Home TA Online US-Israel war on Iran: The weight of knowing

US-Israel war on Iran: The weight of knowing

A conflict thousands of miles away still asks something of all of us

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The ravages of the illegal US-Israel war on Iran are a heavy burden to live with, knowing that our own species is capable of such profound barbarism.

When we see the news of schoolgirls being murdered in their school, as happened in Minab, Iran, we are not just worried about the price of oil or interruptions to international travel; we are questioning the very nature of who we are as a species – and what kind of world we are leaving for our children.

We must also face the hard truth that we are not ‘outside’ of this madness just because we are 6,000 miles away.

Even within our own peaceful communities, there are those who believe that hate and violence against others are valid ways to build the society they envision. This toxicity knows no borders, for rather than find ways to allow places of worship to stand where they are, a few of us choose to demolish them.

Our duty as part of the human family is to prove that violence is not our only legacy. We change our species by refusing to become numb and by standing firm against the rhetoric of hate – at home and abroad.

We do it by teaching our children the tools of peace, demanding diplomacy over destruction and practising radical empathy in dealing with our neighbours.

Distance doesn’t absolve us of responsibility. Instead, it gives us the stable ground to stand on and reach out. Every act of compassion is a vote for a different kind of humanity.

READ MORE:  Why the West will never accept Iranian sovereignty

A thought for us all to consider: in a world where conflicts can escalate so rapidly, how do we balance the pursuit of national security with the moral obligation to protect innocent lives across the globe?

If the cycle of retaliation is left unchecked, what does that teach the next generation about the value of diplomacy and the possibility of lasting peace?

The views expressed in Aliran's media statements and the NGO statements we have endorsed reflect Aliran's official stand. Views and opinions expressed in other pieces published here do not necessarily reflect Aliran's official position.

AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
  1. Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
  2. Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
  3. Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
  4. Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
  5. Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
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UK Menon
UK Menon, an Aliran member, is a lawyer turned educator with fifty years in higher education as a teacher and administrator. He now leads a collective of like-minded academics and administrators offering various legal and education-related services.
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