In my daughters words after the facts: I came home on an overfull train and saw a small seat behind the buggy of a Jewish family with four kids. The lady made some formula for the tiny baby and I messed with my papers. Upon arrival at my stop we all got out of train. Two young guys followed us and shouted: 'Judenhunde'! I was shaken and had a surge of adrenaline. I turned around barely a few centimeter from them and said: what did you say, now you have to deal with this blonde. Look in my beautiful blue eyes. Nobody intervened, nobody said anything although there were a lot of people and all had heard it. Then the train was leaving and the guys (one sporting a Were Di badge) went back on the train. The family walked slow with the kids in tow and so I met up with them. The Lady said 'thank you' and I apologized for the unconscionable attitude of these guys. That poor family. It was the first time I heard a thing like that, but i wonder how often had they to hear things like that. I didn't know that was still possible...
I am proud of my daughter's reaction and wonder about the risks of fearlessness. She did the right thing!
Clowns from Amsterdam
11 years ago
"the risks of fearlessness" -
ReplyDeletewell, they are real, no? Just like the risks of living in fear. i thought about them today as I wondered about coming out to several young Muslim men. We have been getting along well, very friendly, but my difference erased just another girl . . .
I return to michelle obama's thoughts on fear, to what it would mean to build a world in which fear is not the basis for decision-making, it won't come easy nor soon but it won't come at all if we don't face fear down in ourselves when we feel it snake its tendrils into our thoughts heart mind