Without Help from America, Syria is Doomed...

Without help from America, Syria’s future is doomed. I hate when people say we shouldn’t bomb Syria because it’s not our problem. Don’t get me wrong — I don’t think we should drop bombs (“bombing for peace is like f*cking for virginity” and all that) — but I don’t think we should shrug our shoulders and say, “Eh, doesn’t affect me. Where is Syria, anyway?”

I really don’t care if it doesn’t affect you. It affects humanity. Human beings. People like you who just happen to live somewhere else. And it’s pretty disturbing to me that you wouldn’t want to help people who are suffering — including children — because they don’t share your religion or language or hair color or geographic coordinate. I actually think that’s kind of gross on your part. What if it was you (imagine if, after 9/11, the world had been all like, “Ha-ha! Sucks to be you, but not our problem”)?

That is the kind of attitude that allowed the Holocaust to happen. And the Rwandan genocide. And Kosovo. And Darfur. I’ve been saying this for the past three years (and before this whole chemical weapons spiel, people would just kind of stare at me with a blank face and be all like, “Where’s Syria? Are they Arabs? I mean, they’re terrorists anyway, right?” Nice). One hundred thousand people have died, guys. Have some compassion. Do something — anything, however small — to help.

Help the refugees: there are over two million Syrian refugees outside of Syria. Most are living in refugee camps in Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey in abysmal conditions. World Vision, Concern Worldwide, Life for Relief and Development, Shelterbox, UNHCR, War Child UK, UNICEF, Catholic Relief Services, Mercy Corps, International Orthodox Christian Charities, and CARE are reputable organizations that are helping refugees get access to water, food and other emergency supplies.

Help the injured: it’s not just the number of dead Syrians that is rising steadily. Every day, the list of injured men, women and children gets longer. Doctors Without Borders, the International Rescue Committee and the International Medical Corps are providing medical care to those that need it.

Help the malnourished: in a time of war, food is scarce. The World Food Programme, Mercy-USA and Islamic Relief USA are feeding the victims, both inside and outside of Syria.

Help the traumatized: Save the Children is providing psychological care for those affected by the tragedy.