WHO ARE WE, – AND WHAT COULD WE BECOME??

WHO ARE WE,  – AND WHAT  COULD WE STILL BECOME??

–

Is it worth raising this question?..

–

The question who we really are is not confined to anyone in one culture, – but includes human beings in all cultures.

–

With differences in background , culture and or genetic structure,  we are all part of the same species.

–

–

By chance we were either born in South Africa or Russia, – either born in Syria or the US…  Or any other place….

–

By chance our parents created a conception at a particular time, – otherwise we (as we are now) would not have existed. And people with a different awareness would have walked around. Coincidence, fate or predetermined, – we don’t know.

–

If e.g. my granddad would not have returned from Canada to the Netherlands – because my grandma was that badly homesick – my dad would have been born in Canada. The last if the timing of his conception would have been exactly the same…

–

If not, the genetic DNA structure and the awareness unique of this particular human structure, would have been totally different in its progression to the next generation .  And for sure,  “he” would not have met my later mum during the resistance movement in the Netherlands in 1942.  And neither would he have been my dad.

–

History for me would have been different, so for my wife and children. My wife would have met a different partner and perhaps I would not have been around at all.

–

Is everything a matter of chance?

–

Who are we, and where are we going?

–

It is interesting you know!

–

By chance we are living in the place where we are placed, as if the timing of our conception would have been different, many of us would not have existed in the way we are manifesting ourselves at present.

–

And when either our dad or mum would have lived in a different country, circumstances would have been hugely different for likely all of us.

–

It is mind-boggling when you start to think about this as you realise that lots of things are created as a matter of chance. Which does not take away our responsibilities because they are provided within our current appearance and circumstances. But the awareness of this reality by chance (I guess), helps to receive everything with a certain appreciation, though circumstances can be quite awkward for some.

–

Hope this makes sense.

–

I need to give an additional perspective.

–

People from most Christian denominations may disagree with me on this one.

–

However, – its matter of chance where we are born, the genetic structure we have and the circumstances in which are placed at the start of our lifespan on this planet. Unless everything is predetermined. How can we know or not know. The secrets of life are still a mystery but people make at some extent free choices, including partner, career, holidays and name it.

–

Not that we always have the best of each situation, for sure not, – just look around!

–

It does not take much imagination what this says, both in our lives and that of others, whether it is nearby or far away. We can’t always escape the situation in which we are placed, because at times we have an obligation to meet or keep a promise, or not at all.

–

The last thing we have is the gift of in those our final response to any specific situation.

–

By chance the start of our first circumstances in life can be great, by chance the start of those initial circumstances can be terrible as well.We are not always sure what lies ahead, we are not always sure what the best possible decision is. We grow through it,  at times this is very helpful but unquestionably this is not always the case for anybody. The assumption that we grow through circumstances is not always correct. People succeed or fail or fall and suffering is part of our existence. At times the design of the existing conditions may take someone’s life. Just look at those countries where this is happening day by night…

–

Just a different perspective again:

If we have learnt to fear, we will express this in our circumstances, by choice. We will avoid certain circumstances or contacts.  If we have learnt to love we are able to express this as well, we will embrace certain circumstances and contacts.

–

Often,  we are thrown in the deep end and have to swim across rough waters. We are relying on our inner strength to sustain, on our physical ability to keep up to speed, and on our moral affinity to keep our sense of duty balanced. In all this, – we may hope we belong to the God of our understanding, and that we may sense His grace out of the many options we have to choose in one particular situation. Options we have, day in and day out, – wherever we are, – wherever we may be. And for sure those who are willing to pray genuinely, they better do this honestly and fully. We are just “pop up’s” by chance or choice in creation and may only hope that we are part of a larger plan we can’t see as yet, if we ever do by the way.

–

Mind you, it is not God or Christ who wanted children to be born in unsustainable circumstances.  It is not “the will of God” that you are choking tomorrow on a potato or that a drunken truck driver hits your daughter’s car on the wrong end of the road and that she gets killed. Lots of things simply happen by chance, and the fact that nature was “created” is true, – but lots of the multiplication of nature happens by chance, and in the design itself, – we are manifesting ourselves. And in this manifestation, there is a beginning and an end, – by far not always as a matter of choice, – though choice we have.

–

Some Church leaders may wonder where I put God in this picture…. On an aside note on this, – I can only say that I feel that God, at His choice, interacts with his creation, with foresight. However, the biblical David for instance, was anointed as Israel’s next King after it proved that Soul was a failure. His actions were not aligned with the original intent. Soul made himself a failure in the purpose of his creation and Gog has at times a plan with some of his people by choice, but may change his plan by coincidence when the “human pop up” fails his destiny.

–

But anyhow, – lets carry on with the domain of human connections, the last which is important of what we are or may become.

–

Friendships we need in life. Connections  we need to sustain in life and broaden our own horizons by sharing thoughts we otherwise would not express, perhaps. Good connections in life are the most important gift, apart from having the gift of choice.  One should entertain and commit to this “free gift” with full faith and trust,  and include the people who are really dear to us, but also reach out where justice gets compromised, where people get abused, where poverty is reaching that stage it’s simply not acceptable anymore. Not that much we can do on our own, but in the connections we have we can do more then on our own, in the choices for our leaders we can do more than on our own. Because it is all about connecting energies working for the better. Is this part of a larger plan? Not sure about this.

