TELL ME, DO YOU BLEED?

Since the violence and vilification began, since the atrocities, the brutalities and the losses; every other day, news filters in, of deaths, attacks, young men, 19 year olds, some even younger dressed as military personnel, vehicles colored army green and even marked with their insignia. Armed forces sparring, spurring, with the fear that the slightest spark gone awry could result in catastrophe.

A scenario so bizarre it would have alarm bells ringing and governments scrambling.

Yet there is nothing.
None of the national war cry or the outrage, the spilling out on the streets.
No accountability.

It is almost as if everything and everyone back home, and by that I mean specifically our tribe, have been relegated to a point of nothingness.
Despite the glaring evidence, there has been nothing.

Which is why, the past few days, has been a trigger of sorts, for this is what we have been asking for all along.

Justice for the ones that have been so cruelly taken away from us.
Acknowledgement of the grievous wrongs been done.
Some semblance, gesture of goodwill, even a simple “I am so sorry this has happened”.
But if anything, the response now has been akin to rubbing salt to our wounds.

An official state response to the incident.
A promise of high level investigations.
An appeal for calm.

Please know that I grieve now as I did then, with the families that want their children back and are still looking for answers, for justice.
But the questions remain.

Why were they no tear gas, rubber bullets, pellet guns used in the days and weeks after May 3rd?
Now when it comes closer to home and suddenly your life and position are under threat, the armed forces have been asked to control the crowds?

The saddest part has been the visuals of children, that have received the brunt of the crowd controlling measures.
Where are all these infamous torch bearers?
Where are the men in black?

So yes, as horrific as it sounds, as callous and chilling; and yes, as I have said it before, unless it really and truly impacts us, we do nothing.
We see nothing. We feel nothing.