Every
day, citizens in democracies around the world are able to exercise a
fundamental right that they may not even think twice about during their daily
routine: the right to have their voices heard in their own governments, which allows
them to contribute to the decisions that ultimately affect their own lives. It’s
not only possible, but even likely, that these same privileged citizens could
go days, months and even years without considering their less fortunate neighboring
countries that are not offered this same liberty.
Some countries use their own militaries to execute their own citizens rather than give citizens a say in government. Citizens
of Daraya, Syria experienced this terrifying reality when their government decided
it had had enough of being demanded freedom. The Syrian Army surrounded the town,
allowing no one to leave. It even cut its food supply and electricity off. The
rumor that rebels had an armory that held missiles inside the city was all that
was needed to begin the execution of hundreds of men, women and children.
I cannot fathom the possibility of
waking up one morning, surrounded by men who were about to execute me and
everyone around me. It’s even more impossible to comprehend the possibility of those
very men being members of my own country’s military. I am very privileged to
live under the protection and promises guaranteed to me by the American
government. Viewing the execution of Daraya, Syria from a macro-perspective,
the world cannot let this happen. We cannot defend our inaction by blaming the
victim. I cannot see any reason to execute any innocent person, as I believe
the children executed in Daraya were. Many of the men and women were possibly innocent as well. No government, democratic or not, should exercise any sort of authority to execute its own innocent citizens. The world has come a long way to not let this happen, and I can't understand why it does.
8/28/12 8:44 PM
"Crackdown Toll Seen as Syrians Bury Hundreds"
Good work. You've weaved the summary and analysis together seamlessly into a well written narrative. One word of advice would be to make your analysis a little more objective; other than that good job.
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