From Lebanon, Sean Lee, of The Human Province, pens a letter to Western narcissists on Syria:
But please, don't let the conflict in Syria be about opposing America. Let it be about Syria, and what might actually help Syrians – you know, the actually existing people who are dying by the tens of thousands in this brutal war. But if you can’t do that, then do me a favor, and please shut up.
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OK, and how about this on your end: don’t claim superpowers have special “obligations” that entail action outside their own self-interests. And don’t hold us to our president’s drawing various kinds of “red lines,” either, that he later might decide are simply too hard to keep. Just like you, we don’t like to expend our own lives unnecessarily — esp. when those for whom we do regard us as being unworthy of them.
Since the entire world, through various treaties and organizations, expressly forbids the use of chemical weapons in ANY instance, let alone against a country’s own citizenry, it is the responsibility of all countries who are signatory to such treaties to see that they are enforced. The reluctance of so many American legislators to pursue at least a minimal course for the abatement of such attacks is shocking, especially since many of the same legislators had no problem attacking Iraq, with much less evidence for the use or for the EXISTENCE of such weapons.
Hello Friend,
When the conflict
began in Syria two years ago i began keeping track of what was going on
and have ever since. I have also been praying diligently for the people
of Syria and speaking out in America to all i meet in my stance
for peace in Syria. The saddest thing for me to see is that this war is
very much affecting children. This breaks my heart. I consider myself
an activist and always speak up for justice.
One day i was
reading the news, here in America, and Syria was on the headlines. But
right under that headline was a big article about the Grammys that would
take place the next day (Hollywood stupidity). This juxtaposition of
suffering and luxury existing so closely together in our
consciousnesses, blurring the line of right and wrong, and allowing us
to click on the next hot topic without a second thought struck me as
terribly awry. The next day photos from the Grammys was in the spot
where the article on Syria had been the day before. The Grammys had now
become the most important topic. I cried for the apathy of America and i
knew i had to write a song to speak out for the people of Syria. So i
did.
The song “Syria” was written for all the people of Syria particularly the children. Please share and spread the word of peace.
“Syria”:
https://soundcloud.com/vansguard/syria
Do not let your involvement in US politics be about what you want to happen in Syria. Americans should not claim special knowledge of Syria, or pick sides because it angers Americans we don’t like. But Syrians and Lebanese have no right to demand Americans cede their rights — obligations — to govern ourselves, to oppose our government going to war. We know our government. We don’t trust them, as you apparently do. Respect, narcissism, ignorance, self-involvement goes both ways. Telling us to not question our government because you want it to kill for you is not solidarity.