When is it ever okay to witness suffering and do nothing about it?

I can't help but respond to the response to my call of action, which resounds as a call of apathy.

Much love, and I am excited about the dialogue, but I am saddened because the perspective exhibited in this post is not uncommon. 

It must be comforting to discuss human suffering in the most self-removed and theoretical methods. On both sides of the fence, the self-righteous and the indifferent, at their worst are doing nothing. What fails to happen, regardless of their stance, is an honest engagement with their discomfort. 

Even those who seem to not care at all--and watching the playoffs isn't the only criteria for not caring...in fact, I don't believe anyone gives their all to the struggle until it reaches their doorstep--have not engaged their discomfort.

And if you've seen the aftermath of this fighting and are not uncomfortable at all, then I believe you have breached your contract with civil society.

Of course a conflict between two states boils down to a struggle for power. 

Yes, citizens of a state have an obligation to hold their government responsible.

But, in this day and age, when we are more globally connected then ever, placing the limits to our civil society within our own nation is outdated. 

That line of thinking is isolationist, utterly selfish and provides a slippery slope that potentially justifies inaction when acts of genocide (apparently the only act smartblackboy feels justifies other nations peeking over the fence) occur. 

It is not a matter of doing what's right simply because so many innocent (I cannot help but assume your definition of "innocent civilian" is framed by making the American experience a universal experience) people are caught in the middle of this. Rather, it is understanding that we are far too connected to view this as their problem. 

I usually don't take on another person's post on this blog.

But this had been building inside me ever since I saw the quote C2toB took from a girls facebook status we both know:

"People who don't pray, inform, protest or care about what is happening in Gaza are complicite with the murder of innocent civilians."

I completely disagree.

In fact I think the more uncomfortable truth is that it is totally okay to not pray, inform, protest, or care about what is happening in Gaza.

Let's go back to the beginning.

We were all originally in a state of nature that we left when we entered into a contract to form civil society.

If you don't understand the previous sentence then please stop reading this post - there is nothing else that I can say that will change your mind from thinking I am just being a huge asshole.

Without going into a huge argument about what it means to be part of a civil society, and what exactly is the extent of the contract we make, lets just agree that there is some form of contract and we exist in some form of civil society.

The problem is that there is a limit to our civil society - namely you are only part of your own nation. And whereas there are many important moral arguments that can be made about individuals and their society; nation states are not individuals.

When nation states interact with each other - morality does not exist.

International relations, is, was, and always will be defined by power.

There is simply no other way.

So when another nation state attacks another nation state for the stregthening of its own people that it has a contract with to protect - no one save God can judge.

And the proper response should be looked at through the prism of how does this war effect American power, influence, and security in the region and at home.

However, do we have a moral obligation to care about the fact that people are dying in a war between two nation-states?

Absolutely not.

Now I will say that there is a difference between two civil societies figthing and a government that is breaking its contract to its people (genocide). In the latter case we do have a moral obligation to care because in this case they are weakening the bonds of civil society itself, which no nation can tolerate (or else we are all in danger of falling back into a state of nature).

However in the case of the former, in the case of a war between two nations, there is no such thing as an innocent civillain. You give up your right to be innocent when you enter your civil society. If you don't like your government you also have the right and responsibility to change it. But you have to bear the burden of your governments decision. It isn't fair but it is reality. (Which is why everyone should be outraged over the failings of the Bush administration, no matter if you supported or opposed Bush, we all have to deal with the consequences. Also this is why we should always do what we can to assist our own government no matter how we personally feel about its leaders. At the end of the day - people who hate America won't care how you voted ).

So, if you decided to watch the NFL playoffs, and you didn't pray, inform, protest, or care about Gaza - that is fine.

It is also great if you do care, pray, inform, or protest about Gaza.

On a personal level, I follow any conflict I become aware of rather closely because war interests me from a political science standpoint. I do pray for those in Gaza because I am religious and believe in the power of prayer.

However I don't believe that anyone who doesn't do this are morally bad people. I don't think Americans have an obligation to care about Gaza, and I definitely believe it is complete bullshit to suggest that a person is complicit in murder because they don't care about a war between two other nation states.

The Cowboys didn't make the playoffs so I'm not watching them this year, but for all of those who did, I hope you enjoyed the game.

As I got ready to write about my predictions for the divisional playoffs (which will be undoubtedly outdated by the time you read this...is anyone reading this?) I criticized myself for not blogging about the situation in Gaza. I feel like a hypocrite, another practicioner of kitchen table compassion. How could I turn the turmoil that has killed hundreds and displaced thousands more into a footnote of my day? I spent 6 hours watching football (with teams I don't even like that much) and a few minutes reading a couple articles and have spoken to no one.

And I usually pride myself on being informed. 

I've bantered with family and friends and spoken to people much more informed than I, but still feel meaningless.

How could I let this happen? 

Why am I completely comfortable watching civilians die and the anger I feel pales in comparison to what I would feel if FOX didn't carry the game today?

And by now I'm mad at you for wanting me to just make my predictions for Sunday, talk about what I thought of Saturday's games and stop being so "deep".

I'm mad that I don't know more about this; that the most I can say to people who have no sympathy for people in Gaza is, "it's a grey issue. Hamas is putting Palestinians at risk but that doesn't leave Israel blameless for the death of civilians."

I'm mad that many Christians and Americans misinterpret our relationship with Israel and don't offer criticism in situations that are desperate for it.

I'm mad at overt and covert forms of anti-Semitism that prevent people from understanding the Israeli perspective at all.

As a Christian I am humiliated because I know that Christ isn't calling us to be sideline disciples. So we can't afford to contribute to the "I am just one person" rhetoric. There has to be more we can do. 

Write your representative in Congress, donate to the International Response Fund division of the Red Cross.

A friend of mine recently wrote, "People who don't pray, inform, protest or care about what is happening in Gaza are complicit with the murder of innocent civilians."

 

I can't be responsible for this.