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• • • SYRIA: Open Letter to Western Narcissists • • •


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An Open Letter on Syria to Western Narcissists
By Sean, the human province
Date: 29th August 2013
Source: Human Province

On the eve of what seem to be ineluctable strikes on Syria, I’ve been struggling with what my position on Syria should be. Before I get to that though, I should say that while I’m not Syrian, I too have some skin in the game, as it were. On our way to donate blood for a friend’s mother’s surgery last month, my wife got a call from a friend telling us to avoid the neighborhood of Bir al-Abed in Beirut’s southern suburbs, since there had just been a large explosion there. At Bahman Hospital, my wife and baby daughter and I saw ambulances speeding toward us carrying those who had just been wounded. And a few days after I’d left for southern Turkey to conduct interviews with Syrians who had fled the war in their homes, I found out that a car bomb had just gone off a few blocks from my mother in law’s home in the “Hezbollah stronghold†of Rweiss. It kills me that my daughter has heard the sound of a car bomb before her first birthday.

 

Extended family from Yarmouk, the Palestinian camp outside Damascus, have been displaced and are

yet again in Lebanon, a country that doesn’t want them. And even now, we’re making plans for what might happen if the impending strikes on Syria fuel an escalation in Lebanon, where living in the southern suburbs can get you killed if there’s a war with Israel. And yet all of this pales in comparison to what my Syrian friends continue to go through on a daily basis.

 

All that to say that the current conflict in Syria isn’t just of academic interest to me; it’s personal as well. This is partially why I have so little patience for some of the rhetoric I’ve been seeing from Western leftist circles, where this conflict seems like nothing more than a rhetorical bludgeon for scoring ideological points. This has been illustrated by the passing around of an article by Robert Fisk, who asks, “Does Obama know he’s fighting on al-Qa’ida’s side?†This lazy and facile opinion piece assures us that if the US attacks Syria, then “the United States will be on the same side as al-Qa’ida.†It is the flip side of the rhetoric that was so evident in the run-up to war in Iraq that equated any opposition to an idiotic war with support for Saddam Hussein. Well, guess what? There are lots of perfectly fine opinions that might put you on the same side as al-Qa’ida. Just to name one: if you’re against drone strikes in Yemen, Pakistan and Somalia, as I am, then you’re also “on the same side as al-Qa’ida†according to this logic.

 

This is the caricature of knee-jerk leftism, where everything is always and everywhere about the United States. The narcissism of such a position boggles the mind. In such an ideological stance it’s not enough to be critical of Washington’s actions and motivations, as well we should be, it is necessary to parrot the talking points of Washington’s enemies. (The same phenomenon can be seen in certain Islamophobic and right-wing circles.) In this narrative, the militarization of the uprising in Syria was an American plan, not a foreseeable reaction to a brutally violent crackdown on a predominately peaceful opposition movement by the security forces of the Ba’ath regime. This conflict is, so the argument goes, a creation of Washington, and perhaps Riyadh, and the opposition is made up of only of blood-thirsty sectarian Islamists who are generally seen as but tools of malicious statecraft. Such a narrative, of course, denies the agency of Syrians, seeing them as so many lifeless puppets waiting for a tug from the imperialist American hand.  

 

This is why discussions of Syria in such quarters tend not to be discussions of Syria. They’re actually discussions of “American capitalism†or “American imperialism†– take your pick. So let me be clear: if your opinion of Syria is actually an opinion about the United States, I have no interest in hearing it, and it’s probably safe to say that most Syrians (or at least all of the ones I know) who are faced with the business end of the regime’s ordinance don’t either. I can’t think of a single Syrian who’s willing to get killed so you can flaunt your anti-imperialist street cred from the comfort of your local coffee shop.

 

Lest I be accused of shilling for American intervention here, let me set a few things straight. In addition to endangering my family’s lives, the proposed “punitive strikes†that are all but inevitable probably won’t make anything better on the ground, and may make things worse, which is why I’m against them. My opinion on American intervention in general and in this conflict in particular (about which more in a subsequent post) is that the US is not to be trusted to act in anything but what it sees as its interests, and often a woefully short-sighted understanding of those interests to boot. So no, Washington does not really care about those children killed last week in a chemical attack, just as it didn’t care about the Iranians or Kurds killed in previous ones. Consequently, my feeling is that a vicious, and viciously short-sighted, realpolitik in Washington would probably like nothing better than to let its enemies fight indefinitely in Syria, burning the country to the ground as they do so. 

