And hypothetically, assuming you were defenseless, what would you want your world neighbors to say or do?
This question is impart rhetorical as I believe I already know what the majority response would be. But to borrow the phrase from Tavis Smiley, allow me to "unpack" that later.
1,500. Gassed in one day...
1,500. Gassed in one day....
2 weeks ago in Syria, an estimated 1500 people, the vast majority of which were innocent civilians were gassed to their termination. The chemical agent, orchestrated by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad induced gruesome torture; vomiting foaming of the mouth, severe itching, blurred vision, headaches, twitching and slow suffocation until they were dead. Yet, while no one debates that these are human atrocities of the worst kind, there is great debate about what should be done if anything at all. As my mind, soul
and spirit are convicted at this moment, I support with the idea of a "surgical" strike in Syria. It is not with any great pride or boast that I do so; nor does it
come without an ongoing conflict of my own spirit and values.
But if the poll numbers are to be believed, then the majority of America and the rest of the world believes that nothing should be done.
This choice of inaction while providing practically no effective counter solution indicates a tragedy far more troubling than that which has occurred in Syria. As it was said by the poet Dante, “The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who in times of great moral crises maintain their neutrality”.
Let me be clear: debate is necessary! Informed disagreement is vital to a balanced and just society. I think that most folks know how consistently critical and dissatisfied I have been of President Obama and his administration, especially where their record on poverty, social equality, wall street emboldening and unnecessary militarism are concerned.
But the arguments against a strike in Syria that I have been hearing are at best, misguided and troubling and at worst, the most soulless philosophies imaginable.
First of all, the context of this Syrian conflict is in no way shape or form equal to the war in Iraq. I understand that many are still scarred from the hoodwink
choreographed by the George Bush White House in the name of WMDs. In fact I'm sure that it was the first time that a lot of Americans considered that governments could be capable of such epic deception; (not me. Slavery, Jim Crow, The Tuskegee Experiment, the inner city cocaine epidemic and other events have long ago taught me the potential depths of wickedness that governments sink to in the interest of power).
I applaud those who use that incident as a lesson and refuse to allow their governments put them in harm's way without merit or challenge. But I must again emphasize respectfully..SYRIA IS NOT IRAQ. Iraq was a war waged with lies. In Syria there is no question that there has been a massive loss of life at the hands of Bashar al-Assad.
Furthermore, the proposed action in Syria is a strike, not a war. Also, George Bush took action with no regard of congressional or public approval. Barack Obama
could have very easily done the same thing under much more legitimate circumstance. Instead, partially in an effort to restore some confidence in the American checks balances process, he sought congressional approval and so far has been candid in unprecedented ways in doing so.
The other argument to me, is the most disgusting and selfish rationale. "What is America's self interest in intervening"? "This has nothing to do with us".
What a disturbing ideal upon which we decide to tolerate mass murder! Why should there have to be a direct safety or economic benefit to us in order for us to
offer a deterrent to the murder and oppression of 100s of thousands? Well, the answer is as simple as it is unfortunate.
We live in a country and a world where the mantra seems to be is "only the suffering that happens to me or those who look like me is insufferable".
What do I mean you ask?
The answers are all around us.
Let's start with Syria. This conflict, this destruction, this slow genocide has been going on for years. It is only now that America may insert itself
that it becomes such a great concern to American and the world at large.
Let's continue to Darfur where 400,000 lives have been stolen and over 2 million displaced and constantly living in terror.
This has been going on for a decade on a much larger scale than Syria.
President Obama, the world community and even many of those who oppose
intervention in Syria have turned a blind eye completely to the genocide in Sudan.
And how about the Congo? Here an estimated 4million plus died in a span of 10 years. To this day conflicts and atrocities continue to afflict the Congo with no end
or intervention in sight.
However, following the attacks on September 11,2011, the resounding justice by way of militarism. And not just justice but revenge. Even today, as most now
acknowledge that the war in Iraq was a fraud and that Afghanistan was an irresponsible miscalculation, most would still maintain that something should have been done
in order to avenge the deaths and dignity of Americans.
How about the Holocaust? Do we not see some parallels between what happened then and what is going down today in Syria?
Would you suggest that those persecuted under Hitler's fist should have to deal with it themselves at that it wasn't our problem? I didn't think so.
But let's not even talk about international war. Let's stay right here at home.. When a mass shooting occurs at a school, who do you call? The Peace Corp? NO
You pray to God that the police get there and get there quickly and if need be, halt the life of one or 2 as a means to save the lives of many.
The Boston Marathon Bombers were not killed with much distress over there sanctity as humans.
My point is not to promote violence. Not at all. Rather it is to point out the hypocritical and bias nature by which we secure protection and comfort for ourselves
while caring less than less about defending the human dignity and suffering of others.
We were given a perfect world. A world which we have corrupted with hate,anger, greed, violence and other diseases of the soul.
Violence is never THE answer (THE, as in absolute). Only God and the love he instructs us to have for one another can ever be THE answer. Violence is a human sickness.
One we have created by turning technological marvels and perverting them into tyrannical machinery. I believe that he is not pleased with the violence we take upon each other, for any reason.
I however also believe that he is not pleased with a world that continues to watch their neighbors needlessly suffer, do nothing about it and/or pretend that it doesn't exist. Again, I'm not speaking of armament I'm speaking of apathy.
I am not a perfect man. None of us are. I am not a perfect practitioner of my faith. I am a sinner like the lot of us with my own ignorance and biases.
I do however know that God is a just God and that he understands the difference between savage murder for the sake of oppression and the defense of the vulnerable.
Is a strike the end all be all? No. It is in my opinion, it is merely the lesser of 2 evils. Perhaps there is another feasible way out of this disaster. I don't know.
What I do know, is that we can no longer afford to what most of the detractors are suggesting that we should; nothing.
Heaven Help Us All