–

Being taken up by the stream of meaningful contacts may enlarge what we are and can be, for others as well.

–

If we are able to cherish the mix of colours and the mix of race which is there as a manifestation of creation, we are able to inhale the oxygen of this planet, figuratively spoken.

–

If life has thrown stuff on your plate which was not of your making, and even when there have been times that you wish you could escape from it, the memory of people whom you love dearly and with whom you feel loved as well, – may keep you balanced the pathway you have to follow, as then there will be always some “oxygen” in the air.

 –

The last question on earth is not what we are but what we became in both love and compassion to those who surround us.  And in this it does not make any difference whether we are a Muslim Christian or Jew. The last question is whether we really did share in sorrow and cheer of those around. Then we can go in peace back to the God of our understanding, when our transition takes place. The last one which is not terminal, as nothing is terminal,- everything is transitional.

–

On what appeared on this planet by chance in the form of human beings as part of the wider concept of creation, – has been given “the gift of choice” in its manifestation. Again, that is the point, or one of the main points.

–

For a better humanity, this is when we have contributed to a better state of human race, – including contributing towards more tolerance among our fellow human beings.

–

This is what counts, the so long forgotten crux in any religion that it is about helping each other and not killing each other. I say this in the most simple way, but often it is the forgotten way in the sum of human history.

–

That’s not by chance you know, that’s by choice!

–

The God of our understanding has given all the “pop ups” in human creation the gift of choice to make things either better or bitter. And we are not free from the battle of the mind, not free from the battle in our existence.

–

If we stand for those in the shadow at the good end of the moral spectrum, we may perceive our last moment on earth as a new beginning. The last because the question of our belonging extends far more further than what we can see and hear, – in our short lifespan on this planet. That’s  part of a never-ending creation.

–

–

Again, that’s the chance given to us, – brought on in our perception perhaps by chance, – as there is really little purpose to see children being born in war stricken areas with a special intent for their suffering. With a special intent that they are born in that particular place with a purpose to die days later, – or being taken into a terror cult, or being taken into other slavery. Much happens by chance through the purpose of others and sadly for many it seems survival of the strongest, by chance, and only in part by choice. Babies who are killed or malnourished have no choice. It happens to them through others.

–

The “who am I” question is not only a question to be raised by a person at any stage in his or her life.

–

This question applies to countries as well in the form of: “Who are WE as a people?”

–

It is a question with political implications, – whether you accept it or not.  It’s a question not raised by chance, but by choice. In choices which affects others for the better off the bitter.

–

“Experience” kept us suspicious of others preventing us from being open and truthful in our appreciation of others, or countries, – and at times for a very good reason. Mind you! There are countries or other entities where the sum of all the parts is a terrible frightening one. When we are born there we will be always on our guard and in order to survive a lot of people have to adapt, conform, in ways hard to understand for people who are brought up differently. Is there something like a collective responsibility or is a “let go and let live” approach better? I suspect that there are no “rules” for this.

History evolves anyway through trillions of choices including the choice of strategic patience.

–

For sure, this is not a matter of chance but it’s all a matter of choice!

–

Looking back, – (not that we can doing anything about it), – the parents of Adolf Hitler did chose the timing on conception of this person at the wrong time of the scale, whilst the timing of Mother Theresa was spot on. If this would have happened one day later or one day earlier the DNA structure and the power of this particular manifestation (or “pop up”)would have been completely different. But the phenomenon of “Hitler” was supported by collective German choice, so to say.

–

Isn’t this a weird thought?

–

For sure, let’s take this however with a sense of humour, as definitely there is more to it..

–

The difference between Hitler and Mother Theresa though, was the spectrum of conscious,  which did “exclude” in one case the Jews and many others, – and in the other case it did “embrace” everybody!  It was the difference between evil in progress and love in motion. And with this history is in an ongoing balancing act.

–

That people are born by chance we accept, or perhaps not.

–

But what they do by choice,  is the crux.

–

There was no purpose in the existence of Hitler, neither is there purpose in many of the dictators on this planet. They are just bad “pop ups” from the universal manifestation on earth, and the sooner they go the better I this is. Obviously we need to stop them, if possible, but timing and strategic patience are factors to be considered rather than acting hastily with the risk ” the danger of dangers” breaks free. This with a reference to North Korea.

–

Sadly any assassination attempt on Hitler and his crew proved to be unsuccessful.

–

Who are we, –  or,  what could we still become?

–

When we were a child we spoke like a children, but when we became  an adult – we should act like adults,  with the future of our children at heart.

–

What sort of a future?

–

When challenge strikes us at the wrong moment, we may be weakness  in progress, – but when challenge strikes whilst we are balanced amidst the positive and influential encounters we have, – we may act stronger perhaps than ever expected. We all may act the wrong way when we are touched the wrong way, no matter how good we are or may be… But if our children get harmed or killed, – we may strike out in anger and become evil. It is not always possible to resist this temptation if we deal with evil,  but it is better being evil than doing evil. Being evil in our anger is better than doing evil in our outrage. This applies e.g. to Islāmic fractions who stand up against each others throat, –  when sentiments are hurt.

