If you need to be enlightened on the Syrian situation (as I jokingly call it "Arab Rumspringa; too glib perhaps?), you should first read this informative, yet brief, article that has been circulating on Facebook: 9 questions about Syria you were too embarrassed to ask.
Why would we went to get involved in the civil war when we could put our resources to much better use providing aid to the Syrian refugees strewn throughout neighboring countries? My parents work with many refugee families in Jordan, providing mattresses and other supplies to lessen the severity of the dire conditions in which these people are living - and the need for such aid grows and grows.
They have visited places where multiple families are living in one small room, with a handful of babies who don't even have diapers so the place reeks of stale urine. On a recent visit, there was a family who wanted to marry their 14 year old daughter off, for protection or money. They have met a young boy who was so traumatized and struck by fear because of the war he saw in his hometown that his hair has fallen out - and won't grow back. Another young toddler's first word: "enfijar", the Arabic word for explosion - all because that is the word he heard spoken and shouted the most in Syria as bombs went off nearby.
Maybe you are a numbers person, and those sad accounts don't strike a chord. In that case, here are a few statistics to consider:
- 5,000 people are escaping Syria every day into neighboring nations
- 1/3 of the Syrian population from their homes
- the highest number of displaced people anywhere in the world
- 8% of their population of 6.2 million
- 52% of the total refugees are CHILDREN 17 and under
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| Syrian children killed by the recent chemical attack |
Look, Damascus will disappear! It will become a heap of ruins.
Isaiah 17:1
Good article, Savannah, and appropriate Bible reference as well.
ReplyDeleteThere is no military option for the United States that turns out well. I.e. if we help any of the rebels, we will end up helping Al Qaida, Jabhat al-Nusra and other Islamists groups. There is no way to control where arms end up. Rebel units fight against each other all the time-for control and power. Even while they fight against the Syrian Army. The most extremist will likely take over all the other rebel units in the end anyway. That's the way things have worked historically in this part of the world.
This war could go on for years, but it is not the responsibility of the United States to stop it. There have been MANY other wars in the past 30 years that we never involved ourselves in, and which killed a lot more
people. Why get involved in this one and not the others?
Having said that, I believe that the United States DOES have a RESPONSIBILITY to provide as much aid and help to those that have been
affected by the war, and assist the countries who have taken in refugees. The United States could very easily afford to help the refugees (and even displaced persons) in appropriate ways that would show that we have not taken sides, yet are concerned for their well-being. To whom much is given, much is required.
Yesterday, a small Christian village in Syria called Ma'loula was invaded by rebels. Meg and I (and others at FCCC) have visited it before. It is one of the few places in the world where Aramaic is still spoken. Here is an overview of what happened:
First, a Jordanian jihadist blew himself up at the town's checkpoint killing all the government soldiers there--yes, a Jordanian. (FYI, Jordan is filled with Islamists just like him. When the Islamists finish in Syria, their next targets will be Lebanon, Jordan and Israel. That is why we pray for continued peace here in Jordan and in Israel. Lebanon is already a mess, but could use alot of prayer as well.)
Then the rebel unit came in and took over the whole town, including the hotel at the high-point of the village. The first thing they did was mortar a church. After that, the Syrian Army came in and started bombing the places where the rebels were located, destroying every place where they could be found.
This is what happens all the time in Syria. Rebels take over a town. The Syrian Army bombs the rebels in that town, killing and dispersing them and, in the process, destroying the town. This is why there are 4,000,000 displaced persons inside Syria, not to mention over 2,000,000 refugees outside Syria.
Why are our leaders looking to get involved? Let me give an example from the Bible, where there was a war between Egypt and Assyria in 2 Chronicles 35:20-27. The southern Kingdom of Judah decided to get itself involved, but it ended up badly for the king, and for everyone else in the country as well.
Assyria was a 'terrorist' country by all historical accounts. Yet, Judah was not called by God to intervene in their conquests and fights. If anything, King Neco of Egypt said that God did not want Israel involved. Nonetheless, Josiah didn't listen, and look what ended up happening.
Has God called our country to embroil ourselves in this war? We have a government that is bent on calling 'evil good' and 'good evil'. I have no trust that our 'leaders' have any idea about what they are doing. John McCain himself said the other day that saying "Allahu Akbar" is the same thing as a Christian saying "Thank God." Well, that's about the most ridiculous and ignorant thing I've heard recently, except for the "never drew a red line" statement.
"And I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army." This prophecy might not be directly about the U.S. However, it certainly works as an example.
Just my opinion.