horror

ca·tas·tro·phe

kəˈtastrəfē/

noun

1. an event causing great and often sudden damage or suffering; a disaster.

Many people will say they have not personally gone through a catastrophe. However, a catastrophe is not limited to events that affect a wide mass of people: it could be a local disaster, a family tragedy, or even a personal suffering. Nevertheless, widespread disasters affect all of us- it makes us realize just how lucky we are. Everyone comes into this world with a different circumstance. Things we can't control like our genetics, color of our skin, our physicality, etc. can greatly limit or stimulate us. In The Bluest Eye, Pecola Breedlove is restricted by her gender, skin color, nationality, and even her "ugliness". In fact, even her own race turns against her, one of whom made a distinction between "colored people [and] n******" (Morrison 124).

Supposedly, one is better than the other

Because of this, Pecola is constantly facing discrimination and, as a result, catastrophes. She is accused of killing a cat and even raped by her own father. Such events had me on the edge of my seat, filled with emotions that could only be described as horror. The only thing that kept me from breaking down was the fact that these events did not happen in real life. Unfortunately, however, these events do happen everyday, prevalently. While going through my daily internet surfing, I came about the rape accusations put upon a very well-known YouTuber: Sam Pepper. With over 2 million subscribers, he sexually assaulted and forever scarred over 8 girls. Girls that- like Pecola- are unable to come out (or even worse, are not believed when they do).
On the topic of catastrophes, the recent attack on Paris has left millions around the globe in shock and horror. Even worse, this event is happening around the globe, constantly.  Dozens of people killed in Beirut.  Hundreds of refugees dyeing in an attempt for a better life. Iraq.  Afganistan.  The list goes on. 

thousands of people have changed their facebook profile picture #prayforparis

It is important to remember that catastrophes are always happening, and each deserves mourning. You may not be the rape victim, the girl who had to pretend to be dead so she was not shot by the terrorists, or student diagnosed with cancer, but each event impacts you directly. Each event continues to remind us to value what we have and help whoever we can. On the same note, everyone does go through their own catastrophes, and even though it's not all over CNN or posters on the wall, these horrible events need to be treated with empathy. Cholly and Mrs. Breedlove's chapters taught me that much. 

"this is an attack on all of humanity and the universal values that we share" -B.O.