N open question
I sit today and type this freely in my office in a Christian church. Later on, I shall return to a house where my neighbours know I am a Christian, and will not treat me any differently because of it. In the time it takes me to write and publish this post, the chances are that another Christian will perish in Mosul. Christians have been hounded from their homes and those who have been unable to flee are being forced to recant their faith or face the most drastic of consequences. The image on the right below shows the Arabic letter ‘N’ for ‘Nazarene’ daubed on the outside of a Christian house in the city, marking it out for eviction or destruction.
Oddly, I had heard nothing about the letter until I saw it in the glowing, sanitized form you see on the left. When I asked a friend why he had replaced his profile picture with it, he explained all about the unfolding story in Mosul. A significant number of other people have done the same – replacing their own photo with this symbol as a gesture of ‘solidarity’ with their Christian brothers and sisters in Iraq. Like the girls who once held up placards declaring “I am Malala” it is a means of shrinking the distance between ‘them’ and ‘us’ and declaring that we stand together. It has clearly worked to raise the profile of the story – since I find myself writing about it today. That said, it makes Twitter a confusing place since so many profile pictures look the same.
The letter N – here and there
To what extent does it actually work as a gesture of solidarity, I wonder? Will they ever know about it? Does it matter if they do? The ‘intrusion’ of this symbol into our lives here is an appropriate one in so many ways I am sure. That said – it can make for some banal juxtapositions, as seen in the Tweet below. The content of the tweet seems at odds with the symbol of suffering and courage which adorns it. Then again, is that the point?
These are genuinely open questions, and I would welcome your answers!
I’ve been having very similar thoughts Richard. I did seriously consider replacing my profile picture but then I thought ‘what good will it really do?’ and doesn’t doing that make it about me and not them? I thought what Sister Catherine posted on Facebook made some sense: “Why I am not changing my profile pic:
I’m not changing my profile pic to show my solidarity with Iraqi Christians for three reasons. First, I rely on other people’s profile pics to identify them quickly and easily. When everyone uses the same, it confuses me. Second, I think the persecution is going to go on for a long time . . . and third, I remember what my father said about the contemptuous use of the term ‘Nazarene’. We already have the perfect symbol of identification and solidarity in the Cross, either worn outwardly or inscribed on the heart; and I think that’s the one I myself will be using.”
I do want to express solidarity with Christians being persecuted around the world but I am wary of taking such a simple action and then feeling like I’ve ‘done my bit’. I’m trying to use the symbol as a prayer prompt when I see it in my feed.
I too have seen the symbol and know it’s meaning, my one and only concern in it’s using is how long before the far-right Islamaphobic people start to use it? The Likes of Britain First who have a “christian” division (christian with a small c as they do not show any sign of being Christian as I and I know you would know it).
I would use it to show solidarity, but I feel it’s only a matter of time until it’s use is stolen. ISIS do not represent the majority of Islam.
If it doesn’t directly affect anyone being persecuted in Iraq, increased awareness still helps over here – folks can add it to the list of ways to treating others to try and avoid doing themselves.
I have been wondering about this too – and was thinking I’d change to a Twibbon as it’s best of both worlds – maybe not as effective as seeing a row of them, but the rest of the world doesn’t necessarily see all those. So, having spotted Bryony had a Twibbon, I followed the link from hers and changed on both FB/Twitter now!