The Orphan Who Was Almost Choked to Death

I have a story in me, that is niggling at my skull to be let out.

In 2018 I taught female refugees who are survivors of prolonged torture and violence.  

I will let that sentence sink in.

I met one young girl - 17 years old  from Afghanistan.  She had shrapnel scaring over her face, and a really funky Rolling Stones t-shirt.

During a break she stood quietly by herself, and I asked about her story.  I asked about her family.

"All dead," she said.

I will let that sink in.

She had limited english - she had only been in Australia for 8 months.  A male family friend smuggled her into a Greek refugee camp.  One night she awoke to find this "Uncle" on top of her.  When she tried to scream he tried to rip her trachea from her throat to silence her.

He is now in jail for attempted murder in Greece.  Any of my Police colleagues who have worked for the Feds or UN know that she must have very nearly been decapitated for this charge to have 'got up'.

I asked her what she wanted to be?
She said, "I just want to learn, to go to school, to learn."

She is utterly alone in this world.  Alone, utterly deprived of a childhood and family and safety from the moment she was born.  

But we can do something.  This is not just about money.  We can also choose what words we use, what thoughts we have, what energy we give out, choose love over fear.  Choose connection instead of separation.  We can be leaders of reform, not distrust and vile and vulgar fear.  We can halt our minds from being hoodwinked by media and politicians and the unknowing masses.  We can listen to the truth in our all-knowing heart.  

What do you value?  Do you value love?  And inclusiveness?  Peace and safety for your family?

Or do you subscribe to fear - that there is not enough and that we have to fight to keep what we have?  That money and entitlement are more important then equality? That strangers will kill us in our sleep? (Fact: that is more likely to be the man that you are/were in a relationship with.)

​Being the great-great-great granddaughter of a convict and a potato famine refugee I feel that I have no right to exclude those in need, those who have been persecuted and tortured.  #whitehypocracy 

She was somebody's child.   As I think of her my heart breaks - we all want our children to be safe, and loved and fed and happy.  The nightmare of children being alone is unbearable.

We have the sovereign power to change everything. To bring peace and love, and stop the cycle of war, debt, separation, exclusion and fear.

We are powerful enough to choose love over hate.  Be a #warrioroflight because #fearkeepsusweak.

I will not be the bum-bitch of fear and hate.

I.  Choose.  Love.