Trade places Mr. Howard
I don’t know about the rest of the world, but I got really angry when I was reading this: “The government is ramping up efforts to get Australians out of Lebanon, with plans to ship up to 6,500 to safety by Sunday following a barrage of criticism over rescue efforts.”, not only that but I slowly became enraged when I heard this: "It could be the largest movement of Australians overseas ever in our history, and I think the Department of Foreign Affairs has done a remarkable job in very difficult circumstances.” – PM John Howard. Now like I said I don’t know about the rest of the world, but I’d like to put Mr. Howard in the situation of those unfortunate innocent people who are in Lebanon at the moment and see how much faster the evacuation process gets. I’m not totally unreasonable I know it may be difficult but I’d also like to be sure that ALL measures are being taken to get people home safely.This is not the case for everyone though; thousands of innocent Lebanese people are in danger, their homes and their lives are in constant threat and for what? Is the loss of so many people, homes, lives important enough to sacrifice over an issue that cannot be agreed on? Why aren’t the leaders of these two countries sitting down right now and discussing what should be done in order to spare the people? It honestly makes me sick, war accomplishes nothing but heart ache and for those who start it and continue with it, it proves that they are lower then animals to do something so horrific not to the people who have ‘wronged’ them but to the thousands of innocents who are massacred in the process.
Your thoughts?
(for photo's and full article see: http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=115253 )
posted by spicey pineapple @ 9:22 am
16 Comments:
Just to clarify, humans are animals.
I am not espousing war but it is part of the imperfect world we live in. It is appaling to see innocent lives lost because of politics, because of power play between governments/organizations/religions. We are living in a crazy world. How else can you describe the society we live in where the have's continue to get rich while the have not's continue to be in the quagmire of their existence. War I guess is the ultimate expression of the inequality in the world. Poverty is the most fundamental one. War makes me angry. Poverty makes me angry. Inequality makes me angry. Can all the angry people in the world unite and establish a new order for our society? I hope there are enough of us to do so now.
Jess:
Nice thought, but at the end of the day that is like saying why didnt hitler sit down with the rest of the world to share his opinions. Dont forget that this situation has been happining for over 50yrs, its just now that the rest of the world are really taken notice. Innocent people in israil, are also being hurt, goes both ways.
War is inevitable, in a world where people see difference as dangerous. Until that changes there will always be war. Unfortunate but inevitable.
Some one once said, for all the world to be peaceful, you must find your own peace, before you can help others.
Love ya jess
Any australian's over there currently should have to get themselves home, government should not waste any $$'s on them. They went over that way in the middle of a war... Pure Stupidity. However in the case of the Lebanese there is not alot we can do. They just happen to be in a really bad location in the world and got caught in the middle of it all (i'm not being an ass, you all know it's the truth). Yes i wish we could help some people over there but honestly, it is way too expensive to be even considered by the australian government. I do feel sorry for the Lebanese but they will have to go through this whole thing before it starts getting better.
We have the same thing happening with United States citizens. Their evacuation has been very slow and that is scary and of concern. To be fair it might also be wise to ask yourself who these people are and why they are there. Some, maybe most have family there. Others...I question their motives. What in the world are they DOING there? Why would you go to such a dangerous place? Are you a supporter of Hezbollah? Remember that all of these people made a CHOICE to go.
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As someone who has tried to avoid confrontation and conflict all his life, I share your desire for negotiation to avoid war and the loss of innocent lives. However, Israel evacuated Lebanon 6 years ago at the UN's urging. The UN and the Lebanese government did not hold up it's end by removing Hezbollah from the southern end of the country. As a consequence, Israel has had to attack Hezbollah where they are--in Lebanon. In addition, they have had to attack targets that are critical to the Lebanese people in order to prevent Hezbollah from utilizing those same resources.
Remember that Hezbollah is an organization committed to destroying Israel. This is NOT negotiable. If a ceasefire is negotiated, as has taken place over the many years of Israel's existence, the only thing it will do is allow their enemy to re-arm and acquire ever more powerful weapons. This has occured in the past and most certainly happen again.
