Humans are not made for war. Not physically, not mentally. Yet the continuous observance of violent scenes everywhere you look makes some people grow numb.
It doesn’t matter if they are terrified the first time they encounter such a scene. Over time, they cannot escape from falling into the depths of dismal indifference.
Normally this is not very easy, given the fact that everyone is born with a conscience. But these people shut out their conscience and cease to feel compassion as they maintain their comfortable routines.
They stop caring about others and become desensitised.
A shocking example of this desensitisation exists in one place you would least expect: Syria.
As the war rages, with horrific scenes of babies being pulled out of debris, scores of people killed by chemical weapons, children being targeted by regime snipers and barrel bombs levelling buildings, there is another life going on in parts of Syria.
Homs, Tartus, Latakia and parts of Aleppo and Damascus are still under the control of the regime.
Most people living there are acting like there is nothing extraordinary going on.
The fact that only a few kilometres away innocent people are being slaughtered, towns are being razed to the ground and people are being driven from their homes doesn’t seem to affect them as they calmly continue their daily lives unperturbed by the noise of bombs and shelling.
Even more incredibly, they file into cafés, restaurants and nightclubs as the day comes to an end. It doesn’t seem to matter to them that, not so far away, women and children are being ruthlessly hunted down, murdered and tortured.
Cosmetic fairs, car races and wedding ceremonies continue at full speed. There is a wedding almost every night with singers giving concerts.
This uncaring attitude plays into hands of Assad as, according to analysts, his intention is to keep the economy of the areas he controls in relatively good shape while ensuring total collapse for the rest of the country.
Add to this fact the reluctant support of middle and upper class Syrians for Assad, out of fear of losing the status quo, the situation becomes even more grim.
In the meantime, Assad steps up the use of his own flag to reinforce his virtual power.
Accordingly, pavements, shops and streets are now painted in the regime’s colours and the streets are filled with posters of Assad, his soldiers and his father.
Guta, where thousands including children died from chemicals in horrific scenes, is a part of Damascus.
We are talking about the capital city of Damascus, where life continues like nothing is wrong. What about Duma? Recently, civilians there were ruthlessly massacred – yet it is only 10km from Damascus.
Of course, everyone has the right to continue their daily routine, which includes having fun.
However, there is nothing right or proper in continuing these activities with such a shocking level of apathy towards the suffering of fellow human beings.
This doesn’t mean people should take up arms and join the fight.
Instead, it means they should begin an intellectual struggle against the insanity that is destroying their country.
Anyone can do that and can take part in such an intellectual effort because the real war that needs to be fought is one against deviant ideologies.
The good news is that, against this background, there are people of love – people with strong hearts and consciences who understand that once they unite their peaceful forces they can fight devious ideologies that give rise to the most unspeakable horrors and violence.
Their determination will put an end to this madness.
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