Paris March: What About Other Victims?

Sunday headlines said huge crowds massed in Paris. Protected by “unparalleled” security, according to AP.

Including thousands of police and military forces. Along the two-mile Boulevarde Voltaire route marchers took.

An “unprecedented tribute,” said Reuters. Showing “unity and defiance,” claimed The New York Times.

“(S)olidarity following three days of terrorist attacks that badly shook the nation,” said the Washington Post.

“Paris displays defiance with huge rally,” headlined the Wall Street Journal.

“Paris urged to ‘come in numbers’ to defy Islamist terror,” said the Los Angeles Times.

London’s Guardian said one million “expected for anti-terror rally.”

Al Jazeera headlined “Huge crowds attend Paris solidarity rally.”

BBC said “Vast Paris rally…Unity after 17 people were killed during three days of deadly attacks.”

Le Figaro said “(A)ll major (Parisian) streets are saturated” leading to “place de la Republique.”

Le Monde headlined “(H)uge crowds marched against terrorism in Paris and France.”

An invitation circulating on social media said: “Indignation. Resistance. Solidarity, I am Charlie.”

Organizers said Sunday’s rally expressed solidarity for “freedom of the press. (F)reedom of speech. France won’t be cowed by terrorists.”

Around 40 world leaders attended. Reuters said 44. Some reports said 50. Including around two dozen Western European ones.

 “(M)ourning the loss of these brave souls,” said New York Governor  Andrew Cuomo. Vice President Biden joined him on site. Obama sent a message of condolence.

In response to last week’s Paris killings, he ludicrously called them “an attack on journalists…on our free press, underscor(ing) the degree to which these terrorists fear freedom.”

“(O)ur thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who’ve been lost in France, and with the people of Paris and the people of France.”

Obama’s comments are rife with hypocrisy. Other Western leaders aren’t far behind.

Israel’s Netanyayu is a serial liar. War criminal multiple times over.

Who mourns for millions of war victims in the Middle East though? Noncombatant men, women and children.

Lost Palestinian lives. Slaughtered by Israel. Others ruthlessly persecuted.

What about on average one defenseless Black youth per day killed by US cops?

Who holds solidarity marches demanding justice for them? Mourns victims. Supports surviving family members. Demands state-sponsored terrorism end. The madness of one imperial war after another. Senseless slaughter and destruction.

Trillions of dollars down a black hole of war profiteering, waste, fraud and abuse. Wars are dirty. Merciless. Unjust. Lawless.

Good ones don’t exist. Poet Robert Burns said “(m)ore inhumanity has been done by man himself than any other of nature’s causes.”

“Man’s inhumanity to man makes countless thousands mourn.” Out of sight and mind worldwide. Every day of the year.

Who notices their suffering? Who explains their grief? Who televises it?

What world leaders express solidarity? Which ones demand no more wars?

George Santanyana said “(o)nly the dead have seen the end of war.”

Howard Zinn denounced the myth of good wars. Preventing peace. Perpetuating violence.

WW II was worst of all. WW III if waged will be the war to end all future ones. Today’s destructive WMDs can end life on earth.

Zinn said “(w)e need to decide that we will not go to war, whatever reason is conjured up by the politicians or the media, because war in our time is always indiscriminate, a war against innocents, a war against children.”

No “flag (is) large enough to cover the shame of killing (millions) of innocent people.”

Over a century ago, Mark Twain expressed outrage about America slaughtering Filipinos. Things were like today on a smaller scale.

Imperial conquest is vicious. Having nothing to do with liberating oppressed people.

Or championing democracy. Free expression. A free press. Freedom of assembly, association, and religion.

….Paris mourns 17 lost lives. Avoidable tragedies. Victims deserving to live. Get equitable and just treatment.

Who mourns for the daily victims of Western wars though? From ongoing direct and proxy wars.

Endless ones. Countless millions affected worldwide. The dead, dying, mutilated, suffering, deprived and exploited.

Who rallies on their behalf? Who demands lawless imperial slaughter end? Who accepts nothing less than peace, equity and justice?

Who puts their bodies on the line for them? Who resists growing tyranny in Western societies?

Who fights for democratic freedoms fast slipping away? Who demands responsible governments replace ill-serving ones? Who goes all out for what matters most? – Stephen Lendman

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