Sorry for my rant and disagreement with your position. I used to feel the same way: war accomplishes nothing but heartache and loss. Now I have to disagree. When there are people surrounding you who want you DEAD, war can bring you safety and security.
Belinda, I very much see your point. Many of the Australians there, had a good reason to be there, visiting relatives, vacationing, etc. If Mr. Howard himself were there, evacuations would have been given a much higher priority.
Many of US here remember how the Aussies fought with us in WW II and what a fighting, good bunch of guys and gals they are. I still get teary when I play Waltzing Matilda at the restaurant and other places I perform on piano. War brings out the best and worst in people. Keep being passionate about the things that matter. Urkat
Some countries (*cough* US *cough*) are too busy bickering about whether they should have to pay to get people out to actually get down to doing it.
I agree with you, when the term "rescue" is applied, time is of the essence, and everything else should be secondary.
Also, countries usually issue travel warnings and in this case didn't come into effect until a week ago.
If people were stuck in a tropical vacation locale without food because of the effects of a hurricane or tsunami, should they be left to their own devices because they decided to willingly go to a potentially dangerous place?
I think the apathy here is revolting. It's human lives we're talking about, not cows or some other commodity, and you don't stop and ask someone if they have a good enough reason to permit them being saved from a hostile environment.
You decided to come here on your own? Too bad, you're stupid, you can die?
That kind of thinking will lead to deaths, all because people don't want to see their taxes go up.
Sad.
That's right Outburst, we bicker about everything but the important stuff. US is in a bad way because our government has been hijacked by a bunch of pampered playboys who think war is a game. I would love to sock GWB in the nose and kick Dick Cheney in his bad leg.Urkat
P.S. We don't have any tax money because the government has spent it all and the oil companies are taking the rest. What's worse, we can't get rid of this president because his party controls the Congress and Senate. Even if some fanatic did take a shot at him, it wouldn't do any good. If they hit his brain, it wouldn't make any noticeable difference, and it would be almost impossible to hit his heart because it's so small. Urkat
If you are single I would love for my son to meet you.
After considering what Urkat and Outburst (and you) have said, I humbly retract my comment about whether or not visitors should have been in Lebanon. You all have convinced me that they should all be rescued and QUICKLY! (I do stand by the rest of my comment.)
And I agree with Urkat that you should continue to be passionate about things that matter to you. However, do not let emotions alone be what guides you. Rational thought as well as consideration of other opinions are also good things.
Thanks for setting me straight on this one!
very interesting point belinda...
i am interested in the war history...i wasnt saying anything about i want war to earg its all caused by politics...i might be going to isarale..sry cant spell it...as i am in the armyit was in my war blog..but anyway....we do not get that much training so i am being shiped off to a hell hole of killers...and people who left there homes with new born babys and a wife to take care of...i am only leaving one of those things behind...a loving wife...who iv only been married to for a couple of months...i will bring mr laptop with me...so i can keep my blog running ill post a thing recently to say how it is over here...
but i dont know when thats happening soon id say
i have posted a new article on Davinci i u want to read it belinda...
best regards..
jeffersons
Spicey, You have some interesting friends. Urkat
This is a terrible situation, one that many innocent people are caught in. Having friends and family on both sides in quite possibly life threatening danger, i hope the attacks stop from both sides of the border SOON. As for the whole situation in the middle east... well its very complicated there are good people in all countries and unfortunately evil people too. I hope somehow someway we can all live together as humans
outburst, travel warnings had been issued... OVER A YEAR AGO... yet ppl still go over.
I actually have alot of friends who have family over there so i have seen the pain it can cause to families back here.
Ok, so they are in a bad situation over there. Don't get me wrong i do care about the ppl stuck in the middle of this. I just think that anyone who has gone over in the last 2 years, not counting those who had to go for work (soldiers & doctors), should not be getting special provisions to get them home (unless they themselves, not the government, have payed for them). Our main efforts should be to keep the war from reaching home, not getting ourselves stuck in the middle of it.
I hope that all of this unneccessary war BS finishes as soon as possible, as i am sick of it already. Do they not realise how close we have come to WW3, and i for one am more seriously concerned with that fact.
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