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AIBU?

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Original poster

To ask you to pray for the thousands of people trapped on a beach by fires in Victoria?

687 replies

TheClaws · 31/12/2019 00:46

There are 4000 people from the town of Mallacoota, Victoria, Australia, that is currently being destroyed by fire. They most likely won’t have homes to return to. They all have life jackets on ready to take shelter in the water as embers rain down upon them. Fire personnel have just - as I post - told them to get in the water. Can you imagine how they must feel?

Australia at the moment is burning across 4 states. Where I am it is 45c and the smell of smoke is heavy. It is a terrible summer for us.

OP posts:
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kateandme · 31/12/2019 17:37

ive been thikning of you all in the middle of this, on a constant today.i know that wont do much to help.but you are in my thoughts.
i dont know what exist for different people.be it god.mother earth,a bhuda or a presence of some other being. but i do believe in being held in peoples thoughts.and i do believe in praying to whoever or whatever can can give strength even if its praying(thinkking)to yourelf to keep going.
i think you could pray to a dog and it might help.it gives ease,it puts it out there to someone or something else.it allows you to speak your fears and let others hold it.
so if you do or dont believe please know that one more person today is wishing with all their might that you are all ok and safe.

NotYourTypicalNerd · 31/12/2019 17:47

I have had to stop looking. Three sets of my family in three different affected areas (all coastal). Seeing the pictures and videos has brought me to tears. And there is nothing I can do to help them. :(

kateandme · 31/12/2019 18:07

NotYourTypicalNerd im so sorry.i know it wont seem it.but knowing people have your back and knowing their loved one is thinking of thm like you are can give so much strength in times of distress.you feel less alone even if just a little and that can push you onwards.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 31/12/2019 18:08

If they had no insurance then more fool them.

What a crass, insensitive comment. I have family in Victoria, not near the fires thankfully, who lost everything including their home and livestock in a previous fire. How anyone could even think 'tough' is beyond me.

To all the posters in Aus, I hope you and your loved ones stay safe.

eaglejulesk · 31/12/2019 18:26

@MrsScrubbithatescleaning - when did I ever say I had no compassion regarding the fires???? I imagine I live closer to these fires than you do and every year I hear about the effects of them - I've never forgotten the horrors of the Black Saturday fires. I merely agreed that there is a lack of balance when it comes to people sharing their empathy on sites like this. Maybe you need to look at what has been happening in other parts of the world before you start judging those who merely point out that there are many people undergoing their own horrors who are conveniently brushed aside because they are not "people like us"

theflushedzebra · 31/12/2019 19:11

I don't think whataboutery has any place on this thread tbh - if you want thoughts and prayers for another disaster, anyone can start a thread at any time. I don't like the veiled implication of racism either.

Swisskit · 31/12/2019 19:16

Praying doesn't help anyone.

Andahelterskelterroundmylittle · 31/12/2019 19:31

Ummm ... "Praying doesn't help anyone" ... that's your belief and many people interviewed gave asked for prayers. How dare you use this as a platform for your religious views at a time like this ..I'm not stating my religious views, but you dont get to say that categorically. It actually does help some people, in terms of comfort or supporting their spirituality or sense of connectedness .
Has anyone news of Francesca Winterston ??

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 31/12/2019 19:33

Who are you to decide that? I'm not religious in the slightest but, if praying makes people feel better, then it's their choice.

spingly · 31/12/2019 19:35

Praying doesn't help anyone.

And you're absolutely certain you can think for me do you, thanks but I'll decline your offer. I am able and will continue to think for myself. @Swisskit

franklyidontgiveadamscarlet · 31/12/2019 19:45

Praying is sending good energy and good thoughts to all.
Its called positive energy.
Its from the love and light of others who only wish for good.
I am sending to all who are going though this good thoughts and hopefully the fires will get under control and no more people or animals will be destroyed

Keep safe and watch out each other.

Didkdt · 31/12/2019 20:16

Has anyone news of Francesca Winterston
I was wondering this I haven't seen anything

speakout · 31/12/2019 20:21

franklyidontgiveadamscarlet

I thought praying was a direct communication to your god? Asking him to act or your behalf to help people.

Or do you bypass that bit?

Didkdt · 31/12/2019 20:24

Speak out can you really not go start a debate somewhere else?

Thinkingabout1t · 31/12/2019 20:48

Thanks for the links to fundraisers, I’ll donate and spread the word.

LoveNote · 31/12/2019 21:03

hadn't realised this was so bad....not seen much news lately

hoping it improves for everyone really soon!

Aldilogue · 31/12/2019 21:12

Wow. If you don’t want to pray then don’t. Don’t come and criticise someone who has faith and requires comfort and support.
We are on the mid north coast in NSW and we experienced these type of fires back on the 8th Of Nov.
It is absolutely terrifying and amazingly we “only” lost 5 people.
I will be praying for the people in Victoria just as they would have for us back then. And I’ll pray for rain for our country and eventually it will come.

MrsTerryPratchett · 31/12/2019 21:17

I have a lovely Christian friend who asks permission (when times are hard) to include me in his prayers. What he believes is that it works. What I believe is that my friend has my back, even though I'm not religious.

My New Years resolution is to take the bus.

squeekums · 31/12/2019 21:43

If they had no insurance then more fool them

Oh what crap, in many places they simply wont insure for fire or make the premiums way out of reach for most people

bluetongue · 31/12/2019 21:45

I’m not religious at all but for some reason last night I found myself praying for rain. It won’t make any difference of course but I just felt so helpless about it all.

bluetongue · 31/12/2019 21:49

Oh and I’ve given money to a fund for a work colleague who’s lost her house and will be making further donations to charity when I get paid next.

Things are actually pretty okay now where I am (South Australia). Of course there is much work to be done to rebuild for those who lost their homes near me and the danger isn’t over for another few months.

Moonmelodies · 31/12/2019 21:51

If praying worked I guess there would be no need for firefighters.

kinsss · 31/12/2019 21:59

Well my feeling on the matter is if God exists he would never have put people through this fire, or earthquakes, or floods or Tsunamis or child abuse or anything bad.

God is dead.

GirlDownUnder · 31/12/2019 22:07

If praying worked I guess there would be no need for firefighters.

If praying worked I guess there would be no dickheads on this thread.

SpruceTree · 31/12/2019 22:10

A traumatised religious person comes here to ask for support and the usual lovely atheists come here to troll her. Way to go, you are doing a great job of turning people away from atheism - such lovely people. Not.