–

Mind you, by the way, no way that I say that the reigns in Saudi Arabia are good, – disturbing as they are at times………You know what happened,  I guess, a short time ago.  Saudi Arabia  executed 47 prisoners convicted of terrorism charges, – including a prominent Shiite cleric, who rallied protests against the government.

–

This happened by choice, not by chance!

–

The people who were killed recently w​ere neither really killers or terrorists, but Iran did kill  people as well, who were neither assassins nor bombers in the past. It shows how often people are at the mercy of unpredictable and intolerant regimes, not allowing any opposition. The last applies to people in North Korea as well.

–

What applies to people when you hope and expect them to become real adults, applies to counties as well.  But how often does it really happen?  How often regulate countries themselves to economic conditions, –  that will take the essentials from the many, to give the comforts to the few?  And then as such in an excess at times astonishing. Definitely most countries are not matured the way they could be.

–

Worse even, they kill to keep the status quo, and screw their justice systems to keep it that way, – not rarely with barbaric murder and mutilation being wiped under the carpet, if possible. They protect their secrecies

–

One can’t judge a country on the contents of its leadership, however sometimes the contents of the leadership resonates willingly or unwillingly  with the people of such a country.

–

Lets take pride in Nawal al-Hawsawi an outspoken, black, and  qualified pilot who married to a white man. The ‘Rosa Parks’ of Saudi Arabia who showed in non-violent action she does not agree what is common law on marriage.

 She asked herself as well: ” Who am I”.   I am living will with a right to love, who can be against me if I do no harm?

–

She did this by choice, not by chance!

Many of us are restless and longing for the oxygen in life, even in the slightest moment of an encounter, far away or distant nearby.

–

Hungry for the human connection, most of us.

–

But “the free floating oxygen” as part of revitalizing human connections can be diminished if the social context gets on the spectrum of being a human threat, as the level of trust might be reduced in such a case.

–

Mind you…and listen carefully….. I give an example,  an important one at this stage, – as it is not by chance but by choice! It’s a political one which play’s out at the moment, and sorry for this little distraction from the theme.

–

I am quite candid in saying this:

–

The poison and intolerance of one person may destroy relations in and outside the US if Donald Trump would be elected US President in 2016!

–

The faint shimmer of a new humanity would be more down the drain than ever before in the US, – in such case.

–

It is more than surprising that US Churches don’t take a united stance in matters, to avoid this happening. It would seem true religion and politics do not match very well, and far to often churches have been silent bystanders. Like the Roman Catholic Church at the times of Hitler, during the second world war, – they even made a deal.

–

It is up to the Americans which way they want to go, either the way of increasing friction among race and religion, with a risk of more civil unrest in the US and more disruption in the world… Or, –  more tolerance and understanding whilst eliminating people who can’t refrain from being evil by doing evil, – in such  excess that it justifies their destruction.

–

It’s a matter of a free choice in a country, tainted by history, infected by racial tension, to make the right choice in line with common courtesy and respect for other cultures, – and race alike!

–

Children still kill each other on the streets in Chicago. At times they are shot as well by others..

–

If the US is not going to stop this, it is only a matter of time waiting for a massacre greater than the Civil War. Self inflicted, –  by inflated perceptions on what is right or wrong in gun control. The abolishment of slavery is , likewise, but different, –  proper, –  as the abolishment of enslavement to  inflated gun laws, … and the day by day unlawful killings on the streets of almost any big city in the US, – as a result of this, by day and by night.

–

By choice, not by chance!

–

The US is anyway not free from the dangers of violence and further polarisation, but choosing the wrong US President is not a matter of chance but a matter of choice….. Donald Trump is simply not qualified to run a country. His only qualification is being a rich business man with neither proven manners or an acceptable standard on a real partnership with a multi-cultural society .. And I am sure, such a bad choice would affect the world.

–

Definitely, US readers,  – at least some, – will be greatly annoyed what I say here.

–

For sure,  I have nothing else to do with the US rather than my sympathy for this country to have a better future, and a better influence in the world. And I am surprised about the way people are making their choices there, not knowing what is lying ahead, –  quite a few not having the faintest perceptions on the potential dangers on Trump as a phenomenon in US history.

–

Therefore people and churches need to speak out in the US.

–

People in the US are qualified to judge with common sense, I hope, at least if their support structures providing the support they really need. It is amazing that the right-wing sector of the Republican party, with all those so-called Christians, are prepared to support Donald Trump if he wins the Republican nomination

–

Why is this important now?

–

Well, it is all part of: ” Who are we or what could we still become?”

–

We owe it to ourselves to believe in the future. More then enough countries are already messed up and we can’t allow the US to be messed up by Donald Trump,  and with this, the rest of the world as well, – as he has no concept  of real sustained diplomacy to create positive and sustainable change for the better.

–

You know, the power of a country can’t be only judged on its military strengths, – but by its leverage in the world to resolve problems in cooperation with the other superpowers and others,  – and to avoid conflict.

