Enough of fame; a pox upon these actions

The fame of good men’s actions seldom goes beyond their own doors, but evil deeds are carried a thousand miles’ distance. [Chinese proverb]

In this time of conflict and turmoil, insecurity and despair, if there’s one question one cannot ask, with the expectation that there will be universal agreement, it seems to be the one that starts, “Who could fail to be moved by...?”

Adding to our grief is the loss of trust in the innate goodness of our neighbours on this planet. For now we all know that there is clearly a substantial body of people, not just ‘out there’ but even ‘right here’, on every ‘side’, across every political and religious divide, who indeed fail to be moved by the horrors that they and their teams unleash.

The Independent never fails to bring to my attention the anguish of victims. This must have an effect on its sales: from those like me, who look at the headlines and photos, who reflect, wince, then opt for another paper, as opposed to those bold souls who buy because of those very headlines, those very photos.

On Monday, the blow was the death of Fares Akram‘s father. Now it’s someone we ‘know’. Fares’s Dad. Journalists force us up close and personal. We now chalk up for our Ongoing Concerns lists, Fares’s wife, their baby and the nameless, invisible, overlooked women and children in that region, whom they represent.

Yesterday, the photo of the three Samouni children being carried to their graves. The day before, the anxiety of Ibrahim Dawwas. Next week, no doubt, a flurry of images. From Zim, the DRC, Afghanistan...

Enough. Enough of fame. A pox upon these actions.