Honor and Conflict

Get Outlook for Android From: John Ames Birch Sent: Friday, May 14, 2021 5:41:50 PM To: justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca <justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca>; Chrystia.Freeland@parl.gc.ca <Chrystia.Freeland@parl.gc.ca>; dujarric@un.org <dujarric@un.org>; antonio.ferrari@un.org <antonio.ferrari@un.org>; Rota, Anthony - Riding 1 <Anthony.Rota.C1@parl.gc.ca>; Garneau, Marc - Député <marc.garneau@parl.gc.ca>; ANKRA-Consular@international.gc.ca <ANKRA-Consular@international.gc.ca>; accredit@gov.ru <accredit@gov.ru>; actso@naacpnet.org <actso@naacpnet.org>; Naacp <washingtonbureau@naacpnet.org>; Blanchet, Yves-François - Député <Yves-Francois.Blanchet@parl.gc.ca>; beril.aktas@hurriyet.com.tr <beril.aktas@hurriyet.com.tr>; Kate Brown For Oregon Information <info@katebrownfororegon.com>; bgantz@knesset.gov.il <bgantz@knesset.gov.il>; contact.nbcnews@nbcuni.com <contact.nbcnews@nbcuni.com>; ctvottawa@ctv.ca <ctvottawa@ctv.ca>; correspondence@council.nyc.gov <correspondence@council.nyc.gov>; contactus@newfoundlandlabrador.com <contactus@newfoundlandlabrador.com>; america@aljazeera.net <america@aljazeera.net>; dir_enq@cso.gov.hk <dir_enq@cso.gov.hk>; doug.fordco@pc.ola.org <doug.fordco@pc.ola.org>; david.penberthy@news.com.au <david.penberthy@news.com.au>; dan@jpost.com <dan@jpost.com>; English@mail.gov.cn <English@mail.gov.cn>; education@nasa.gov <education@nasa.gov>; edumitru@amnesty.ca <edumitru@amnesty.ca>; eurohealthycities@who.int <eurohealthycities@who.int>; Francois-Philippe.Champagne@parl.gc.ca <Francois-Philippe.Champagne@parl.gc.ca>; Francois.Legault.ASSO@assnat.qc.ca <Francois.Legault.ASSO@assnat.qc.ca>; fkalmbach@theadvocate.com <fkalmbach@theadvocate.com>; FEMA-News-Desk@fema.dhs.gov <FEMA-News-Desk@fema.dhs.gov>; Fisher, Gordon <gfisher@postmedia.com>; GlobalOttawa@globalnews.ca <GlobalOttawa@globalnews.ca>; govsec@nanoq.gl <govsec@nanoq.gl>; govpress@la.gov <govpress@la.gov>; HaveYourSay <haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk>; harjit.sajjan@parl.gc.ca <harjit.sajjan@parl.gc.ca>; help@ellentube-support.com <help@ellentube-support.com>; info@bnn.ca <info@bnn.ca>; Info@hc-sc.gc.ca <Info@hc-sc.gc.ca>; Info@PMOindia.gov.in <Info@PMOindia.gov.in>; Info@narendramod.in <Info@narendramod.in>; jedmiston@nationalpost.com <jedmiston@nationalpost.com>; Jagmeet.Singh@parl.gc.ca <Jagmeet.Singh@parl.gc.ca>; jason.kenney@parl.gc.ca <jason.kenney@parl.gc.ca>; jsavikataaq@gov.nu.ca <jsavikataaq@gov.nu.ca>; Kate Brown For Oregon Information <info@katebrownfororegon.com>; kdundar@hdn.com.tr <kdundar@hdn.com.tr>; KathyCrawford@house.mi.gov <KathyCrawford@house.mi.gov>; letters@jpost.com <letters@jpost.com>; letters@theaustralian.com.au <letters@theaustralian.com.au>; letters@lasvegassun.com <letters@lasvegassun.com>; LetsDoThis@ellentv.com <LetsDoThis@ellentv.com>; lansing@mlive.com <lansing@mlive.com>; media@sputniknews.com <media@sputniknews.com>; media@gatesfoundation.org <media@gatesfoundation.org>; minister.edu@ontario.ca <minister.edu@ontario.ca>; matt.eldredge@kolotv.com <matt.eldredge@kolotv.com>; news@skynews.com <news@skynews.com>; nytnews@nytimes.com <nytnews@nytimes.com>; newsonline@ctv.ca <newsonline@ctv.ca>; news@thelocal.se <news@thelocal.se>; News@KelownaNow.com <News@KelownaNow.com>; Oprah@oprah.com <Oprah@oprah.com>; osd.pentagonpressbadges@mail.mil <osd.pentagonpressbadges@mail.mil>; online@theaustralian.com.au <online@theaustralian.com.au>; premier@gov.pe.ca <premier@gov.pe.ca>; pm_eng@pmo.gov.il <pm_eng@pmo.gov.il>; PARIS-MEDIA@international.gc.ca <PARIS-MEDIA@international.gc.ca>; Robert.g.daniels@cbp.dhs.gov <Robert.g.daniels@cbp.dhs.gov>; ryan.schleeter@greenpeace.org <ryan.schleeter@greenpeace.org>; Sky.Today <Sky.Today@sky.uk>; Secretary@HHS.gov <Secretary@HHS.gov>; submit@calgaryherald.com <submit@calgaryherald.com>; tips@GlobalTVBC.com <tips@GlobalTVBC.com>; tracy.mcphee@gov.yk.ca <tracy.mcphee@gov.yk.ca> Cc: Aclupreferences@aclu.com <Aclupreferences@aclu.com>

