how does Catholic Social Teaching inform your understanding of how the international community must respond? Do you think that CST us currently a guide for decisions on an international level? Is it realistic or possible to use CST to guide our decisions as individuals and as a nation? Why or why not?
In this new day and age, we still find ourselves affected by the injustice and murder that painted our history. Currently Syria is facing the threat of genocide, justified by this concept of every man to his own country. This division dehumanizes the other group because they, in this case the Alawites, are labeled as the enemy. Back when the Rwanda Genocide occurred, the UN didn't want to admit the atrocities that were really going on. Now is the time to repeat history from repeating itself. UN forces should be stationed in Syria to maintain peace and protect the citizens. I think that we are called to help those in need in whatever way they need us. In this case, we need to stand up for their right too live where they would like and their right to live in peace. I feel as individuals we are more likely to be aware of the situation and want to make a difference. But as a nation, I feel we may underestimate the problem in Syria until more blood is shed and it is too late. Our culture, as sad as it is, is self-centered in many respects, not wanting to go out of our way to help the needy. I feel that most people will argue it isn't our responsibility to help with the "civil war" in Syria and that we should leave them on their own. Overall, I believe we need to make the inidivual choice to help and then go to our congressmen and get our voice heard in Congress.
