Stop the Killing
"Our society is run by insane people for insane objectives. I think we're being run by maniacs for maniacal ends..." (John Lennon)
Almost 30 years later, John's still right.
As the war in Lebanon enters it's 13th day, we are witnessing a man-made humanitarian tragedy with mounting civilian casualities, many of them children.
A few days before, in a report in "The Guardian", their sources in the UK and Israel say Bush "gave green light" for limited attack, and is giving Israel a window of a week to inflict maximum damange of Hezhollah before calling for a ceasefire. The Bush administration, backed by Britian, has blocked efforts for an immediate ceasefire initiated at the UN Security Council. Hundreds of civilian deaths later, UN's Emergency Relief Chief Jan Egeland described the destuction of Lebanon as "horrific" and "the disproportionate response" by Israel was a "violation of international law".
Israel is obviously trying to maximize it's political objectives while limiting international fallout by fighting 2 fronts with Lebanon and Gaza. The fact is that the history of the region is too complex, too deeply bitter for me to make an educated analysis, since I have only been in the Middle-east for 8 months. But I know that killing, whatever the motivation, whatever political aspirations, whatever colour your skin, by whatever name you call God, is WRONG.
It was relieving to see on Al Jeezera TV that in Israel, Israelities and Arabs have united to protest the war. All over the world, people are taking the streets to protest the aggression on innocent civilians. Perhaps something good might come out of this madness? People might be enlightened enough to see through the/their hatred, anger and try to mend rather than destroy.
The kidnapping of the Israeli soldiers was wrong. The indiscrimate killing of Lebanese and Israeli civilians is wrong. 2 wrongs don't make it right. When is the human race going to learn from it's past mistakes?
My thoughts, tears and prayers go out to all my brothers and sisters in Lebanon, Gaza and Israel caught in this man-made tragedy. STOP THE KILLING NOW.
http://fromisraeltolebanon.info (WARNING: graphic pictures)
posted by Steven Cheak @ 2:30 pm
1 Comments:
thanks for your comments concha torres.
but one thing i don't understand about your argument: how can a ceasefire weaken the democratically-elected government of Lebanon? As it is right now, the elected government is not doing anything. So how can it be weakened when it has already been undermined by their inactions.
But for argument sake, let's just say it can be weakened, I think that their loss of "power" would be minimal is comparision to the loss of lives and the time it would take to rebuild Lebanon.
I would also like to ask: where are the other arab nations? I don't mean get into war, but isn't there like a Arab League of Nations or something to make a statement? At least lend a voice?
One thing I agree with you, the larger the body count, the angrier the people would become, the more likely Hezbollah would gain more sympathizers and recognition, which might lead them to gain more seats in the next election, if there's still a Lebanon to speak of when the war ends.
Let's hope that Reason and Life prevails.
Thank you concha torres.
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