It can sometimes be difficult to care about another country’s problems, especially when we all have problems of our own, and the country in question happens to be on the other side of the planet.
So it’s pretty easy to read headlines like CNN’s “House leaders back Obama on Syria” and NBC’s “Selling Syria: White House makes case for an attack” and shrug them off as matters that don’t pertain to us.
But these are things we should care about, even if they don’t affect us directly: Are we trading one war for another? Will this lead to more Americans having to lose their lives? Will our friends and family members here in St. George be sent off to risk their lives in yet another Middle Eastern scuffle? How many lives would we be saving by intervening now? Is it America’s duty to help others in need when they need it? What will the Syrians’ quality of life of be like if we don’t help out? Should we just let the country work it out for itself? Should we let millions die without doing anything?
The argument can be made for both sides. There’s plenty of evidence that the Syrian people need help, and we are willing and able to do what we can. There’s also plenty of evidence to suggest that our involvement could just lead to more trouble and could possibly do more damage in the long run.
Both arguments will impact our lives in America.
We’ll see fluctuation in gas prices as Middle Eastern oil sources become uncertain. We’ll see a stock market rollercoaster in response to military actions. We’ll see taxpayer money being diverted to the effort in the Middle East. And we’ll see protests from people who think we should have done something else.
You should take action. You should pay attention to the news. You should care about your fellow humans. You should contact officials. You should care.
