We were about a kilometre away from the blast--blissfully unaware--enjoying a cup of Turkish tea in Taksim Square, an area that was also rocked by a terrorist bombing a few months prior.

We seriously considered skipping our trip to Turkey given recent terrorist activity. We read the advisories, followed the news and touched base with our friend Alexa who had been living in Istanbul for the past 8 months while interning with CRU (formerly Campus Crusade.) Things appeared to have stabilized; the last time either the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) or the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) committed an act of terror in Turkey was 2 months prior. We weighed our options and chose to cautiously proceed as planned. Partly because we felt the risk was low and partly because we felt that by changing our trajectory we would, to some degree, be letting terrorists have a victory.

God given instinct

Fear is a reasonable and rational mechanism. It is a God-given instinct when in danger, but terrorists have tapped into one of our greatest gifts and tainted it. Random, despicable acts of violence have caused us to question and doubt our ability to assess risk. They have sullied the fear that matters, the good kind that protects and preserves, and twisted it into a fear that paralyzes and divides us.

It makes me sick. It makes me angry. But I try not to be afraid. We like life, and want to live it fully; free from the shakles of terror and fearfulness. I'm not delusional and I won't intentionally put myself or our family in obvious danger and yet I want to cling to the idea that they don't get to have that kind of power. They don't get to win.

A story from a Syrian

I'm incredibly grateful to have been able to visit and delve into places on this planet that are not like home. I've been transfixed by stories like Mahmoud's, one of the millions of Syrians forced to abandon his homeland.

Mahmoud was lucky. He had a friend notify him when it was safe to leave, then he, his elderly father, and 7 of his 8 siblings walked out of Syria into the desert in the dead of night. They walked for three days. He said it was hard for him at the age of 30, but his 70 year old father pushed them on. His father swears that drinking camel's milk every day of his life is what made him strong enough to walk 1000 miles. They are in Istanbul now, but he fears for the sister and her 9 children that they had to leave behind.

He also shared a story about his capture. He claims that he was held by Isis in Syria. His story was confusing, but essentially he was forced to write and recite the Qu'ran. He admits he is not well educated, but he is Muslim and he knows the Qu'ran. Yet his captors insisted that his recitations were wrong. Mahmoud felt strongly that they did not know the teachings of Mohammad, but are, instead, a rag tag group of misfits from every corner of the globe--not Islamic. He implored us not be afraid of him because he is Muslim.

Simultaneously, I read an article in a Turkish newspaper about a German investigative reporter who was granted permission to visit an Isis stronghold in Syria. Jurgen Todenhofer knew that he was intended to be used as a recruiting tool, a means of convincing the disenfranchised youth of the world that by joining Isis they would get a nice villa, nice women and money. His brave book, "My Journey into the Heart of Terror: Ten days in the Islamic State" tells his chilling tale of what is going on behind enemy lines. He says in the interview below that while he was there were 50 to 150 new recruits were showing up per day. (See the 6:50 mark on the clip.)

Ten Days in the Islamic State

And then, Orlando

A few days later, we left Turkey and were in Morocco, an actual Islamic state--99% Muslim. The faithful were honouring one of the pillars of their religion, Ramadan. A month-long, daylight fast that is intended to build compassion for those less fortunate; to deeply feel what it is like to suffer and go without. It was there, in Marrakech, Morocco that we, and the rest of the world, heard of the senseless murder of rising star Christina Grimmie, and then, of course, The Pulse Orlando, the worst mass murder in US history.

What's in a name?

Is our thirst for sensationalism and news that celebrates evil contributing to the rise of cowards and crazys? Are we feeding the fear mongers by giving them a name? I think J.K. Rowling was on to something with the Voldemort character; giving the villain a name actually strengthened and validated him (remember that part in Harry Potter: "He who cannot be named"?) Calling a terrorist group the name they have chosen gives undeserved credibility, pride of place, and even worse, affiliation with a world religion.

The news and a certain presidential candidate were sure quick to use this affiliation following Orlando. Before any link was substantiated, association with a terror group was named and fear and hatred were propegated. He acted alone; to date the CIA have reported "finding no link." But once it is named, it's out there...no turning back.

do not speak his name

After all, isn't credit and, therefore, recognition what terror groups want? I wonder what would happen if we stopped crediting terrorist groups with attacks altogether?

Love More, Hate Less

I'm still glad that we made the choice to follow our instincts and travel to Turkey. Had we been dissuaded and terrified we would have been robbed of an interesting, thought-provoking and enriching experience. Not only did we love the sights of Istabul, but thanks to social networks, we were fortunate to meet up with Alexa Messing, whom we had served with at Mission of Hope in Haiti (www.mohhaiti.org) and a former colleague from SAIT, Britt Odegard, who's ship happened to be in port while we were there (she now works as the Learning and Development Manager for Princess Cruise Lines).

In the midst of evil, we were reminded that the world is a good place, filled with fascinating good people. We are all linkedin, connected, and caring like never before. A true global community. United we are champions.