resurrectionsong

March 11, 2004

Something Worth Fighting Against

If you are opposed to the war on terror, if you don't find it in you to believe that we should fight against the terrorists, then take a moment and explain this away. Make me believe that we should just turn our backs and walk away.

In Coldplay's song "Rush of Blood to the Head," the politically outspoken band says "Said I'm gonna buy a gun and start a war/ if you can tell me something worth fighting for." A gorgeous song, but it's anti-war bent really doesn't taste sit well with me right now. It's shallow and naive, it lacks the backbone to look at a problem and realize that another empty UN resolution does nothing to save lives.

See, I think there are things in our society and our civilization worth fighting for, dying for, and believing in. Even more, though, I believe that there are some things worth fighting against.

We live in a time when every week we hear about another terrorist attack on a bus in Israel or a Mosque in Iraq or a theater in Russia. The site of bloody bodies and weeping mothers has started to lose its power to even gain our attention. Only the very worst of the attacks registers with us for more than a moment. And when we do notice, the blame for the attacks is turned away from those who carry out the attacks. Explain to me how it is that we shouldn't fight back.

I don't really think you can.

Posted by zombyboy at March 11, 2004 01:54 PM | TrackBack

Comments

You know, I have been thinking about this and I have come to the conclusion that, unfortunately, for many people, if it "isn't happening to me" then not much thought is given to prevention and solution.

Case in point, 9/11. Because it happened on our soil, to our people, American blood was spilled, it was so much more effective at getting our attention and demanding our personal involvement.

I think that we forget that we tell our children to stand up to the bully on the playground and then whine about some small country that needs help in their struggles against governmental corruption, terrorism, education of their people, help in agronomy and animal sciences to enable better food production.

I really do think that a country that has such vast resources and standing in the world community does have a responiblity to help those who are less fortunate. Who wants to live in a neighborhood where no one helps one another and simply takes care of themselves?

I don't think this comment conflicts with how I agree with the necessity of being tough on terrorism. I am talking more in terms of enabling the people of LDC's (yes, the ones that have internet, but no garden in the back yard and have to walk miles for medical care)to take control of their own destinies as a community; a culture; a country and have the strength to stand against such evils that destroy them.

P.S. (in case Bryan decides to come round tonight) not edited ;)

Posted by: rae at March 11, 2004 03:52 PM