Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain -
and most fools do. ~ Benjamin Franklin
This is so fitting for the majority of those who
comment on Syria who have never run for
anything, been elected to anything, had to make a life or death decision that
would affect millions, are not themselves in harms way, being gassed or bombed
with no protection or end in sight save for the hope of intervention by a
foreign power whose people so easily say let them be slaughtered because those
who are dying are far from their own shores and of no relation to them; those
whose judgments and opinions are usually clouded by political leanings and like
or dislike of the person or persons faced
with the monumentally difficult task of making these decisions.
Of course everyone has a right to his or
her opinion and the freedom to speak his or her
mind.... well actually
those who are being slaughtered usually don't have those rights but that's
another topic altogether.
Instead of criticizing, condemning or
complaining about what is or isn't being done,
provide a thorough statement as to
what you would do prefaced by a bit about your own knowledge and expertise. You
know, share with the rest of us and your democratically elected leaders what you
know that they might not. Offer your
wisdom and helpful suggestions. Can't do that? Why? Ah I understand, you
criticize, condemn and complain because you really have nothing constructive to offer. Well if this is
true, here are two other great
quotes that you might want to take to
heart:
Blessed is
the man who, having nothing to say, abstains from giving us wordy evidence of
the fact. ~ George Eliot
It is better
to stay silent and be thought a fool, than to open one's mouth and remove all
doubt. ~ Abraham Lincoln
Me? I really
have nothing to offer because the choices between doing nothing and doing
something are equally difficult and I am not privy to all of the information our
elected leaders have. All I know is that people are suffering and dying by the
thousands. Someone needs to care and protect the innocent, especially the
children. Something needs to be done. What that something is I really don't know
and as much as I abhor violence, it appears as thought it will not stop, short
of one side or the other being virtually wiped out, unless an outside party
intervenes with force. I pray for those who have to make these decisions and
pray that they will make them with the utmost care and consideration for the
lives that will certainly be lost in order for others to be saved. I don't envy
them their task and wish them well, for it is their souls that are at
stake.
Before
you criticize, condemn and complain answer these
questions:
If you were
a civilian on the ground in Syria what would you be hoping for?
If you were
President of the United States what would you do?