–

–

It is all part of the question who we really are and where we want to go. A question, each time with different dimensions and opportunities. And in each of those opportunities lies perhaps the best choice which we need to search for, and this is the craving for that thing, that choice, which may slowly resolve the brokenness in ourselves and in the world.

–

Where we go as a people is not by chance but by choice and only by making the best possible decisions in each new entity of life, – there is a way forward. Not only for us but also for the people who surround us, with whom we are interlinked.  Not only for us as people,  but for all communities and countries as well.

–

Leaders today need to be qualified as the world is too complex, too  perplexing, –  to allow evil doing evil.

–

If we have the privilege of living in a country where our ancestors by choice created a Democracy, lets stick to the responsibility of this choice, and the privilege as such, –  the advantage of enhancing our freedom and justice systems by choice and as such I would say it would not be wise to take the chance with Donald Trump, – apart from all the other things I said.

–

The major challenge of leadership is to restore the  balance between what lies at the core of our humanity, –  and the qualities which direct us in both  actions of goodwill and cooperation towards the challenges we face in the future.

–

Much of the misery nowadays in this world is caused by the fact that people lose their ability to connect with each other. A real mental connection is a tie to the past and a road to the future, a tie to human rights and a bridge to justice. And if we are failing  to fasten the links between Nations based on the core of our humanity, as a people we will get more and more disconnected, – and as such we will be failing the children who will be the future of the next generation.

–

It is as Nelson Mandela once said: “A  Good  Head  and a  Good Heart are  Always a  Formidable  Combination”.

–

And this, – he became by choice, – not by chance!

–

Still we can make a difference,  and say: “Why not?”

–

HOW?

–

Really, – by choice:

 –

To honour and to improve life where possible, and to make more gentle the life of this world..

–

Thank you for reading this.

 Paul 

–
Paul Alexander Wolf

–

More results from wordpress.com »

–

https://paulalexanderwolf.wordpress.com/2015/12/28/an-offer-in-2016-you-cannot-refuse-can-you-%e2%80%8f/

–

https://paulalexanderwolf.wordpress.com/2015/12/14/words-matter-the-world-matters%e2%80%8f-hope-matters-likewise-your-world-matters-stay-in-for-the-ride/

–

https://paulalexanderwolf.wordpress.com/2013/01/06/we-dream-of-things-that-never-were-and-say-why-not/
–
https://paulalexanderwolf.wordpress.com/2013/01/11/peace/
–

The wider implications of the Syrian drama

A mural in Iran showing the yellow Hezbollah flag, and a quote from Ayatollah Khomeini which says: “Israel must be destroyed.” (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

What started some 2 years ago in Syria as a protest movement against a brutal oppressive regime is now an uprising of spiralling war between various fractions, potentially dragging a whole region in a whirlpool of vicious violence.

–

What started 2 years ago as a struggle for justice being compromised became a sad time for justice.

–

In Syria this became a lost case of criminal justice.

–

It’s a sad time as well for peace in the Middle East as  risky are the dynamics for escalating violence with plenty of stakeholders holding different agenda’s, – all in a position to commit or to refrain from the threat of further escalation. Plenty of stakeholders being able to make either the choice or resist the choice to throw oil on a fire of existing violence between a Sunni – dominated opposition and the al – Assad regime supported Alawite’s, – an offshoot of Shiite Islam.

It’s now a most dangerous and potential explosive situation as the playground of the dynamics are part of the playground of regional powers. Powers not being ready to give up the status quo on influence by terror. Terror by infiltration and supplying missiles to areas where they should not be, as the use of those missiles could put the region on fire.

–

Moderates have been pushed to the sideline and there is no leadership among the fractions with only sectarian horror to evolve. Massacres against the Sunni communities likely to happen if the Syrian government army is able to capture these areas with families including women and children being executed.

–

It happens as it already happened.

–

It would not seem this conflict has anything to do with Islam and actually the dynamics are opposing Islam as a religion as massacres and murder of innocent people by those countries calling themselves Islāmic by faith are repugnant in the view of real Muslims.  Islam only by virtue of its wide extension can be called a world-religion, – but for some groups it never reached  the required spiritual level because it never produced a workable thinking, which includes workable action  on both the world and humanity. The last at a depths required to bring both civilisation and respect for life in the hearts of its people.

–

There where religion is unable to achieve this, it is failing, – not because of the religion but because of the people who practice their religion. Where we don’t learn from the vanity of our false distinctions, even where it involves religion with the wrong practical implications, our lives may be diminished to the perceptions that our neighbours are aliens .We then may live together in a region but are not bound together as a community. We only then learn to live in fear with a wish to retreat from the people we perceive as our opponents, because they are different, – and our first instinct dictates then to meet disagreement with violence. This is what we see in the Middle East and elsewhere. And we know that there are no final answers but what we learn is not always the right learning if the common impulse is to meet disagreement with force. And if this carried  over to the children in the worst possible scenario’s encountered in the Middle East, the future of those who are to follow is more restricted with even more violence.

