Some comment has been made following William Hague's statement about the
Algeria crisis and, in particular, his specific reference to 'British'
hostages. The comments were inevitable and understandable although I don't
think for a second Mr Hague doesn't also care about the other foreign nationals
caught up in the awful events of the last few days. As the British Foreign
Secretary though, the natural focus for his efforts has to be the British
nationals.
Having reflected on the terrible events in Glencoe following the
avalanche there yesterday the two things collided in my mind.
I know Glencoe well; I have camped and walked there many times; like
many others I have gazed silently at the raw beauty of Bidean Nam Bian and on
each occasion Psalm 121 has sprung, unbidden into my mind; 'I will lift mine
eyes unto the hills; from whence cometh my help'.
Since hearing of the avalanche and especially since hearing of the
deaths of four of the six people involved, I have been reflecting upon my
experience of that beautiful place and upon how these tragic events will have
affected that small community. The climbers may well have been camping in the
same place I have camped; they may have walked the same paths I have walked;
they may have taken refreshment in the climbers inn, the Clachaig, where I have
taken refreshment.
These common experiences with people who have lost their lives in a
place they probably loved and doing something they probably loved doing have
played upon my mind these last twelve hours and it was this that led me to
reflect on the reaction to Mr Hague's comments.
Is it part of our make up as human beings that we are especially
concerned with the things to which we can relate?
This might not mean we lack concern for people going through terrible
experiences which we struggle to relate to but when we can place ourselves in
their own position, whether that be on a remote and snowy Glencoe mountainside;
on a crowded football terrace on a sunny Saturday afternoon; in an office block
in New York City or even in the trenches of the First World War, is it that we
are able to feel empathy or sympathy more easily?
If so, we should not criticise others for being in the same position.
In the meantime, remember the all the people caught up in the terrible
events in Algeria, even Mr Hague, and also remember the people whose lives have
been touched by the avalanche in Glencoe and, as someone commented on Twitter
recently, if you do, pray. And if you don’t, pray anyway.
