The Middle East

As far back as I can remember there has been conflict in the Middle East. I’m not even sure there is a country in that area of the world that hasn’t been at war. The hardest part for many of us in this country is that we just can’t come to grips with why that part of the world is always at war.

Unlike for most of us, in the Middle East many people are raised with hatred, whether it is hatred toward certain religious beliefs or hatred toward a certain country. So how can we change this? To be very blunt, we can’t. Short of taking all the children at birth and raising them in an open minded and tolerate society, and then letting them go back as young men and women, there’s nothing we can do. Even then it’s a bit of a stretch.

I’ve tried to understand, for years I’ve tried. There are many things I don’t understand. That’s a product of how we are raised. I can’t imagine having to flee with my family in fear of a rocket attack or some kind of military invasion.

What I can understand though, is why there is so much hatred pointed towards western society. After all, every time there is a conflict, it’s our interests in the Middle East that drive us to interfere. Maybe that is not the case so much with Canada, but that is definitely the case with the United States. While humanitarian aid is an absolute must, it’s that appetite for oil that keeps the watchful eye of our neighbours to the south on the Middle East. I’ve often wondered if all the oil in the Middle East dried up, would anyone even care? Sure some would, but would there be enough interest to drive military action? I think not, but that’s just my opinion.

So we’ll just sit here, in our nice heated and sometimes air conditioned homes, and wave our finger of judgement at the Middle East. Most of us will never understand their conflicts. Rest assured though, as long as there is oil pumping out of the ground, western society will continue to poke it’s nose where it don’t belong.  I mean really, is it that big a mystery why some people in the Middle East hate us so much? I think not.

Now that was a heavy topic for a Saturday morning. I really hope that one day I’ll live long enough to see true peace in the Middle East. I won’t be holding my breath though, and I would recommend you do the same.