 

But please, don’t let the conflict in Syria be about opposing America. Let it be about Syria, and what might actually help Syrians – you know, the actually existing people who are dying by the tens of thousands in this brutal war. But if you can’t do that, then do me a favor, and please shut up.

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i really feel bad for them :cry:

Same, and the letter really struck a chord for me. Despite following the news closely since the start, I do find myself rambling more about The West than Syria, and for strong reasons. [ article ]

 

 

... i remember when arabs use to make fun of somalia because of its civil war, look at you guys now huh

Wealthy people of the Khaleej have always looked down on Africans, because they arrogantly believe that money means human value. It's disgusting, especially because they have done, and still do, their contributions to weaken the nation, and benefit in return. Let us not forget the enslavement that was endured, and let us not act as if equality is present in the 21st century.

 

The biggest weakness amongst Arab Nations is that they cannot tell Friend from Foe.

They're fickle and are easy to control when you promise them eternal wealth. They are dumb enough to believe that such thing exists, and that all is guaranteed. They thrive for wealth and pride themselves in it. It's become part of shaping an identity. They cannot resist it, and will sacrifice any blood whilst sitting in a comfortable corner allowing atrocities to happen. They will laugh because they are gaining wealth out of it.... but when the bombs suddenly fall on their own nation, they become cowards; so weak that they cannot head to battlefield to fight for their own nation. They've been tied and dumbed down to extraordinary levels.

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Same, and the letter really struck a chord for me. Despite following the news closely since the start, I do find myself rambling more about The West than Syria, and for strong reasons. [ article ]

 

Wealthy people of the Khaleej have always looked down on Africans, because they arrogantly believe that money means human value. It's disgusting, especially because they have done, and still do, their contributions to weaken the nation, and benefit in return. Let us not forget the enslavement that was endured, and let us not act as if equality is present in the 21st century.

 

The biggest weakness amongst Arab Nations is that they cannot tell Friend from Foe.

They're fickle and are easy to control when you promise them eternal wealth. They are dumb enough to believe that such thing exists, and that all is guaranteed. They thrive for wealth and pride themselves in it. It's become part of shaping an identity. They cannot resist it, and will sacrifice any blood whilst sitting in a comfortable corner allowing atrocities to happen. They will laugh because they are gaining wealth out of it.... but when the bombs suddenly fall on their own nation, they become cowards; so weak that they cannot head to battlefield to fight for their own nation. They've been tied and dumbed down to extraordinary levels.

 

this is so socking they gave them nerve gas and they know how are they going to use it

this pic is so heartbreaking :cry:

 

Syria-2242513.jpg

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this article definitely shone a different light on the Syria-discussion in the US

i'm no USA citizen but i already thought that an intervention wouldn't be the best solution and now, reading this, i'm even more convinced

but what should we do to help the Syrians in a right way, this can't go on forever... 

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this is so socking they gave them nerve gas and they know how are they going to use it

this pic is so heartbreaking :cry:

 

Syria-2242513.jpg

 

Syria's Local Coordination Committee give daily rundowns of what happened on the ground. Obviously, not everything can recorded (because it's impossible), but it develops a picture that is not altered nor manipulated. It does contain some strong images, and despite knowing of the site for a very long time, I barely ever have the stomach to go through a single post.

 

 

Related Articles:

 

Directing Terror Attacks Inside Syria

Obama Refusing to Send Gas Masks for Over a Year

 

... and to go back to the latest over in Britain:

 

".... Having been humbled once, Cameron decided not to risk a re-run in Parliament. He has already become the first prime minister to lose a vote on a question of war since 1782, and if he lost again he would be forced to consider resignation. He said on Tuesday: “I’m not planning to return to Parliament to ask again about British military action.â€"

- The Daily Beast

 

Fuckin pussy.

 

Despite Western intervention to topple Bashar, it seems that not only has the opposite been achieved, but it is backfiring on the reputation and public support of Western Leaders.

 

 

 

this article definitely shone a different light on the Syria-discussion in the US

i'm no USA citizen but i already thought that an intervention wouldn't be the best solution and now, reading this, i'm even more convinced

but what should we do to help the Syrians in a right way, this can't go on forever...

Another aspect of the article that I enjoyed was the awareness of the demographic attacks, particularly where it highlighted the "Hezbollah stronghold" because destroying Syria would be equivalent to destroying the financial support that is provided to Fighters against Oppression, which Hezbollah happens to be one of; except, for America's Foreign Policy, they are known as "Terrorist" for not allowing them to run that region the way they want to.

 

I don't know what can be done, but what has been done is unforgivable; we've created what cannot be reversed.

