Mother's Day 3 weeks post missing flight MH370.

Most of the world's population, I assume, are aware that Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370 went missing 8 March 2014. 239 men, women and children of 14 different nationalities still unaccounted for and the majority assuming the worse. No definitive answers. No rhyme or reason. Speculation and loss is all that appears to be left.

Today it is Mother's Day in the United Kingdom and I am fortunate that my Mum is here visiting me in China and currently sat next to me as I type. However there are 239 families around the world now without a Mother or a child. Everyone is someone's child. Everyone has someone that cares for them and loves them, somewhere. How are those families surviving the days without answers and the communication via text and email? The rumour that some families first heard of the confirmed loss and assumption that no one survived by text message is shocking beyond belief.

Approximately 3 million people fly every day. They take off and land. I unfortunately have a slightly high carbon footprint myself and never think anything of flying at all. Neither did most of the passengers of MH370. One story I read stuck out. Paul Weeks, a Kiwi by birth, left both his wedding ring and watch behind and told his wife that he wished his sons to have them if something were to happen to him. It was meant to be a straightforward business trip. 

By the end of this weekend an answer is expected as to the exact location of the plane and whether there really are any survivors or not. The Black Box will hopefully be recovered and analysis on the data will begin. Will there actually be an answer rather than all this speculation? Will the families gain closure?

One thing that has concerned me over the last 3 weeks is the desensitisation of modern society. It felt strange to me to be having a normal conversation and to be living life normally when so many families around the world are in such a state of anxiety and apprehension. I realise that there is always pain in the world but the loss of flight MH370 seems bigger and yet so many are reading the reports and processing them as if they are simply fictitious. I don't believe people do this on purpose. I believe we have just reached a point where we almost expect to hear of disaster in any form and move on with little thought. Despite personally reading the news and trying to keep up to date with the world it is all too easy to skip past stories of sorrow, pain, death, destruction and abuse. It is just as easy to read these stories and think or feel very little. I wonder if we have become too self centred or if we just consider such things to be a part of our existence and so we just accept it and move in without thinking or feeling much more than this? Are we all replaceable?

Some of the world has already shown some beautiful tributes and have shown compassion through their actions. Humanity unites us worldwide and we are one large, diverse community. Everyone is our neighbour, so instead of speculation, blame and recriminations let's spare some of our thoughts for the families of those unaccounted for and who are missing someone from their lives today and are without the answers and closure that they seek.