Sympathy has many faces

I was at a grocery store and i exchanged glances with a woman from the Middle East. My eyes trailed down to a little one who was holding onto her dress. I glanced back up to see that she had not stopped looking at me. I went up to her and put my arms around her. I cried and told her that i was sorry for the pain she was experiencing and that i wish the world could be different. She must not have been able to understand much of what i said because she put her hands on my cheeks and looked into my eyes and smiled as tears streamed down her face. As i walked away from her with my heart dancing, i noticed that several people were giving me hard looks. I am no less American because i choose to love everyone. I feel that familys and children get lost in the red tape of it all. Food is good and gifts are nice...but it dosn't replace the pain lived each day by those who suffer from the cause.Peace and love to all that hope and tranquillity bathe us all.

Quite honestly, that woman and the others were probably giving you "hard looks" because they thought you were one crazy American motherfucker, lol, groping women you don't even know in the grocery store...

Seriously, though, I understand the compassion you felt, I work with people from many different countries who are worried about their loved ones at home living in dangerous wartime conditions.

However, a word of advice based upon my direct knowledge of working with the refugee population: please be careful of making assumptions about those who are not from this country. For example, how do you know the woman was from the Middle East? Did you assume she was, based upon her dress or looks? Lots of women "look" Middle Eastern, but are not from there. Secondly, how do you know that she was experiencing pain? It's quite possible that even if she is from the Middle East, she's actually quite glad to be in the US and , in comparison, considers her life here peaceful. Thirdly, not everyone--Middle Eastern or otherwise--is open to being hugged by strangers, they believe their personal space is to be respected.

Beautiful story and sentiment, though, madsex! Thanks for sharing that...
[This message was edited Sun Dec 28 13:16:23 PST 2003 by AnotherLoverToo]

This would just not happen in Scotland.

Number23 said:

This would just not happen in Scotland.

i'm not much into being hugged by total strangers in public places but once in japan i'd just seen my brother off at narita airport. i felt so LONELY right then but my train came and i had to get on to catch another to go back to my 'life' there i.e. go back to pretending i loved teaching english to businessmen. so anyway i was standing in a corner of a packed train facing the wall trying not to cry and this sweet old lady saw me, must have noticed, grabbed my hand and held it silently. it was very nice and soothing. it kind of freaked me out but in a good way.