal" things with our work colleagues like what we had for breakfast or the weather. But since when did being involved in your society become such a bad thing? If even one person saw one of those Facebook posts and then decided to go out and vote when they previously hadn't planned to, then surely that's a good thing. That's what democracy is right? Getting involved, having your say, making your voice heard.

But all that optimism took a drastic hit when the exit polls came in and when we woke up to on Friday morning things didn't seem to be quite how people had expected. As a country we have voted for a Conservative majority for the next 5 years and therefore that is what we have received. But as people are becoming more and more aware, our voting system has many flaws and in fact only 37% of voters wanted this government. While this is the government we now have, it does not mean you have to be happy about it. If this isn't what you voted for, you have every right to be disappointed and angry.
But you must do something about. It has only been a week yet already people are losing interest in politics again. I do understand why: this week has felt tiring and depressing and quite frankly at points almost hopeless. But you must not forget that feeling from last Friday morning. Don't let yourself forget that frustration.

Do something about it.

Join a party. Write a blogpost. Keep talking to your friends and family about how you feel. Watch the news. Write to your MP about issues that are important to you. Keep tweeting about what's happening. Volunteer some of your time to local charities. Buy the paper. Donate to foodbanks (they're really going to need it). 
Keep the momentum going.

It may seem to many of us that did not vote Tory, that democracy has failed us. This may be what some of the country asked for but it doesn't mean you have to sit back and take it. We cannot not turn out backs on one another. Now more than ever is when we must come together to bring about real change.