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cathy

Look closely at this face.

Wednesday, June 20, 2007


Source: CNN, June 20, 2007

The wise historian, John Keegan, has written extensively about warfare and aggression. The opinions I hold on the same topic come from reading his work, among others. I remain fascinated about the way societies and human beings can justify our actions towards others. And Keegan explains how it is that we can and have, over the centuries, done just this. The fact is, that it is easier to kill other people, to allow them to suffer, to watch the images (with mock horror) on tv, when their skin is darker, their clothing different, their cultures so far removed from our own. THEM vs. US. So this image comes across CNN, with a story no more remarkable in its devastation and sorrow than so many others. But it is different somehow. Look at this child, this beautiful little girl who looks like she might live in the house next door. She's holding her doll, perhaps her one cherished possession. This beautiful child. Her exterior so perfect, but what lies within? And then imagine, that 60,000 people, like her, having been killed by your neighbours. Your sons and daughters. In the name of retribution, and extraction. Terrorists. Who are they? This child is not a terrorist. She deserves what we all have and hope for. She deserves that every one of us should do what we can, in our power, to make the situation that was brought upon her by one of the most powerful countries in the world, to come to an end. Please. Don't ignore the eyes of this child. There is so much you can do. Maybe you might start here or here....





This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 20, 2007 at 1:36 PM. You can skip to the end and leave a response.

  1. Blogger Devil Mood said:
    6:24 PM  

    I can't tell you how devastated I've been feeling about all of THIS lately. The orphanage in Iraq, the situation in Gaza, refugees in Sudan - today was the International Refugees Day and there are approximately 10 million out there.
    It enrages me that we keep on living our little lives, buying our chinese cheap things, eating, eating, buying, destroying, not caring...
    Have you seen the new Madonna video? It's a bit like that.

  1. Blogger Rositta said:
    9:08 PM  

    I too believe that war is bad. Having said that, how do you stop it. Seems to me that humanity as been going to war for as long as we have existed. We go to war for different reasons, mostly for land and religion. So to stop war, keep all people in their own lands, and keep all religions together, would this be a solution? If the Arab states were not somewhat afraid of U.S., Europe would be Eurabia by now, don't you think? People first migrate and then try to change their host country. It has been happening this way for centuries and we will never be able to stop it, no matter how much we want it. Iraq was a mistake, a public relations mistake. Now, we see people being killed on CNN every night but during Sadam's days the killing was done in secret and away from the public eye. What we didn't see, we didn't know.
    http://riverbendblog.blogspot.com/
    The above links is to a Iraqi girl blogger who was last heard from in April. Those of us who followed her blog are concerned for her health and welfare. Maybe she is one of the casualties, I sure hope not...ciao

  1. Blogger x said:
    9:12 PM  

    thank you for this Cathy and for the links. i constantly think of my child in the place of those children and i constantly think of me in the place of their mothers. what kind of life is that when your only hope is to stay alive one more day.

  1. Blogger Cathy said:
    9:30 PM  

    DM:
    I hvae been feeling the same way lately; I am looking for signs that things will change soon.

    Rositta;
    I agree with what you say and intuitively know it to be true; I also have been reading and following Baghdad's Burning blog. The thing is this" can we not learn from the past, move beyond our mistakes? Or are we condemned to forever repeat the mistakes and terror of our histories? I chose a different future, and refuse to accept anything but. Idealistc, yes, but there are somany of us who feel the same way; we just need to find our way.

    Chloe;
    I do the same. In fact, today, when I read this story, I imagined myself as her mother and her mothers' despair was transfered to me. This is what we need to do in order to effect change. It needs to feel personal.

  1. Blogger Rositta said:
    9:55 PM  

    "can we not learn from the past" yes Cathy, those of us who live in the "civilized world" do, the problem is this, when we who don't want war are invaded, what do we do? Do we just let them in and demand, we appease and loose what we are, or do we eventually fight back? That has always been the conundrum. I would like nothing better than to live in peace with peoples from anywhere, but they won't let us.

  1. Blogger Cathy said:
    8:01 AM  

    Rositta;
    This post is primarily in reference to Iraq. Irag did not invade the U.S. The U.S. invaded Iraq. And the U.S. is "the civilized world"; the world's largest democracy. Therein lies my point.

  1. Anonymous Anonymous said:
    9:47 AM  

    Oh Cathy...I so wish something could be done...

    Hugs,
    Connie

  1. Blogger Tee/Tracy said:
    10:15 AM  

    Cathy - that is weird because I saw this story on CNN.com yesterday, too. I saw the photo and at first thought perhaps they had mistakenly put it on the wrong story. She looks as if she could be American to me and it made me pause much longer than usual. We get so used to seeing the images of "other" people being abused, killed, tortured, starving, suffering, etc - that there is a wall that is built up.

    While it's painful, I'm thankful that my wall comes crashing down on an almost weekly, if not daily basis.

    I wonder how high and thick the wall of certain politicians must be.

  1. Blogger Heidi said:
    6:19 PM  

    Thanx for the link Cathy..Your making a difference already.

    So sad.

  1. Blogger Rositta said:
    9:07 PM  

    Sorry, I thought we were speaking about war in general and why humankind goes to war. Iraq is wrong, I didn't agree with it, the juries still out on Afghanistan although I don't believe we should be there when other nations don't pull their weight, the Balkans, well their starting up again, it's a never ending cycle and as long as children are taught by their elders to hate, we will never see the end of wars...too bad we can't sit down over coffee and solve all the worlds problems...ciao

  1. Anonymous Reeva Mills said:
    7:41 AM  

    Lovely blog you have heree

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