The mindless menace of violence in Syria is likely  overturning its borders and affecting those who live there as minorities. People butchered to death. The victims are young and old, known and unknown, Islamic and non-Islamic, but foremost they are people suffering from senseless acts of sectarian violence. Families disrupted in the pain of daily agony, not knowing who will be next. It’s the kind of violence which tears apart the fabric of life, which tears apart a country and the fabric of communities as part of barbaric  brutality which belongs actually to dark ages centuries ago. Civilian slaughter for the benefit of politics and holding on to power are one of the worst violations of human rights. Governments mastering this domain  will lose their cause and pay the price. The danger of the spiraling violence is that when you teach people to hate others and fear them because they are different in their beliefs, you teach them as well that they are a threat to you, and that  they may take your life or your freedom,  and a such the cycle of violence and hatred continues to do its evil and destructive work. It can only stop when people cease  to do this, when the actions of violence are terminated at such level that violence does not know how to move anymore. It’s then that we may realise that this short life on earth can neither be enriched by hatred nor by revenge.

Whilst Christians or Jews have neither been perfect through history, wisdom inspired by those of them who thought in depths about humanity and the world was rarely suppressed to support the status quo of the traditional views, – and progress was made through centuries. The last often recognised in retrospect. And still, even for Christians and Jews at times things are  hard going but civilisation became the cornerstone of the majority, – whilst reality shows that civilisation and respect for life is a lost avenue for some traditional Muslims in countries in the Middle East, – sticking to unchanged dogma’s. The last never been challenged on real merit and value for life as it was intended to be.

An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth are not the means by which we need to live, and on all sides of the religious spectrum we are never told to do so. Those “who live by the sword will be killed by the sword”.

–

Some groups and possibly countries are on the verge of making things even more bitter than better in current Syria, based on the dividing thought that violence and cruelty serves the purpose of a united  or stable Syria, based possibly on a different concept of government. The killing fields of Cambodia would perhaps not be worse than those in Syria in such case, but the last may get worse if this current conflict would escalate across the borders of Syria.

Both scenario’s are not acceptable.

–

Whilst the people in both Cambodia and Vietnam are by nature friendly and forgiving on what has been done in the past, widening conflict in Syria would be neither forgiving nor forgetting as sectarian violence brings the worst out of people,  the last apart from the agenda’s from surrounding nations trying to capitalise on more influence, – especially Iran.

If the al- Assad regime would fall to the Sunni dominated opposition, – Iran could lose it’s link to Hezbollah in Lebanon and its power on the border with Israel. Not what they want.

–

Lebanon with it’s Shiite and Alawite majority (Muslim) sects which both do support the current Syrian al – Assad regime dominate the Lebanon’s government.

–

You see the frictions here.

–

Then we have Iraq with long standing tribal ties between Iraq’s Sunnis and Syria’s Sunnis, – many of which feeling oppressed by a non – Sunni Government with Iraq feeling the tensions of Syria’s conflict in its own country. Various bomb explosions have been in the news.  Sunni jihad with al Qaeda links likely being already active across both borders to fight the non Sunni government in Syria.

And then the country of Jordan  being burdened by some 1.5 million Syrian refugees with adversity leading to potential unrest in Jordan.

–

Turkey as a country as well similarly burdened by refugees flooding the country since the start of the uprise against the al- Assad regime, – Turkey obviously blaming the al-Assad regime for this. Besides this a pair of car bombs killing dozens of people in a Turkish town which had welcomed many Syrian refugees. A Marxist terror group being involved in those car bombs, a terror group with close links to Syrian’s intelligence service.

Other countries like Saudi Arabia and Qatar are backing the Syrian rebels  as they feel a Sunni government being installed in Syria would make the Gulf States more stable, as they fear the spread of Iran’s influence in the region.

–

For Israel finally it is felt to be important that the front group for Iran in Lebanon will be stopped as due to the increasing dangers with Iran’s infiltration via Hezbollah, the last supported by the Syrian regime. The Israeli‘s reluctant to get involved will  however at all cost prevent the transfer of modern missile systems to the al- Assad ally Hezbollah Shiite militia in Lebanon. Those missiles include Iranian made and upgraded Fateh -110 missiles with a range of 300 km. Whilst the Israelis and Hezbollah are not in direct conflict as yet, they may become more active on opposite sides in the Syrian conflict as due to the Iran – Hezbollah link. Israel will respond in no uncertain terms if the missile threat from the north is growing because Tehran is using Damascus to feed Lebanon with offensive weapons. Israel has deployed already two of its iron Dome missile-defence systems in its northern cities to combat potential missile and rocket attacks from which it is believed that Hezbollah has an arsenal of some 50000.

It’s a fragile balance on which it is assumed Syria has not the recourses to fight on two fronts. It’s for Israel a wait and see predicament as with weakening the Assad regime the potential strengthening of the rebel fraction such as the al-Nusra Front with al Qaeda links in Iraq may open a new spectrum of threats as this jihad group is highly organised. The question for Israel might be whether the Iran-Hezbollah link is more dangerous than the various rebel fractions being out of control as it would seem to be.

