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| An olive tree in Sbaniyeh, next to the Mar Frem Monastery, overlooking the Beirut River Valley |
A positive result, as far as I am concerned, of the
attacks in Paris, is the stark realization among many that there’s a difference
between the west and the rest of the world.
When people are blown up in Paris,
we all change our Facebook profile picture, and Obama tells the world that this
was not just an attack on Paris, but an attack on all humanity. Seriously now.
What about us?
Because when they are blown up in Beirut, or Syria, or anywhere
else in the Middle East, it’s not even news.
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Not much is known about the monastery. It was abandoned
in 1860, after fights between druze and christians resulted in the monks being
killed. It was partially restored some years ago, but is not in active use.
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And that’s exactly why they’re being blown up in Paris.
Because the west does not care what happens to people in the Middle East.
People in the Middle East already knew this. But many westerners who somehow have a link with the Middle East, are confronted with it now. Pray for Paris. But nobody prays for Beirut.
People in the Middle East already knew this. But many westerners who somehow have a link with the Middle East, are confronted with it now. Pray for Paris. But nobody prays for Beirut.
The western world does care about their interests though.
And if this involves supporting oppressive dictators who eliminate opponents without a process, regimes that do not allow women to drive cars, or countries that stone women on adultery charges, then so be it.
And if this involves supporting oppressive dictators who eliminate opponents without a process, regimes that do not allow women to drive cars, or countries that stone women on adultery charges, then so be it.
If it results in entire regions
where people live in abject poverty while their elite own Lamborghinis by the
dozens, or in entire populations being removed from their land to live in
futureless conditions in cramped camps for many generations, then so be it.
Because it does not touch you. They're not your people. It's not your back yard.
And now our colonialism is coming back to haunt us.
Fundamentalism
and radicalism do not spring from religion. They have their roots in poverty,
injustice and a future without hope. This graph is a clear indication of that. Religion is all they have left, and so
they cling to it with a vengeance (Research here
and here).
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| A new bell tower. |
Now they’re calling for a war on ISIS. I thought that one
was already on. More bombing and ground troops. It will only alienate more. You cannot bomb away poverty, injustice
and a future without hope. What we’re doing right now, is obviously not
working.
It’s time for a change. And so I leave you with the beauty of Lebanon.
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| A beautiful Volvo |
20 comments:
This is the reaction of someone who is not religious and does not understand the influence of religion and/or ideology. Of course socioeconomic factors, colonialism, imperialism, zionism, every other "ism", coupled with hypocrisy blah blah blah, are partial causes of some of these actions.
It doesn't explain why an educated young man, raised in a comfortable family in London, would leave all to cut off heads for ISIS in Syria. Or well-educated comfortable young men from Saudi Arabia and Lebanon would decide to fly into office buildings in Manhattan. Or young men raised in France would decide to assassinate people for drawing cartoons. Or other young men apparently born in France would commit massacres and suicide bombings on an industrial scale against totally random fellow citizens.
Do not discount belief and religion and ideology in governing people's actions irrespective of affluence and education. Religion is as religion does.
Richard
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/marginoferr/2015/11/14/another-terrorist-attack-the-same-faulty-arguments/
A-MEN!!! Wonderful post Sietske.
I love that sexy volvo. I wonder if the owner would think of selling it.
Well said indeed
Mooie blogs op 14 en 15 november!
http://www.nrc.nl/handelsblad/2015/11/16/waarom-is-beiroet-geen-wereldnieuws-en-parijs-wel-1560031
The horrible explosions in Beirut were very quickly forgotten together with our garbage problem and all eyes were focused on Paris. Shame!!
When we were colonialized , we had a very nice train.
Hahahaha, good one. Yes, indeed. We did. This one got me laughing.
True. That's why maybe we shouldn't pray for any of them :)
Thank you!
No! I already asked. Owner is an elderly man, he's the first owner.
Thank you
Bedankt!
Heb m gelezen.
Read it. I partially agree.
I know. We're still stuck with that problem.
Well, these comments certainly are organized differently on my phone.
Some clear thinking on the issue of extremism:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IchGuL501U
"Religious extremism is not caused by poverty. Poverty is caused by religious extremism."
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