My rant about recent events

[AnOhioan]

I have, for the past few days, been reading (and posting) in various threads concerning the events in the mideast. The situation is degrading daily with threats and counter threats by all the players involved as well as actions that are completely reprehensible.

Posters here run the course from detached objectivity to rabid subjectivity.


My personal feelings regarding what is happening have crystallized to the point where I must vent a bit.

In my opinion ALL the powers that be in the region, the various governments; Palestinian, Israeli, Iranian, Syrian, Lebanese; the US government; the various terrorist organizations (on all sides);
none of these groups is truly interested in peace.

They are all complicit in the deaths of innocents. They all forget (or choose to ignore) the fact that there are normal people in the region, trying to exist as best they can. They are born, they grow up, fall in love, get married, have kids, etc. At least they would if the governments in the region would cease and desist the mindless and wanton destruction of those unfortunate to live on the other side of some imaginary line that was put in place by colonial powers many years ago.

I highly doubt that the average Israeli, or Lebanese, or Palestinian, or Syrian, or Iranian, or Iraqi, or American want to see their homes leveled, their loved ones killed, their means of support destroyed. All because some leader in power wants to control natural resources, or claims a divine right to inflict harm, or simply is a pawn of the corporate desire for obscene profit.

It is the ordinary citizens, many of whom harbor no ill will towards those from other countries or religions, that suffer the most.

It is the ordinary citizen, forced to bury a child, forced to make do without basic necessities, forced to live in fear, that arouses my sympathy. I do not care what religion they may be an adherent of, of what country they claim citizenship of.

I reserve my anger for those who are "in charge", the governments (in and out) of the region that consider citizens "collateral damage". It is the concept of "false patriotism" that I disdain, it is the lack of humanity that I hate.

Who cries for the Palestinian daughter, the Israeli mother, the Lebanese father, the Iraqi son?

Who notices the homes flattened, the roads cratered, the farms ablaze?



"They deserved it."

"They are defending themselves"

"They attacked first."

"They are terrorists."

"They are theocratic."

"They threaten our existence."

"They believe we have no right to exist."

"They hate our freedom."

"Their stated goal is ________."

"They took over our land."

"They are infidels."



And so on, and so on, and so on.

Again, who mourns for the innocent? The vast majority of people who do not have, nor want, anything to do with political figureheads who can order destruction at a moments notice?

Is any death or suffering really worth it in the end? Do you feel better when an Iraqi family, or Palestinian family, or Israeli family, or Lebanese family, or American family suffers? Or potentially any Syrian family, any Iranian family?

Was any goal served by that suffering?

If you answered "no" then you can see my point.

If you persist in assigning blame to any specific party while ignoring the culpability of other parties then I pity you, for you have lost sight of your humanity, your compassion, your empathy.

End of rant

[rosesaylavee]

1. The human condition whether it be

in the ME or here on DU is complex - and with 92,000 registered, we will run the gamut of responses and emotions. It is what it is. Some people come here to blow off steam and others come to freep. But we are part of this odd mixture and we are community above all else, which is why many of us find it frustrating when so many are not coping very well.

I have also seen a few rants on this topic this week - ranting doesn't change people. If it did, we wouldn't see posts like this every once in a while. I appreciate peace-making posts that remind us why many of us are here. But, IMO, people will say what they say no matter how much others disagree. You have to admit, this has not been a stellar week for the human race and the mounting horror is hard to deal with when there is so little we can do as individuals.

And perhaps venting on DU may be the better choice for many - better than kicking the dog (or cat)!

Nice thing about DU is there are few options - continue to be disappointed in DUers in general of course, locate the Ignore button and use it in extreme cases, and start working the ignore thread. Or all the above.

Peace friend.

[chookie]

2. Lovely, thoughtful post

The larger point is that we all bleed.

[Bobbieo]

3. I answered "no" to your questions, so I agree with you.

Somehow, I get these awful premonitions. Many of them come true and I hate them but I have a vision that wipes the state of Israel off the face of the earth. I'm not a religious person. Is this possible?????

[rucky]

4. Unfortunately, the average folks feel the effects of bad policy...

when the other guy bombs 'em.

then they're more likely to blame the bombers (which they should), but ignore the policies that got everybody to that point.

I agree that most people want peace, but DAMN, the Likudniks remain in power...and Hezebollah?! You think Diebold's involved in these Democracies, too?