The Other Side of the World

    On the other side of the world… What is on the other side of the world? There is my family, my friends, my children, my lover, my car, my toys, my life… The other side of the world is free from the conflict I know here, on this side. On the other side of the world is the life I know and love, and it continues on without me, while I am here, on the other side of the world.
    On this side of the world is the war. On this side there is pain and unjustified killing. There are burning buildings and children running naked and hungry in the streets. On this side of the world there is poverty, and suicide raids. This side of the world is home to people who can barely scrape out a living; they are unhealthy, full of hurt and anger. This side of the world is hostile.
    But come night and thus the stars, I am reminded of the other side of the world. I can see Orion and the Dippers and Taurus and all the others. I can see the North Star, always at north, never moving, always twinkling. Just like it does on the other side of the world…