The Los Angeles skyline had turned an ominous orange. The scathing glare of destructive flames across the landscape. Stark, yet commanding, this was no beacon of hope, no celebratory spark; in fact, it was goading detestation of nature and the fragility of mankind. Light symbolizes happiness, connectedness, and warmth, while at times becoming a symbol of chaos and sorrow. It is in this contrast that one will find the depth of an unsettling reality: not every light is lovely.
Fire, one of man’s most ancient discoveries, has always been a give and take situation. Inasmuch as the light protected the forefathers from predators, warmed up the home, and lit up the way, the apocalyptic haze hanging over Los Angeles showed us its other face: a monster that gobbles up whole chunks of neighborhood, erases decades of memory, and displaces thousands of lives. The glow is pretty, enchanting, yet covers up a trail of devastation in its wake. The dint of light and darkness is overwhelming to the eyes in a contained environment; unbridled, it is grossly grotesque.
These are the fires that offset the fireworks that light up skies when one rejoices. If one gathers people together in shared wonder, the other isolates them in fear. The orange hue, which blanketed Los Angeles during the fire, painted a surreal picture: streets blanketed with ash, cars abandoned, silhouetted trees whose outlines were consumed by fire. Enticingly tragic, it was a reminder of the great forces light can be, not only as a design element but also a natural element.
Photographers captured the moments in haunting detail: a discarded child’s toy amongst the rubble, its colors dulled by the harsh orange glow; an elderly couple, the shadows of flames dancing across tear-stained faces as they stood outside their burnt house. Such images force a deeper reflection upon the dualities of light-the same light that bathes revelers now framing unimaginable loss.
This light of doomsday challenges every perception of beauty. The hues of fire that dominate the whole skyline at the moment of disaster create an allure paradoxically, only to point towards a raw destructive power. And this compels one question again: is light only a medium for lightening up and a beautiful view, or does it require a little respect for its ability to destroy?
Sa’di, the Persian poet, once said, “Human beings are members of a whole, in creation of one essence and soul. If one member is afflicted with pain, other members uneasy will remain.” These words ring deep as the fires of Los Angeles remind the world that the tragedies are not limited to one city or one nation. This light of destruction, be it from California, the Amazon, or Australia, touches the collective soul of humanity. Pain in one part of the world creates ripples throughout the rest, calling for a global introspection into the fragility of our joint existence.
The fires of Los Angeles will someday cease and leave scarring on the earth, in the souls of those who watched their fury. Yet a memory of this light will survive, one that defies the conventions about beauty and destruction. Not every light is beautiful, and probably that is what makes the tender, joyful lights that fill celebrations and quiet moments so precious.
Photo Credits: Josh Edelson AFP
Photo Credits: Kylie Grillot
