SHS Reacts to Syria

On August 21, 2013 over 1,300 Syrians lost their lives in the Ghouta chemical weapons attacks. For the first time, many Americans saw the horrors of the Syrian Civil War. The Ghouta attacks caused Russia and China to firmly deny any need for military action, while the US and other allies call for reprisals. But the questions that lingered in average American’s minds after the attacks were whether or not we were ready for another war.
“Without a doubt, it is a travesty and a loss of life” said Senior Marco Scibelli. Scibelli is sure that what happened in Syria is “heinous” and yet, despite this initial reaction, Scibelli could not condone military action in Syrian of any kind. “It just isn’t America’s job…maybe if it was globally sanctioned and we were part of a larger force, but we cannot be doing this alone” said Scibelli. Scibelli’s is a sentiment that many Americans now share. The loss of life in Syria and the general atrocities of the civil war have Americans upset and feel sympathetic to the rebel’s cause. Despite this sympathy too many Americans still have the lingering doubts about war. America as a nation is still feeling the effects of Iraq and Afghanistan.
Another SHS Senior, Tiber Weaver-Zemen said that he would not even support joint military actions. “The Syrian Conflict is exactly what it sounds like, a Syrian conflict. I don’t want to sound harsh, but there will never be any progress in Syria unless they take the problems that they have created or started and learn to fix and work with them” Weaver-Zemen said.
Senior Matthew Mahoney echoed Weaver-Zemen “While I recognize that people are dying, I just believe air strikes or something like that would be the best. And even better we should strive for a diplomatic solution.” said Mahoney. Although the previous students’ opinions are certainly more widespread, there are those who are very vocal about helping the situation in Syria. “People are dying, don’t you get that? We can’t just sit back as Assad murders more of his citizens. The people there deserve our help.” said Senior Alex Khatib during a Political Action Club meeting. Khatib, who is Syrian himself, has relatives who have been displaced by the conflict. “We could be doing something to help these people, instead of letting Assad do whatever he pleases”.
On the other hand, students such as Weaver-Zemen feel otherwise. “We aren’t the world’s police anymore, and were never were. We just thought we could be” said Weaver-Zemen.
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