I have read countless articles from political, religious and ethical perspectives on why or why not the U.S. should militarily intervene against the Syrian regime. Most do a decent job evaluating the situation, but I am yet to read one that really puts the human element on the table as a deciding factor.
A few months ago I was going to bed in my hotel room in Tel Aviv when I saw the breaking news alert that there was rocket exchange between Hamas and Israel in and around Gaza. While I have been to many places in “conflict,” there is something much different about being somewhere that is only miles away from live fire.
I started playing out the situation in my head: “What if this expands into a major conflict? Can I catch a flight back home to be with my family before it gets worse? I’m only 30-40 miles away from the active conflict, am I already in range sitting in this hotel room?”
Anxiety. Fear. Uncertainty.
Now let me be clear, that experience of anxiety and fear is NOTHING compared to what most Israelis, Palestinians, Egyptians or Syrians have felt in recent years (and MANY other populations). But – even if only in some small way – I could immediately feel the weight of pending war. It is palpable. It is crippling. And if I had my family with me, it would have potentially been unbearable.
Reality is, I’m a product of Western isolation and security that has never put me in a position to experience the anxiety, fear and uncertainty of war. With the exception of refugees, military and limited segments of Americans, most of us haven’t. Yet, we are often the ones who get to determine whether or whether not others in our Global Village experience the realities of war. We read the latest headlines, hear a few sound bites and in the next moment passionately argue our views around the water cooler or dinner table.
Let’s be honest, it’s easy to make decisions and take sides when you live half way across the globe from the actual conflict. We are so removed from the realities that it is impossible for us to fully embrace and confront the human elements of war.
There is a family in Syria as I type this.
The kids just returned home from school. It’s not like it used to be. No longer a place for rigorous academic learning, it has become a place of underlying fear at the daily violence. Further, the kids are now hearing that the largest military super power may start sending missiles their direction.
When the father gets home from work, he tries to reassure his kids that everything will be ok, but he knows full well that they may never gather around the dinner table again as a complete family. Unsure what to talk about, he encourages them to prepare for their evening prayers (whether from the Muslim or Christian tradition) as a way to create a semblance of normalcy.
They plead to God for peace.
Imagine that being your family.
Of course, sitting here in the West, there are very few of us that could even pretend to know what that feeling is like, but let’s at least give it a shot. We have to. Our decisions and actions here in the West don’t just magically evaporate in a political vacuum or rallying cry on our favorite news station. Our decisions and actions have direct implications for humans beings just like you and me.
Yes, I know we are only shooting at military targets.
Yes, I know these people may have it worse from the Assad regime.
Yes, I get that civilian death is a reality of war.
I get it.
While all those things could be argued against (which I won’t do here), all I’m proposing is that we enter the human reality for a moment before we begin waging our wars of rhetoric.
It is beyond me how we as Christians could for one second try to talk about this decision outside the reality of real human beings, living in real time and space just like us.
On a human level we now have a responsibility.
On one hand, we can’t simply launch missiles into this region that kills innocent civilians (which they will) and then go eat a burrito and talk about our fantasy football teams.
On the other hand, we can’t simply stand idle as tens of thousands of innocent civilians are being killed by a regime that devalues life.
Friends, our decisions matter and all their complexities must be put on the table. Simple black and white, party line decisions have no place here. These are God’s children we are referring to and if we can’t sit around their dinner table at the end of another day of soccer games, school yard disagreements, work drama and everyday life, then we better at least do our best to make decisions as if we have.
Jon,
I appreciate your entire article and the concept of the human factor. I’m finding myself becoming more and more opposed to war as I get older. Rob Bell shared a concept about forgiveness vs retaliation that is instrumental about changing my mind.
However, I also wonder about our responsibility to protect those who cannot protect themselves. This is also a “human element” consideration. I think of the innocents being terrorized, oppressed, and killed (by toxic gas), and imagine the cries of that family: “Is there anyone out there who will come and help us?”
It is a very tricky line to walk.
Chris Cameron
Great blog Jon,
Thoughts I have felt for years, but the Western isolated don’t want to hear it, it removes them from their isolated and comfortable bliss. Until a couple buildings in NY are blown up and a few thousand of our own are terrorized on our turf. Then the same scenario occurs in the aftermath, of unbelief that these people would dare bring their conflict over here. It’s OK when it happens “over there,” we can isolate it, but here, no can do, that bursts the bubble of comfort we so enjoy.
Keep up the good work!
Wes
Very thoughtful, Jon. I enjoy your insights and appreciate the position from which you offer it. It’s a needed voice.
I read this as I was sitting on campus, I must say it gave me chills and teared me up. Some days I feel very discouraged by how few people think this way. There are other ways besides sending missiles, thats just easier. When I talk to other people today on this topic, I will remember this and I will challenge them to think this way.
Thanks for your faithfulness,
Brandon
Thanks for this post, Aaron. You might also be interested in this article a friend sent me from the HuffPost Religion section. Because Assad is also a person…
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lorna-byrne/pray-for-assad_b_3871845.html?utm_hp_ref=religion
As usual with your writing, I find myself trying to view it all from a different angle. I really don’t stop and think of the human element when the news has it on tv. It helps to read things like this, at least for me, so I can understand not to forget the actual people that are going through it and not just another headline…aimed at getting one’s attention.
Thank you for your words and your loving spirit in which they were shared. For me, my greatest comfort comes when I pray for the brokenhearted people of Syria in Jesus’ name. Our Christ is there amongst them. Jesus, may they find and drink Living Water from your hands… and from hands who are nearer than mine.
As a follow up to the overwhelming response to my piece on Syria yesterday, I want to offer up one extremely significant resource that can help us frame our response to the conflict. The argument for/again military engagement usually falls into one of two camps: Just War (military engagement is justified if the appropriate criteria are met) or Pacifism (withdraw from violent conflict as obedience to a higher ethic/moral code). There is a THIRD WAY called Just Peacemaking. It argues that we must MOVE TOWARDS conflict, not with violent militarism, but Transforming Initiatives. As peacemakers, Jesus calls us not to fight for flight, but to active engagement in the ways that are consistent with his life and teachings. I not only studied this theory in my graduate studies (from it’s creator Dr. Glen Stassen), but have seen its effectiveness first hand while in places of conflict. Here is a short description of Just Peacemaking and its 10 core practices from my friends at Just Peacemaking Initiative http://justpeacemaking.org/the-practices/