Friday, January 22, 2016

The destruction of St. Elijah's Monastery and thoughts on ISIS

BUT ISIS DOESN'T CARE: World blasts ISIS for destroying oldest Christian monastery in Iraq (AP/Israel HaYom). And ISIS isn't going to care as long as "blast" continues to be used metaphorically.

This is a good time to remember that larger atrocities, such as ISIS's now codified practice of making captive Yazidi women into sex slaves, heavily outweigh the issue of antiquities. I focus on antiquities because that is what this blog is about.

This blog is not (generally) about advocating particular political or military solutions in world affairs, and I am not calling for more direct military intervention in the Middle East, although that is an option that those who make such decisions will need to consider. I don't envy them their job.

Meanwhile, I will continue to bear witness to and condemn what is happening in the Middle East.

Background here and links.