#mumbai
As I worked on the night of Wednesday 26.November2008 I read about #mumbai on Twitter. Since I have started to use OutTwit in my Outlook the interruption that is required to read tweets Is much shorter than it has been before. I just felt sick when I saw what had happened. And within all this awful madness I started a TwitterSearch on #mumbai.
As the never ending stream of messages came in it was just amazing to see how many people were willing to help and did so. Some examples that really struck me were: A Twitter-User who calls herself “Luthienrising”. She posted Phonenumbers for the State Department of US, Canada and UK Foreign Office, Hospital Phone Numbers, Police Emergency Contact Numbers and Links to a Mumbai Help Blog that was set up quickly after the seriousness of the situation was clear. Another Twitter-User and Blogger from India “Vinu” posted pics to flickr probably faster than anyone else and was very close to the Taj Mahal Hotel.
A closeness to strangers that still amazes me. It is truly amazing to see what technology and especially the internet makes possible, but it´s even greater to see people connect. Also a strong feeling of gratitude for a lot of people with good hearts and the desire to help is generated by those comments. There is so much good in the World, but sometimes it takes tragedy to become aware of it and to appreciate it more fully. But obviously there is a downside to it. As I look at the pictures of the Jewish Boy Moshe Holtzberg (which we probably would have seen in traditional media as well) I almost start to cry again. Being left without parents only a few days after his second birthday.. All the suffering that was caused also hits harder because it is closer. My heart goes out to those who lost loved ones.
Let´s recognize the greatness in people around us before they are gone….Let´s prevent recognizing missed opportunities to show love to our children before they are grown, by expressing our love today.
