Why?

I don't know what to say that could adequately express how the FS family is feeling today.
Please see this posting from another FS blogger, and particularly take a moment to know something about Ambassador Chris Stevens:

http://www.lifeafterjerusalem.blogspot.com/

All I can think to say is: Why?

Please also see the Secretary's comments, and I hope you feel the generous opinion she maintains towards the Libyan people, not painting the country with a broad brush for the actions of a few. Just as I hope that Americans won't be painted with the single dirty brush of our own extremists, people whose actions perhaps helped fuel these attacks.  

http://www.state.gov/

My favorite excerpt, taken from this speech:

"But we must be clear-eyed, even in our grief. This was an attack by a small and savage group – not the people or Government of Libya. Everywhere Chris and his team went in Libya, in a country scarred by war and tyranny, they were hailed as friends and partners. And when the attack came yesterday, Libyans stood and fought to defend our post. Some were wounded. Libyans carried Chris’ body to the hospital, and they helped rescue and lead other Americans to safety. And last night, when I spoke with the President of Libya, he strongly condemned the violence and pledged every effort to protect our people and pursue those responsible."

I'll leave you with that.

Relative Danger

It's a common refrain when I tell people that I live in Colombia:

"Really? Isn't it really dangerous there? Is it safe?"

And last year, when my husband and I told people we were joining the Foreign Service and were going to be posted anywhere in the world, many people responded with concern. Weren't we afraid for our safety in other countries?!

Isn't it a horrible irony then, to have a triple-homicide (with two more in critical care as I write this) in a cafe just four blocks from our family house in Seattle as we were getting ready to leave for a day of appointments. Followed by the same gunman taking the life of a women 30 minutes later as he stole her car to escape. This scene, coincidentally, was just blocks from my appointments. He later killed himself miles away as the police surrounded him.

These deaths bring the count to 20 murders in Seattle this year, where the yearly average is 26. It's only May.

And they say that Colombia is a danger post...

So, are we really safer inside our own borders?