Make yourself look

Confronting the horror of war

I try to avoid it.

The News

After a while, the whine of each whimpering dog becomes an indistinguishable howling wind, doesn’t it?

Crises to the left of us, scandals to the right, here I am, stuck in the middle with News.

Just shut the door, hey?

I’m indoors, that’s all happening ‘out there’…..

We turn on the washing machine, dryer, dishwasher and whitenoise it away.

Somebody else’s shit, right?

But just as a mother gets to understand her baby’s cry, there are some sounds that beg our attention. The pain of sentient beings.

War demands to be heard.

Blood demands to be seen.

Suffering demands to be felt.

Yes, felt!

I couldn’t give a monkeys about governments, leaders, ‘sides’, any of that bollocks.

I don’t care about borders or zones that officials impose upon a beautiful earth that needed no such incisions, that made ugly scars.

‘Fact’ is a view from a mountain.

As such, appreciation of an issue requires studying all angles - from the top, middle and bottom.

You must observe a situation in both illuminating sunshine and pelting hail.

Perspective is gained after all, not gifted.

But after you have informed yourself, make yourself look. Really LOOK.

Not at stats or pictures of explosions or damaged buildings.

But into human eyes.

Isolate them from the pre formulated ideas you hold about nationality, religion, motives.

Because that is not the person.

Allow yourself to empathise.

See an individual, a flesh and blood mortal like yourself with hopes and dreams.

Hear the funny little giggle they had, read about the nickname their dad had for them, imagine the lame jokes they told. Make out the faded photo on the mantelpiece where they’re eating ice cream.

Notice the child’s painting stuck on the fridge, of the bright red house with the triangle roof. Place yourself within that cosy, warm bedroom with a bookshelf and night light. See that pile of teddy bears that will never be snuggled again.

Insert yourself into the beating heart of sorrow.

Look deeper, harder.

At the confused expression of a motherless child.

Into the eyes of a grieving parent.

Why?

Because………

It’s only by confronting the horror of that pain in all its uncomfortable, sickening guises, that we reaffirm our commitment to never wanting any more of the evil of war, ever again.