folio

I was invited this week to make a speech at an event in town regarding the ongoing conflict in the Levant.

I declined, however, on the grounds that I am not a speaker, my voice generally too soft to have any impact on others.

But that was a convenient excuse more than anything. The real worry being that I would speak out of turn, my views at odds with those of the crowd.

I lament the death of all innocents in this horrific tragedy, regardless of whose side they are on. And so do I denounce the extremists on both sides.

The events of a month ago should never have happened, irrespective of the continuum of colonisation and occupation. In my opinion, attacks on civilians can never be justified.

I am in favour of building bridges. Of striving for peace and reconciliation. But of course that is easy for me to say as one far removed from this conflict.

These are the ideals of a naive idealist. Thank goodness then that this naive idealist wasn’t granted the gift of raising his voice.