Everyone is in shock since the Manchester attacks. I have never felt this bad about an attack. Innocent and beautiful children have been killed. Terrorists have found a way to strike us at the most unexpected places and people have found their strength to not run scared and be brave.
Almost every few months an event like this occurs and sends shock waves across the globe.
These kids were having a good time at a concert when tragedy struck. Last year the same thing happend in Paris when shots were fired. I like most people keep asking myself the why and how.
While there might not be a short and straight answer to it but there is an explanation.
You can read the news to get all the information and form your opinions but truth be told we cant do anything about this situation (other than NOT run around scared ).
The word terrorism is being broadcasted far and wide.
Is anyone safe? Has anyone ever been !
To understand global terrorism we also have to understand Imperialism, acknowledge European Supremacy and remember the words "American Interests" and OIL.
Here's a crude way of explaining Imperialism and European Supremacy :
I mean I have seen pictures of Syrian Kids being burnt with chemicals and weapons stolen ( illegally supplied) from US/Russia/Assad - but thats a legit war plus they are not British and that's why International monuments will not be lit in there name. So I guess the one in Manchester is more brutal
Now lets take a trip down the memory lane and evaluate the various events of the past and also look at some interesting things going on right now.
Where did all of this start.
Well it all started when Eve ate the damn fruit from that tree.
But actually :
On May 22nd 2017 a suicide bomber - Salman Abedi attacked a music concert killing and injuring children !
On May 19 1916 Imperialist powers Britain and France conclude the Sykes-Picot agreement.
A brief history lesson
In the aftermath of WW1 the British and the French thought that it was completely okay to draw a line on the map and divide the region that was left after the fall of the Ottoman Empire. Absolutely no thought was given by the Imperialist bosses, to the native population of this region. This region is what we now know as the "Middle-East"
That straight line starting from Damascus is not just an info-graphic. They ACTUALLY just drew a line across the map and decided to assume control of the region.
A region which was culturally diverse and had prevailing issues of religions and casts.
No they did not divide the region between Shia and Sunni Muslims and Jews; by consulting or even considering their demands. After all they were their subjects so who cares.
This division gave rise to the countless civil & geo - political wars in the region and a rise to a notion of European exceptionalism.
The defining moment
9/11 happend. The most brutal attack on American soil. More than 3000 innocent people died in this attack.
Taliban claimed the responsibility - George Bush waged war on Iraq and WMD's (wtf right)
9/11 has since been the defining moment of the 21st century.
Every war has been started in its name ,narratives have been built and elections have been won .
The "war on terror" and a series of stupid american foreign policy initiatives has given rise to the ISIS.
Which we know has claimed responsibility of the attacks in Manchester.
So is this basically a payback ?
Yep
According to extremist groups and their philosophies the attacks in France and Britain are an answer to the injustice and atrocities by Imperialist groups, on their ancestors almost a 100 years ago.
This is where it gets real interesting
Get this - ISIS attacks men , women and children in Syria with Russian guns made in 1947 and bombs manufactured by America in the past few years.
Some random 22 year old gets radicalized in Manchester and unleashes havoc and terror. In the same week as Donald Trump decides to sell weapons to Saudi Arabia - worth 100 Billion USD.
Every year every major player in the defense industry meets in Jordan for an expo called SOFEX where arms and ammunition are traded between countries like US , UK , France , Russia, Iran,Saudi Arabia,Syria, North Korea you name it.
It's open season. Countries in a state of war all meet together and trade together.
In all honesty the attack on Manchester the attack on CHILDREN was an act of terrorism, not a conspiracy to start a new war not an inside job. Just plain simple evil. Actually stupid evil.
All life is precious and no one deserves to die. BUT
Children are the easiest targets. The psychological impact is much more than killing a bunch of workers or regular office goers.
Conclusion
This world is a hostile place and always will be
Bottom line is that around the world wars are being financed by Corporations and propagated by Politicians for the control of Oil. Extremist groups are fighting in the name of God for land that was promised to them and was snatched away because of a series of bad decisions in the 20th century .
The price is being paid by innocent civilians all over the world who have nothing to do with anything.
None of us are safe, we never have been.
French,Americans,British,Iranians,Indians , Pakistanis we all just want to chill the fuck out. But a few hot heads, jobless extremists want to create an unrest because they want attention, most of our egoistical leaders are in a "mine is bigger than your's" war.
This attack on Manchester is a reminder of our helplessness in the face of evil. The attack could have happened anywhere to anyone.
But in these dark times we must remember- that it's only the darkest before the dawn .
Now this might be one helluva long night but we have survived everything till this point and we always will !
You can read this book : The Fall of the Ottomans: The Great War in the Middle East by Eugene Rogan
Photograph: Fabio Bucciarelli
All other Image sources : Google
Artworks : Banksy