I re-read my earlier post about seeking to understand firebugs rather than condemning. I'd like to take that back. I think that people should feel justifiably furious, angry, vengeful etc about ill-considered actions of fire-lighters and their horrendous consequences. some such people do have mental health issues, others undoubtedly act out of misguided but nevertheless fully-conscious choice.
and at this point, people need spaces to vent their fury, despair, and grief, not be told to 'understand'.
we have watched for days to hear the fate of good friends in victoria, and still offer our prayers for them, and for all those suffering and grieving.
forgive me for standing back and offering advice about the bigger picture. the media swarm has taken over that task anyway. i have no desire to add to that. this is appalling, complex, devastating.
the local newspapers here in adelaide said that if the same thing happened here, 300 people (or was it homes?) would be gone in the first hour. in a sense they're not scare-mongering (in another sense, of course they are!) i was at the supermarket and the young woman on the checkout wanted to talk about it, and how she'd have to stay and defend her house because the roads out weren't straight and were all tree-lined. the trauma and drama and possibility is in the air all around these parts as well.
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