For days now, I have been posting on social media the atrocious events going on in Iraq. For the most part, I wanted to let others be aware of the evil people are facing in Iraq under the threat of ISIS. A member of my family commented and asked what we can do? It was a very very good question. It was a question that left me to ponder what could we really do? This left me to think that we really cannot do anything. I am not a state power, or a figure of great influence in the world. As a commoner, what power or influence do I have? After much reflection, nothing can be further from the truth. We can do something. Every person can in his or her own capacity can. In my own reflection, two ways came into mind. It consists of the spiritual way and the material way. Whether you are an observer, a commoner, a person of faith or not, you have a capacity to do something. We can do something by approaching it in two ways. We can approach it in a i) material sense or in a ii) spiritual sense.
We can in the i) material sense spread these events in social media as a way to create awareness and thereby create public outcry. Prior to the increase awareness of the atrocities in Iraq through social media, mainstream media has been silent on the matter. When social media became bloated with reports of children being beheaded, and minorities being trapped and surrounded by ISIS in the mountains, the mainstream media jumped on board. Soon enough, public outcry increased. This I believe influenced those who hold authority to take action, for it placed them on a spot where they had to give an account of their standing. It required a decision on their part from the public and not a rhetorical exercise. Prior to social media and mainstream media reports, the majority of the people knew about the ISIS situation in passing or ignorantly. I was among the ignorant. People were compelled to make some level of response to the situation in Iraq, but not until they started seeing videos and images in social media of Iraqis being murdered in masses. After increased awareness through social media and mainstream media, the U.S. was prompted to take measures. After all, the world has not forgotten that they went into Iraq erroneously, and the world holds them at some level responsible for what happens to Iraq in the now, or in the long run. Social media influences mainstream media, mainstream media influences public opinion through agenda-setting, and public opinion influences those who have the power to enact measures. Spreading awareness of these events will no doubt help, as it has done so to some measure in recent days. Sadly, events like these have been happening in Syria and Egypt in the last few years, and the mainstream media was quiet on the issue.
In the ii) spiritual sense, we can offer our prayers and sacrifices to God to assist those in danger of dying. As a Catholic, I approach it in a very sacrificial and atoning manner. Jesus empowers us to make sacrifices by uniting it to His cross, thereby effecting the good and welfare of those around us. Every Christian can make a spiritual lent at any time. A lent enables us to cut off what is wrong in our lives, and to apply the fruits and sacrifice we make for the good of others. This is something that is not new. In history, this ability to pray and make sacrifices (e.g. fasts from things attached) for the greater good has been tried and tested. One example is during the great threat of the Ottoman Empire to expand (their pattern is the same as the Jihadists) throughout the Mediterranean during the 16th century. Christian nations united to form a league which resulted in their victory in the Battle of Lepanto. Prior to and during the battle, all of Europe was called by St. Pope Pius V to pray the Rosary. The result, circumstantial changes just before the battle. The wind current did a 180 which became a strategic advantage in naval standards for the Christian forces. The League which was outnumbered became advantaged by a twist of fate.
These are just two ways in which we can choose to approach this sad situation in our own capacities. I think it is even better if we approach it using both ways. These however are are just ways by which I will attempt to approach it in my own capacity. There are probably many other ways which we can do something. But for me this is something very reachable in our daily lives in this side of the world.
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