Perhaps it's time I've said something I believe in

Situation: Chechnya

Let us consider... separatist Chechen rebels seek to secede from the decaying Russian Empire, but the Empire clings on to it, refusing to grant independence. Old anti-NATO mentality there. Chechens will not stand for less than independence, and launch guerilla attacks. (Konfrantasi again). Russians retaliate in kind.


Is it really such an atrocity? An unprovoked atrocity? What people never see: The Russian shells arcing across the border, pounding unprotected civilian settlements, the MiGs streaking across the sky, dropping their deadly payloads of chlorine gas, the Russian troops marching into the region, depopulating whole villages. And above all, the propaganda messages, subverting the minds of these people, turning them from their way of life.


But see what these Chechens do in return! They storm theatres, blow people and buildings up, and above all, ABOVE ALL, they harm children. Cute little innocent children do they deliberately implicate in their murderous plots, hoping to twist the emotions of people to further their own selfish causes. Cute little innocent children with their little minds of fluff and lightness, suddenly plunged into this terrible nightmare, manipulated like hapless pawns in the games played by evil little men, and the only reason being that they were born on the wrong side of the border. Is this justifiable? Does ANYTHING ever justify this? Can you say that these children are a worthy price to pay for the achieving of whatever petty aims you have?


No. No life is worth sacrificing for any aim, not even that of the worst possible person. And least of all, not that of an innocent child. Is not the noblest aim that of life itself, the one that gives us the greatest joy? Can we ever say 'Death before Dishonour', and really mean it? I don't believe for a moment that Adnan died for something as vain and transcedental as the concept of 'honour'. He died so that others would not. The same goes for every other 'hero' in history - none of them ever died for a 'concept' like Nationalism or Freedom. They died because they were forced to or because they saw that their death would save lives.


But what can these Chechens do? An army comparable to Stalin's Red Army stands poised to march into Chechnya at any moment and wipe out all traces of such a place. None may resist this mighty iron fist, not when they have the backing of half the world. I say they back down, withdraw all claims to independence, and be content with reabsorption into the Russian Empire. And to the Russians too, cease this futile, destructive war efforts, and negotiate for peace. The war they are fighting is over principles, and the people are dying for principles. Is this really necessary? It is better to be safe than to be dead.


Somebody said that at 10:23 PM

- x - - x -