Subject: Honor and Conflict (Opinion)

Through our history we have fought against one another in this never ending civil war of our people. Billions have died as we fought to understand the individual verses the collective. There used to be a code, a rubric of honor to operate under conflict. These rules sought to limit civilian casualties and to focus only on military targets. This code was really our humanity screaming through the darkest nights of our inhumanity as we sought to save our souls from dishonor. This code has been forgotten as civilians on both sides of our conflicts suffer. Innocent men, women and children killed by the hate of political or religious ideologies. Billions of people have been killed during our history and most were innocent civilians trying to live their lives. All that potential, all that promise cut short by hate and violence. Entire generations ended by conflict and the damage that follows the survivors of conflict. It's not just the violence of conflict, it's the fear, devastation and hate that follow the survivors. Generations upon generations affected by hate as one side retaliates against the other and the cycle continues. Round and round the wheel of trauma spins as it destroys society after society, person after person. We must do better. Conflict of any degree damages us all as a species but when barbarism enters conflict, it becomes atrocity. We need to find new ways of solving our disagreements that protect civilian and calvary from atrocity. It's not about what the other side did or stands for but what each of us stands for as human beings. If they stoop so low as to use human shields then you become a shield for those civilians. Instead of allowing acceptable casualties you prevent them at all costs. We must realize that there are no acceptable casualties, they are all unacceptable. The honor and legacy of any nation is stained by these acts of inhumanity and with each death we become less and less humane, we become less and less human. We must reclaim our humanity and hold it tight even amid despair and conflict. The true measure of a person or a nation for that matter, is how they treat those weaker then themselves. Its every nations responsibility to uphold the honor of our society in everyday life and amid conflict. Even if those nations are at peace the trauma of conflict still affects them. I call on every nation to uphold the honor of our people by protecting the people. Honor your nations and honor yourselves, do not fall victim to fear or atrocities. Instead stand true in your humanity and keep honor in all things paramount. We are a noble people, we prove this everyday in acts of compassion across the globe. To remain noble we have to ensure our inhumanity never eclipses our humanity even amidst conflict. Together we are one people and we must learn to coexist. Stay safe, stay sanitized and stay supportive, John Ames Birch @johneames2

ReplyForward