Chrysalis

This is a serious question because we have ignored events in Syria, and elsewhere, for a long time now. Last week we were all shocked by the images of small children lying dead on the streets after what looks like a vicious chemical attack. Surely that image and the motivation behind it should have convulsed us all into action, but it seems not.
I realise that times are hard in Ireland for people right now but seriously it could be a lot worse. In my lifetime we have had Rwanda, Bosnia, Iraq and countless others that we saw on TV or missed all together. We are now facing another growing tragedy and I am asking the question how should we feel about that?
If this happened in an EU state or in the US we would be repulsed to the point of action I have no doubt but this is not happening there it is in a region that we have become accustomed to seeing in turmoil. We have had decades of images and video footage of fighting, bloodied streets and wailing survivors. Has the televising of the revolution desensitised us to the point of emotional not caring. Those lines of white, peaceful little babies should have rocked us to our core it should have moved our Minister for Foreign Affairs and deputy leader Eamonn Gilmore to get on a plane to New York and demand action from the UN.
The political reaction around the world has been muted by diplomatic, economic and status concerns. President Obama was strong for a brief moment until the Russians and the Chinese piped up and he softened his cough smartly. Prime Minister Cameron re-called Parliament to vote on action but realised quickly he would lose a vote on force and so rowed back almost immediately. What have we done here, nothing?
Look I realise we a small country on the peninsula of Europe but we do have standing internationally and we do have access to corridors of power. Cast your mind back to President Mary Robinson in Somalia and how her teary report from there embarrassed the international community into action. It brings me back to my question, how should we feel? When the Bosnian crisis was at its worst and refugees were pouring into Albania there was a clothes and blanket drive started in Cork by my late father that ended with 20 articulated trucks leaving a warehouse in Farranree in Cork and driving through Europe to camps in Kosovo as part of a Concern convoy.
I worked with dad on that drive and we saw people from across Cork, Ireland and abroad dropping up to the Northside with bags and bags of clothes, blankets and coats. We spent weeks sifting through and sorting out all we got then boxing it and loading it on pallets before sending them on their way. That was a show of force; it was a show of support from an Irish community to a European neighbour. Did we do anything to stop the conflict probably not but as citizens we did what we could.
So what can we do, if our politicians are not going to act? We can contact the agencies on the ground in the area and see what they need. If it is clothes and blankets then send them some, if it is money then send that and if it is vocal support to our representatives to force them to act then get shouting. I have written numerous times in the past about the need for citizens of the State to stop complaining and get active well here we are again this time it is our cousins in Syria who need our support so let’s give it to them.
Ireland is the country of GOAL, Concern, Trocaire and countless others. We are the nation of shop workers who stood up against the apartheid regime of White South Africa and we are the country of Mary Robinson, Adi Roche and thousands of others. Maybe it is our responsibility to ensure Syria is not reduced to a business by-line about the fact that crude is now at €115 and maybe living up to that responsibility will give us as a nation the lift we need.
Who knows?