Conflict in the Middle East continues to rage on. It is not new and I will bring no revelation about what is going on regarding the civil war in Syria.  But what prompts me to write this article is the number of comments I have read from people who express this attitude:  why should we care about what is going on with this struggle which is not our own anyway?

We should all know that what goes on in any part of the world, especially in the Middle East, affects us globally.  A short list of concerns we should have about this war is¯ our economy, no matter whose side we take, is affected.  Our reputation as a world power that staunchly defends democracy and opposes brutality of a people by any regime stands in question and finally, yet importantly, why would we not be actively involved in deposing any government that supports terrorism?  We have intervened in other countries situations so why have we chosen to sit back and take a passive stance with the strife that engulfs Syria. 

There should be growing pressure by others on us to become more involved¯ at least for the sake of our futures.  How could a possible domino effect of falling governments over there affect us in days and years to come?  I know we have enough on our own plates and an entanglement in others’ affairs may not interest many but I think we walk a dangerous tightrope to sit back and be passive. 

President Assad does not care who he raises the sword against and it appears that thousands more lives will be lost before this internal war is over.  He could care less about humanistic rights of his people but the United States has always been the champion of those in crisis.  There is no easy or quick fix to this situation or it would already be over.  War is risky business and I am not suggesting it but horrible crimes against humanity are being committed.  Justice must prevail. Should we stand by idly?  Inaction will not bring change nor will it save lives.