When the weapons fall silent ? And when will so much biased journalism be silent ?
We who live in Syria, we are really tired, nauseated by this general indignation that is raised to condemn those who defend their lives and their land.
We have gone to Damascus several times in recent months; we went after rebel bombs had caused a massacre in a school, we were there a few days ago too, the day after they fell, launched from Goutha, 90 missiles on the government side of the city. We listened to the children's stories , the fear of leaving home and going to school, the terror of having to see their classmates get blown up again, or jump themselves, children who cannot sleep at night, for fear that a missile will land on their roof. Fear, tears, blood, death. These children are also not worthy of our attention?
Because public opinion didn't bat an eyelid, because no one was outraged, because no humanitarian or other appeals were launched for these innocent people? And why only and only when the Syrian government intervenes, arousing gratitude in Syrian citizens who feel protected from such horror (as we have seen and are told), we are outraged by the ferocity of the war?
Right, even when the Syrian army bombs there are women, children, civilians, injured or dead. And we pray for them too. Not just civilians: we also pray for the jihadists, because every man who chooses evil is a lost son, it is a mystery hidden in the heart of God. And it is to God that judgment must be left, He who does not want the death of the sinner, but may he convert and live.
But that doesn't mean you shouldn't call things by their name. And you can't confuse those who attack with those who defend themselves.
To Damascus, It is from the Goutha area that the attacks against civilians who live in the part controlled by the government began, and not vice versa. The same Goutha where – it must be remembered ? – civilians who did not support the jihadists were put in iron cages: men, donne, exposed outdoors and used as human shields. Goutha: the neighborhood where today civilians who want to escape, and take refuge in the government part, taking advantage of the truce granted, they are targeted by rebel snipers...
Why this blindness of the West? How is it possible that those who inform, also in the ecclesial sphere, be so one-sided?
War is bad, oh yes, yes if it's ugly! Don't come and tell the Syrians, who have seen it brought home for seven years... But one cannot be scandalized by the brutality of the war and remain silent about those who wanted the war and still want it today, on the Governments that have poured their increasingly powerful weapons into Syria in recent years, their intelligence… not to mention the mercenaries deliberately allowed to enter Syria by passing them through neighboring countries (many who later became ISIS, the West must be reminded, that at least this acronym knows what it means). Keep silent about the governments that have gained and continue to gain from this war. Just look at what happened to the most important Syrian oil wells. But this is just a detail, there is much more important at stake.
War is bad. But we haven't reached the goal yet, where the wolf and the lamb will dwell together, and for those who are believers it is necessary to remember that the Church does not condemn self-defense; and even if we certainly don't hope for the use of weapons and war, faith does not condemn those who defend their homeland, your own family, not even your own life. You can choose non-violence, until he dies. But it's a personal choice, which can only put the life of those who choose it at stake, you certainly can't ask that of an entire nation, to an entire people.
No man who has a minimum of true humanity, can wish for war. But today tell Syria, to the Syrian government, not to defend his nation is against all justice : too often it is just a way to facilitate the task of those who want to plunder the country, massacre his people, as has happened in these long years in which the truces have served above all to rearm the rebels, and humanitarian corridors to bring in new weapons and new mercenaries.. and how can we forget what atrocities have happened in recent years in the areas controlled by the jihadists? violence, summary executions, rapes... the stories given by those who finally managed to escape ?
In recent weeks they have made us read a truly incredible article: so many words to convey a single thesis, and that is that all the Eastern Churches are only servants of power... for convenience... Some nice catch phrases, like the reverence of Bishops and Christians towards the Syrian Satrap... a way to delegitimize any appeal from the Syrian Church that gives a glimpse of the other side of the coin, the one we don't talk about.
Beyond any useless defense and controversy, let's make a simple reasoning, starting from a consideration. And that is that Christ – who knows the heart of man well, that is, he knows that good and evil coexist in each of us, he wants his people to be leaven in the dough, that is, that presence that little by little, from the inside, it makes a situation grow and directs it towards truth and good. He supports her where she needs to be supported, he changes it where it needs to be changed. With courage, without duplicity, but from the inside. Jesus did not indulge the sons of thunder, who called for punitive fire .
Of course there is corruption in Syrian politics (as in all countries of the world) and there is sin in the Church (as in all Churches, as the Pope has complained many times)
Ma, appealing to everyone's common sense, even non-believers : what is the real alternative that the West is calling for for Syria? The Islamic State, sharia? This in the name of the freedom and democracy of the Syrian people? But don't make us laugh, On the contrary, don't make us cry...
But if you think that in any case it is never permissible to compromise, then for consistency we remind you, just to give a small example, that you couldn't get petrol 'without compromising with the strong powers', as most companies bought cheap oil from ISIS, across the Turkey Bridge: so when you travel a few kilometers by car, you also do it thanks to the death of someone from whom this oil was stolen, consuming the diesel that was supposed to heat the house of some child in Syria..
If you really want to bring democracy to the world, secure your freedom from the satrapies of the West, and worry about your consistency, before intervening on that of others..
Not least, one cannot help but say that the fact that if a Christian or a Muslim denounces the atrocities of jihadist groups should be passed over in silence, finds only a rare media echo, for marginal streams, while those who criticize the Syrian government gain the front pages of the mainstream media.. Perhaps someone remembers the interview or an intervention by a Syrian Bishop in some important Western newspaper? You can disagree, evidently, but true information presupposes different points of view.
After all, those who speak of an interested reverence of the Syrian Church towards President Assad as a defense of the short-sighted interests of Christians, proves that he does not know Syria, because in this land Christians and Muslims live together. It was only this war that damaged coexistence in many parts, but in the areas secured by the army ( unlike those controlled by the 'others') we still live together. With deep wounds to mend, Unfortunately today I also have a lot of difficulty in forgiving, but still together. And good is good for everyone: the many charitable works bear witness to this, rescue, development managed by Christians and Muslims together.
Right, Whoever lives here knows this, despite so many contradictions, not someone who writes from behind a desk, with many stereotypes of opposition between Christians and Muslims.
“Free us Lord from war... and free us from the bad press...".
With all due respect to journalists who really try to understand situations, and truly inform us. But they certainly won't be the ones who feel bad about what we write...
The Trappist sisters in Syria
Reporting of Federici Studies Center