–

All in all “it’s a can of worms” with no end in sight as evil tends to spread rapidly with chaos the unfortunate outcome. Whilst Islam carries in itself greater ethical depth than it’s appearance would lead one to suppose, no great Islam leader has been able to speak out against all this. No Islamic nation has been able to lift the burden of traditional views  dominating the practical political implications of a nation’s direction slowly moving to war, by infiltration and ambition, – like Iran. No Islāmic nation being able to embrace both respect of culture and human rights has been able to make the al- Assad regime accountable for what it did to its own people, as the traditional and oppressive views are both dominated by Iran and Syria.

–

Both are major culprits of guided violence and oppression in the Middle East.

–

The sad thing is that apart from 70000 death inside Syria as result of the civil war, the conflict is reaching across the borders with even Russia getting involved. The last supporting the al – Assad regime.  An indication as well which way Russia is prepared to support, and one may assume lack of real consideration.

The US reluctant to get involved with US Secretary of State John Kerry emphasising the need for an international conference to be attended by both the Syrian government and opposition to prevent total chaos in Syria. However it is questionable whether this works when the al-Assad regime gets the backing of Russia.

–

At the same time there is a large inflow of weapons from various sides indicating that more people will be killed with no likely military outcome either side in the nearby future. Hezbollah dispatched some 4000 fighters to Syria to help the al-Assad regime. Rocket attacks from rebel forces into Lebanon against this Shiite militia.

–

Undeniable there is a huge risk of a most bloody sectarian warfare which will both involve Syria Lebanon and Iraq, – reducing the already compromised stability in the region.

–

With an increasing number of fighters from different countries going over Syria’s border to support one side or the other. Israel is on the alert to prevent Syrian forces to transport advanced missile systems to Hezbollah in Lebanon and if so required will conduct further airstrikes to prevent this happening out of fear that chemical warfare comes into the wrong hands with Israel being an easy target in such case. Syria’s most powerful ally Russia will deliver advances anti-aircraft missiles, indicating somehow to the West to stay out of Syria. The US supports politically the Syrian rebels with non – lethal aid whilst the Obama Administration refrains from providing military aid, – presumably concerned that the situation would then escalate. Meanwhile however intensifying diplomacy efforts to rescue the region from widespread conflict with international security and peace being at risk.

–

However this will not change the background role of Iran and Russia’s support for the al-Assad regime.

The divisions however among the opposition, but also among some of the al-Assad links are a stumbling block for effective negotiations anyhow. Whilst Russia with its al-Assad support makes it clear to the West to stay out of the area, they agree with the US on required diplomacy to prevent a worsening situation. It’s not in the international interest that the situation in Syria is escalating into a large regional war with the potential of an international war, – but at the same time both Russia and Iran prefer to keep the status quo with al-Assad being the main power in Syria. The implication of this includes Iran’s role of supporting Hezbollah in Lebanon will not be changing. This means that on the long term Iran wants to keep its spreading influence whilst heating up the Hezbollah and Israeli potential for conflict in Lebanon at a later date.

–

It’s hard to say what would be the preferred situation as the region is hanging together on unpredictability’s. For the Gulf States apply they want a reduction of Iran’s influence, as they fear the strength of Iran if it would come to a war. Iran will not make any major moves in this conflict as yet as it prefers to intervene at a stage when it could hit or affect Israel as well.

–

Strictly spoken and in general, Syria would be likely better off with a Sunni government as Iran would lose part of its power in Lebanon, the Gulf States would feel more safe, the power base of Hezbollah would be compromised with no links with the al-Assad regime anymore. However the question remains how much chaos Syria has to endure to make such a transition possible and how many more people will be killed on such a track. Sectarian violence and anarchy may lead to a more dire situation in which al-Qaeda links may get the better of the existing situation with even more senseless massacres and potential genocide amidst the rivalling sections.

–

The hard question is which sort of stability is desired at this very present moment. Arming the rebels by US legislation may inflict a strategic set back for Iran as due to the disruption of the terror line between Tehran and Hezbollah in Lebanon. However arming both fractions by either Russia  or US may inflict a terror war worse than the war in Somalia with the difference Somalia never had chemical weapons, the last being at risk coming into the wrong hands not bothered by the human suffering this could create.

–

Whilst there might be reason to intervene in Syria’s government initiated slaughter house, as part of humanitarian action, – the last would not be perceived this way by the many stakeholders with most different and foremost radical perceptions, often based on emotions. The most important thing is preventing a regional war at large scale as this is not a region receptive for reason.

–

The least of two evils seems to contain the existing evil preventing from spreading all out violence across the borders, but an al-Assad regime cornered with Iran at risk of losing influence may both be well able to accept all avenues to protect it’s powerbase and influence in the Middle East, and for this reason both the region and Israel are at risk for a new level of barbaric violence in the area.

With this in mind it is the duty of both the super powers being partly involved already, to contain this conflict and bring people to the negotiating table before matters get totally out of control. Failing this the US may reconsider its position as whilst US interests might not be directly at stake, the best possible humanitarian support needs to prevail in this unspeakable drama, – an obligation of moral proportions. Besides this it is up to the US to allow somehow now to be sidelined by both Russia and Iran perhaps, – awaiting conflict later down the track when Hezbollah supported by Iran will reorganise its forces in Lebanon. The last against Israel with both the al-Assad regime and Iran owing Hezbollah support, as Hezbollah supported al-Assad to stay in power,  – if dynamics would evolve this way. At that stage it would be hard for the US not to support Israel.

