Syria. What to do? What... to... do?

Syria. Difficult question. I am wondering why the Muslim world is not intervening to stop the current regime from killing its own people. I am wondering why so many Christians do not think they need to look out for their neighbour (Love thy neighbour applies to everyone, not just the guy across the fence). Most of all I am wondering why the average lay person does not understand the concept of 'classified information'. We do not have access to all the information those politicians we elected might, those politicians who voted 'yea' or 'nay' based on the information/expert advice they were given.

Yes, Iraq was invaded on a lie--weapons of mass destruction--and we found out after the fact. Apparently that is a better reason to intervene than that people, children, women, sick, poor, old... are being killed. Prevention before something happens as opposed to something already happening.

Do I think we need to send our boys and girls (and dogs) there? No.

I have read both views and on both the religious and political issues at stake. But I don't have all the information the experts do. I am not good at that particular issue and somewhat suspect to me, my emotions say, "No MORE WAR!". My rational, somewhat functioning brain says, "I don't have all the info, this is not my topic of expertise and I could very well be wrong on the course of action required in this particular situation."

However, if my family and friends in a different country were subject/ed to that sort of attack... why, I'd want someone to protect them. There is a difference. So, who's your neighbour? Just those like you of your own religion, race and creed? Or anyone/being needing help?

Can we call ourselves a superpower and not step in to say, "You cannot do this to human beings. I will stop you."?

What to do? What indeed to do?

Animals? But HUMANS Are Starving!

Every now and then, I run across one of those comments. You know the one I mean if you are an animal rights advocate or just care about animals enough to lend a helping hand by sharing links and taking an active interest in the issues. "There are horrible things happening to humans!" These things that are happening to humans can be that the Swedish are not eating enough curry*, or that there are homeless people everywhere in the world (name a location), or that there are hungry children (this is always a good one) in the world.

The response animal rights advocates should give is this, "Yes, so what are YOU doing about that?" Chances are the people who protest that we should not care so much about animals because children are starving, actually do not do anything for those hungry children. But it feels good to be quite so self righteous. Maybe they feel smart. Well, good for you. How is that starving kid being helped by that?

The truth is this, if you cannot care about the least of things, if you cannot open your heart to help an animal, then the likelihood of your taking on a bigger responsibility is very low. I see many who help animals who also help kids, strangers, the homeless and many others. Why? Because they have already opened their heart to the least of things.

I have rarely seen those who do not generally give of themselves make an extraordinary effort just because it concerns a child, curry, senior citizens or what have you.

We care about all those things that are happening to humans. Not so much about the Swedish antipathy towards curry (made up factoid) but those other important things. We don't turn away. We don't say, "How dare you help that child! People in Sweden are not eating enough curry! The world is in NEED!"

We each do what we do best. We each nurse a heart in despair and then get out of bed and do it all over again. We do not give an excuse that something else is more important and then sit on our hands.

So the next time someone gives you the "Animals? How about children dying in Ethiopia?" Ask them when they are flying with supplies to Ethiopia to help feed those children. "Not going yet? Would you foster this kitten so that I may find it a loving home? Thanks so much! I knew you were a great person, you care about starving children and a kitten is after all only just a kitten."

*I don't think the Swedish really have a curry problem.

Cowardice/Integrity