Monday, July 24, 2006
Collateral Damage
I was just reading all the headlines and news as usual. After reading all the local stuff, I went on to international news sites like CNN and BBC. As most of you might already know, there is a war going on in the middle East. To ordinary folks like us, it is just another foreign incident which we could hardly afford to do anything. The only impact on us will be the possibility of another hike in fuel price.Since this is a family related blog, I will not use this as a platform for me or anyone else to debate the political issues related to the war. However, I found a very touching article written by Cal Perry from CNN, which I thought I should share with parents who are following this site.
I quote a few paragraphs out of the article...
Standing in front of this 8-year-old boy lying in a hospital bed... His pain cannot possibly be imagined as he shakes uncontrollably in and out of shock. He has blood coming from his eyes...
... His name is Mahmood Monsoor and he is horribly burned. In the hospital bed next to him is his 8-month-old sister, Maria -- also burned. Screaming at the top of her lungs is the children's mother, Nuhader Monsoor. She is standing over her baby, looking at her son -- and probably thinking of her dead husband. The smell of burned flesh is overwhelming...
... The father, Mohammed Monsoor, was killed instantly. His children all were wounded. His wife, who is now crying over two of the wounded children, was in the best physical condition. But as would be the case for any mother and wife, her life, in many ways, ended the minute the car exploded into flames...
To the politicians, leaders and war strategist (of all sides that is responsible for the war), the suffering that these people go through are reduced to a term known as "collateral damage" in a war. Some even refer to them as martyrs. To them, a few thousands innocent lives sacrificed for "the greater good" is a fully justified act. The ends justify its means! Little do they know that their decision to settle their indifferences through the use of force have much greater impact on the civilians.
The seeds of hatred had been cultivated and growing among the young ones in the affected nations. Only time and history will tell us how this will impact the future generations in years to come. As for today, I weep for the innocent souls that are sacrificed, and more so for those, like Mahmood and Maria Monsoor who are still suffering from the cruel act of war (which they know nothing of).
Picture source: CNN
Jotted down by Egghead :: at around 7/24/2006 02:28:00 PM :: and invited 10 Blah(s):
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