–

Finally, there is nothing to glorify in this world if we don’t get our baseline humanity right in the distinctions we make with each other. This may not apply to everybody as value systems are different. In general however at present it is a matter of watching the current dynamics in and around Syria closely as minor moves may have major implications in the positive or significant ramifications in the negative, –  depending on the choices being made. The last besides the human suffering as part of ongoing business in this part of the Middle East.

–

With a bit more empathy and lifting inflated dogmatic views lots can be gained. But lots can be lost as well.

–

In the final analysis, it is not the concern about any religion. It is the concern of human beings being tangled up in destructive believe systems leading to bitterness hatred and violence. At the end of the day in all of this we are faced with one of the most self-destructive dynamics here on earth, and where we are as civilisation able to relief this bit by bit we are on the right track, as life in a deeper sense does not expect us to do anything else. There where countries fail to put in the required thought on the value of life for its own citizens and make within this domain the wrong distinctions when it comes to maintaining power, – they are lost in their own advancement, and in the misfortunes of their own children being exposed to the worst examples of adults.

–

This is what we see over and over.

–

And therefore I repeat:

Where we don’t learn from the vanity of our false distinctions, even where it involves religion with the wrong practical implications, our lives may be diminished to the perceptions that our neighbours are aliens .We then may live together in a region but are not bound together as a community. We then only learn to live in fear with a wish to retreat from the people we perceive as our opponents, because they are different, – and our first instinct dictates then to meet disagreement with violence. This is what we see in the Middle East and elsewhere. And we know that there are no final answers but what we learn is not always the right learning if the common impulse is to meet disagreement with force, and if this is what we carry over to the children in the worst scenario’s encountered in the Middle East, – we face a lost generation there, with worse to come.

–

As Martin Luther King ,Jr once said:  “Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation.”

–

The crux lies in the method!

–

Thanks!

—-

 Paul 

–
Paul Alexander Wolf

–

More results from wordpress.com »

–

https://paulalexanderwolf.wordpress.com/2013/01/06/we-dream-of-things-that-never-were-and-say-why-not/

 

Related articles

• Explosion in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley Near Hezbollah Base: Agency (nytimes.com)
• Syria’s Assad sends message to Pope (skynews.com.au)
• Damascus Calls for Battle Against Wahhabism (arabtimesonline.com)
• Lebanon opens fire against Syrian jets that struck border town (stripes.com)
• Sunni monarchs back YouTube hate preachers: Anti-Shia propaganda threatens a sectarian civil war which will engulf the entire Muslim world (uprootedpalestinians.wordpress.com)
• Sectarian violence in northern Lebanon leaves 8 dead (timesofisrael.com)
• Saving Islam from suicide bombs (csmonitor.com)
• Ignore Saudi And Israeli Goading For A More Muscular US Mideast Policy – OpEd (eurasiareview.com)
• Attack on Hezbollah Position Deepens Fears of Syria Spillover (thetower.org)
• Sunni Monarchs Back YouTube Hate Preachers: (counterinformation.wordpress.com)

 

“To make gentle the life of this world.”

–

At times all of us would wish to live in a world more stable and tranquil, – but the fact is the world isn’t like this. Our times are both complicated and perplexing, but even though they are difficult and perplexing the challenges are still filled with hope and opportunity, even though the dynamics of reality are often confronting and little hopeful. It’s all about perceptions and choices.

–

–

We simply have to look to the past weeks and learn from the events as they happened.

When we look around there is a lot of tragedy and suffering going on and though tragedy might be a tool to get wisdom for the living,  it is neither a guide by which to live, nor has it been showing a real learning curve in history. The challenges our world is faced with are hard to be solved by the sceptics who can’t look beyond their restricted perceptions of the obvious realities, neither can they be solved in the retaliation of violence where this should be avoided.

–

–

–

I always found some comfort in the words spoken by Albert Schweitzer. He said in summary-that civilization is only working the right direction when life is considered to be sacred, and apart from human life he did include the lives of plants and animals.

–

 

 

As caretakers of this earth – he said – we have to protect and support life, within our reasonable options. It all has to do with compassion, which should embrace all living creatures as the guiding principle of morality. He called it: ” Reference for life.”

–

 

–

It might be hard to go that far, but if our choices tend to go more towards the direction protecting at least the human rights we need to stand for, this would be already an improvement.

As history unfortunately however shows at times, we had to go to war to remove the kind of criminals certain countries did not deserve to rule their nation. The sort of people who abused both their country and their people from a position of high authority.This is what happened when Allied Forces decided to strike Libia to stop Gaddafi killing far more of his civilians, and this decision was good as the intention was to prevent worse.

–

–

More countries do show unrest and dissatisfaction at large scale with the way people are treated and suppressed, people disappearing through forces of eg secret police etc.

