This world did not get to where it is by swapping recipes or dancing hand-in-hand around the maypole. There are forces at war in every day, every country, every man. The sooner people realise that Shiva is alive and well, the better. What does war mean in 2013? It does not mean the same as war in 1939. No. It does not mean the same as Hiroshima. Nagasaki. War in 2013 means suggesting to aggressors that theirs’ is not a wise tack to take. Is it not an act of humanity, striking against what is wrong? There is not one American, or one British person, or in fact any educated person on this planet that would accept their entire town or city being murdered in their sleep by the government. Not one. Why should the Syrians stand for it? Who are they supposed to ask for help, if not the West? That puts the West in an awkward position. Do you pretend that what happened – is happening – in the Middle East is acceptable? Or do you condemn the massacre of innocent civilians with force? It depends on what language the murderers understand. If President Obama strikes against Syria, remember that he is not trying to take over the world. He is not doing a Hitler. He is authorising his military to protect the people of Syria. That this action would have widespread ramifications is clearly understood. I think everybody understands that it is not just Syria and America in the picture here. There will be retaliation and others will be drawn into the fray. Does that count as collateral damage? I wonder.
Let us not pretend there has ever been peace on this planet. There never has. What can we do about that? We can work towards it – the same way generations before us have been working towards it. It would seem that there is a permanent hitch with Israel and Palestine. They love this war-business. They should accept that their protracted battle over a piece of the EARTH is the work of fanaticism. It is holy land? Well then stop warring on it, over it. Respect its holiness. Give the Palestinians a place to become who they are, please Israel. Show your bigger heart. It means a dent to your pride, perhaps, but that is not the worst thing in the world. The amount of hatred directed at the Jews – for whatever reason anti-semites hate Jews these days – builds for them their fate. Do you not realise that hate rolls around, and around, and around? Someone, somewhere has to give ground. I don’t see where the Palestinians can go if Israel takes the land from under their feet. Must they now wander in the desert for 40 years? China, also, should stop stealing borders. They do not own the planet, they should be a lot more respectful towards it.
You cannot say that bombing Syria is like killing Syrians to stop Syrians killing Syrians. That is not what happened – is happening. That is overly simplistic and it is rubbish, besides. Is bombing Syria perhaps a necessary protest, a stepping-stone in the bigger picture? Think about it. When do you stand up and say no? When enough, is enough. Where is humanity if the Syrian government can kill its people with impunity whilst the rest of the world stands by and watches? I wonder.
C.J. Birch
C.J. Birch 