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Syria's Local Coordination Committee give daily rundowns of what happened on the ground. Obviously, not everything can recorded (because it's impossible), but it develops a picture that is not altered nor manipulated. It does contain some strong images, and despite knowing of the site for a very long time, I barely ever have the stomach to go through a single post.

 

 

Related Articles:

 

Directing Terror Attacks Inside Syria

Obama Refusing to Send Gas Masks for Over a Year

 

... and to go back to the latest over in Britain:

 

".... Having been humbled once, Cameron decided not to risk a re-run in Parliament. He has already become the first prime minister to lose a vote on a question of war since 1782, and if he lost again he would be forced to consider resignation. He said on Tuesday: “I’m not planning to return to Parliament to ask again about British military action.â€"

- The Daily Beast

 

Fuckin pussy.

 

Despite Western intervention to topple Bashar, it seems that not only has the opposite been achieved, but it is backfiring on the reputation and public support of Western Leaders.

 

 

Another aspect of the article that I enjoyed was the awareness of the demographic attacks, particularly where it highlighted the "Hezbollah stronghold" because destroying Syria would be equivalent to destroying the financial support that is provided to Fighters against Oppression, which Hezbollah happens to be one of; except, for America's Foreign Policy, they are known as "Terrorist" for not allowing them to run that region the way they want to.

 

I don't know what can be done, but what has been done is unforgivable; we've created what cannot be reversed.

OMG :cry: i saw some pics

more innocent people getting killed and obama still refuse to give them the masks or help them

i fucking hate david cameron like you said he is a pussy

if anything like that happen in my country i dont what am i going to do :._.:

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OMG :cry: i saw some pics

more innocent people getting killed and obama still refuse to give them the masks or help them

i fucking hate david cameron like you said he is a pussy

if anything like that happen in my country i dont what am i going to do :._.:

Most importantly is that Obama helped in directing the terror attack inside Syria.

 

 

I think the hardest aspect of being under those attacks is having everything you've built destroyed, particularly if you are a Parent. Starting life anew is not easy, and some people are too proud that they would rather die in their own country. It's deeply devastating.

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Most importantly is that Obama helped in directing the terror attack inside Syria.

 

 

I think the hardest aspect of being under those attacks is having everything you've built destroyed, particularly if you are a Parent. Starting life anew is not easy, and some people are too proud that they would rather die in their own country. It's deeply devastating.

i'm more worried because my dad is in the army

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Syria's Local Coordination Committee give daily rundowns of what happened on the ground. Obviously, not everything can recorded (because it's impossible), but it develops a picture that is not altered nor manipulated. It does contain some strong images, and despite knowing of the site for a very long time, I barely ever have the stomach to go through a single post.

 

 

Related Articles:

 

Directing Terror Attacks Inside Syria

Obama Refusing to Send Gas Masks for Over a Year

 

... and to go back to the latest over in Britain:

 

".... Having been humbled once, Cameron decided not to risk a re-run in Parliament. He has already become the first prime minister to lose a vote on a question of war since 1782, and if he lost again he would be forced to consider resignation. He said on Tuesday: “I’m not planning to return to Parliament to ask again about British military action.â€"

- The Daily Beast

 

Fuckin pussy.

 

Despite Western intervention to topple Bashar, it seems that not only has the opposite been achieved, but it is backfiring on the reputation and public support of Western Leaders.

 

 

Another aspect of the article that I enjoyed was the awareness of the demographic attacks, particularly where it highlighted the "Hezbollah stronghold" because destroying Syria would be equivalent to destroying the financial support that is provided to Fighters against Oppression, which Hezbollah happens to be one of; except, for America's Foreign Policy, they are known as "Terrorist" for not allowing them to run that region the way they want to.

 

I don't know what can be done, but what has been done is unforgivable; we've created what cannot be reversed.

exactly, what may seem wrong in our eyes can be a good thing for the country itself, like Hezbollah. USA should not want to meddle to much, their own felt supremacy and ideologies in which they see themselves as the saviors of the world isn't always a good thing and can start needless struggle or make mathers worse

 

 

Most importantly is that Obama helped in directing the terror attack inside Syria.

 

 

I think the hardest aspect of being under those attacks is having everything you've built destroyed, particularly if you are a Parent. Starting life anew is not easy, and some people are too proud that they would rather die in their own country. It's deeply devastating.

I would never want to stand in their place, working so hard to build something and seeing it destroyed by something they cannot control. It's clearly the citizens that need to be saved and helped and not the people who give out the orders, who can sit back in their too expensive looking chairs while they see a country destroying itself. It's sad, but it's the reality.

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