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After Paris
10 years ago
The vicious attack in Paris happened 24 hours ago. The internet is dominated by messages of love, support and shock. The attack seems to have affected us all. But something has me far more worried than knowing what isis is capable of. It's the growing amount of hatred I see spreading. Muslim and refugee seems to be the same as terrorist to an alarming number of people. All across Europe conservative and even straight out racist parties are gaining support. There is talk of closing borders, deport all immigrants and refugees. I even see people saying straight out, n public, that all Muslims should be shot, that all people of a different culture should be denied access to Europe.
This is of course terrible thing to say, but they're even worse when the majority of people coming here are desperately fleeing a situation we were very influenced in creating. For the past 150 years western nations have preyed upon the middle east. The Iranian democracy was toppled by the US and the UK then they nationalized the oil industry. While the Shah did modernize the nation socially, the lack of political freedom and the strong westernization of the county led to the Islamic revolution.
In Iraq, Libya and several other countries western military actions have left nations in chaos. It's not enough to bomb and leave, military intervention is a long time commitment and should also include humanitarian aid in the form of education, healthcare and rebuilding. I'm not saying that's not happening, because it is, but not on a big enough scale.
What I'm getting to here is, western nations have done a lot to receive this level of hatred. There has never been any respect for the middle eastern culture, nor the people. And there still isn't. So when people try to escape from a hell we brought upon them, we should not meet them with distrust, hatred and anger. The actions we make the coming years will determine how the next 100 years will turn out. Will we meet the situation and the people with respect and wisdom, or will we shut them out and bomb them until the current rebels are beaten and pretend things are getting better until the next wave of extremist?
The worst thing we can do now is turn our backs on the thousands of refuges. Meet them with respect and compassion, and maybe we can start breaking the circle.
This is of course terrible thing to say, but they're even worse when the majority of people coming here are desperately fleeing a situation we were very influenced in creating. For the past 150 years western nations have preyed upon the middle east. The Iranian democracy was toppled by the US and the UK then they nationalized the oil industry. While the Shah did modernize the nation socially, the lack of political freedom and the strong westernization of the county led to the Islamic revolution.
In Iraq, Libya and several other countries western military actions have left nations in chaos. It's not enough to bomb and leave, military intervention is a long time commitment and should also include humanitarian aid in the form of education, healthcare and rebuilding. I'm not saying that's not happening, because it is, but not on a big enough scale.
What I'm getting to here is, western nations have done a lot to receive this level of hatred. There has never been any respect for the middle eastern culture, nor the people. And there still isn't. So when people try to escape from a hell we brought upon them, we should not meet them with distrust, hatred and anger. The actions we make the coming years will determine how the next 100 years will turn out. Will we meet the situation and the people with respect and wisdom, or will we shut them out and bomb them until the current rebels are beaten and pretend things are getting better until the next wave of extremist?
The worst thing we can do now is turn our backs on the thousands of refuges. Meet them with respect and compassion, and maybe we can start breaking the circle.
