I thought I’d give myself some time to think about the Bali bombing and its consequences before writing anything more than the brief note I posted yesterday. As of this morning not much has become clear except that the number of casualties is large and likely to get worse, that many of them are Australians, and that most of them are young.
As with nearly everybody else, my first thoughts are with the families of those who have been killed or injured, or are still missing. As far as I know, none of my family or friends is in Bali, but many have been at some time, and others were planning visits in the near future. I know from experience that words are not much use at times like this, but I’m very much saddened.
The same news bulletin that brought the first news of Bali also reported a car crash in New South Wales, with three teenagers dead and three more badly injured. Six kids died in another crash only a few weeks ago. And every day, many families experience private tragedies that don’t make the news. We should try to spare a thought for them as well.
It’s worth stopping to think about all this before being caught up again in the trivial events that inevitably dominate our days, and before we start rushing to judgement on the political or military implications of these dreadful crimes.