Demonstrations have spread across various countries in the Middle East and North Africa. Countries often with an oppressive leadership. Whilst human rights were seriously compromised in Egypt for many years already, – only during the uprise of the Egyptian people Hosni (Muhammad) Mubarak had to go.

Still there is a long way to go.

Egypt and Saudi Arabia are seen as the most powerful Arab friends of the US and a strategic focus will be still in place and operational perhaps, despite liberation movements. It is not the easiest place for the US Obama administration as it could get easily caught in increasing policy contradictions where on the one hand there is a crack down on enemy governments which kills its people and on the other hand favouring countries like Bahrain and Yemen that kills its demonstrators.

Obviously bombing the Libyan leader Gaddafi’s air defences falls within the UN security council resolutions of imposing a “no -fly zone” (Resolution 1973) and taking the required actions to stop Gaddafi from killing civilians in his own country.

–

 

–

 

This does not take away that with increasing unrest situations political courage and guiding principles are important where it comes to dealing with powers compromising human rights at a larger scale. The dilemma’s might be difficult. The question often is when it applies to countries not being familiar with democratic principles as we know them, what will happen if opponents remove a brutal dictator. What will happen in the aftermath and whether it is possible to rebuild the country with better law enforcement on human rights and basic other liberties, or whether matters get worse amidst chaos allowing eg Al-quaida elements to get the better in all the destruction, and more influence in such areas, – with even more human agony spreading down the line.

–

–

Diplomacy on this issue requires utterly clarity on the right direction and support for all democratic movements around the globe which are stronger than the minority of their oppressors, and those who want to make a real break with a past of cruelty and violence. Like it is the ultimate aim to convince Colonel Gaddafi to step down from power, the same could apply to different leaders in the future as well.

–

–

It was Abraham Lincoln who once said that:”Any people anywhere, being inclined and having the power, have the right to rise up, and to shake off the existing government, and form a new one that suits them better. This is the most valuable – a most sacred right – a right, which we hope and believe, is to liberate the world.”

–

–

Whilst there is no easy answer for many predicaments in this world and smoke still spewing from 2 adjacent reactors at the Fukushimadaiichi nuclear plant, it is  that both the earthquake, the tsunami and the nuclear challenges in Japan are among the most expensive disasters and that rapid international support could have been more forthcoming at an earlier stage. Japan had  much  trouble with many natural disasters in the past but the death toll and aftermath for many of those living now amidst the extremes of sudden poverty and grief is beyond any imagination.

Like it is objectionable that it proved to be hard to get timely a UN resolution in place to stop Gaddafi, – it is objectionable as well that the countries who did perceive Japan as neighbours friends and partners (besides allies), did not join together in providing organised support to those who are displaced, -with little shelter or food.

With more natural disasters happening in the future, it would seem countries are more ready to go to war rather than helping each other in the scenario’s like Japan is facing today.

The UN needs to have rapid intervention forces for humanitarian aid, – available within 24 hours after a major disaster all over the world to cut prolonged anguish and suffering. We need to learn from those disasters and both learning and leadership are indispensable to each other as a tool.

The late US Senator Robert Kennedy once quoted from the Greeks  many years ago:”To tame the savageness of man and make gentle the life of this world.” He did put it in the right context.when he used this quote amidst racial violence in the US and a Vietnam war during the mid 60ties of the last century.

–

–

We have a free choice to do it this way in the arena of our human activity, and change a small part of the burdens of our world.

At some stage all our acts will be written in the history of our families and communities, and if important enough in the history of our countries and in history itself.

–

–

It’s about the bit we did on earth and how we did it, – when we are laid to rest.

And if our actions and choices were directed rightly, –  it was good.

Good enough to lay down in peace..

–

Thank you!

–

 Paul 

–
Paul Alexander Wolf

–

https://paulalexanderwolf.wordpress.com/2013/01/06/we-dream-of-things-that-never-were-and-say-why-not/

–

https://paulalexanderwolf.wordpress.com/2013/02/27/21st-centurys-collision-course-of-nuclear-disaster-both-the-possible-and-the-impossible/

–

Related articles

• Libya summons Egypt envoy over Gaddafi-era officials (worldbulletin.net)
• Bernard Henri Levy and the Destruction of Libya (uprootedpalestinians.wordpress.com)
• ‘Gaddafi’s harem’: Sex as a weapon of mass deception (english.pravda.ru)
• How Gaddafi’s Great Man-Made River Project became part of Water Wars (english.pravda.ru)
• Britain trains Libya’s army in its fight against warlords and al-Qaida (theguardian.com)
• Libya summons Egypt envoy over Gaddafi-era officials (worldbulletin.net)
• The case of the invasion of NATO to Libya (libyaagainstsuperpowermedia.org)
• Remember the example of love and sacrifice of Muammar Gaddafi …. When an imperialist dies, never dies!, Honor and glory to Gaddafi! …. (libyaagainstsuperpowermedia.org)
• We Shall Overcome (paulalexanderwolf.wordpress.com)
• The Libyan Puzzle in the Scramble for Africa (libyaagainstsuperpowermedia.org)
• NATO murdered Gaddafi with a UN mandate (latestnewssyria.wordpress.com)