After leaving a coffee shop, we wait at a crosswalk. I notice a flag at half-mass. It’s a rainbow flag. Being away from Atlanta for so long has been bizarre. I haven’t been away this long in about ten years. I miss my family. I miss normal life. I missed being able to be around after the hateful tragedy in Orlando last week. The separation of hours between Ireland and Atlanta creates a break in communication—or at least a break in when events normally happen. By the time my wife wakes up in Atlanta, I’ve already finished lunch. When the shooting happened in Orlando, Ireland was mostly asleep. I woke up to news reports and social media, stories of hateful events that seem to horrific to be true.

I love that a place all the way across the ocean would have the respect to stand with those hurting in Orlando. These acts of respect and remembrance connect humanity as we are supposed to be connected. No sort of gesture of respect could ever mend the hurt that those affected by the Orlando shooting feel, but I hope that it offers a feeling of togetherness. So many people lost their lives that night for reasons soaked in hate and bigotry. Seeing the flag at half-mast by the Liffey does work to restore the separateness that often comes with connecting global communities. It also shows that people at home and abroad can stand with those hurting in solidarity and support.