Whose side are we on?

Fr. Livio Tonello, director

History has always been written by the winners who have the power to craft and dominate the stories that are passed down, often side-lining the defeated. Only at the beginning, when one has to ally with one or with another, the prophetic far sight of justice and truth can be revealed. The cunning and the bad faith of those who change side and jump on the bandwagon are really regrettable.

In contemporary wars the different States decide to side with a country or with another for political and economic reasons hiding the real reasons of the conflict. Being on the side of reason, which is often that of the offended and the weak, is not so obvious. Sometimes they bet on the victory of a country or of another one in terms of reciprocal advantages. The wars in Palestine and in Ukraine are fought for a variety of reasons in including economic, territorial, political, civil and revenge without understanding the values in play that are crucial for the perspective of peace.

We must not arbour false hopes; what is happening in the global world has an impact on our lives too. In social tensions one must fully engage to defend the great ethic values in play. Whose side are we on? Are we able to be the witnesses of the value of truth beyond the logic of profit? Are we able to get involved to defend a value?

The wisdom of the world of the Gospel tells us clearly which side we have to be on. The feast of Saint Anthony’s tongue that we celebrate on 15 February invites us again to be courageous and coherent. The Thaumaturgist never doubted which side to be on and he always defended the poor. With his words he was always artisan of peace by denouncing the injustices, supporting the victims of the violence and healing the body and the soul of the sick also with miracles.

If we continue to supply arms to the countries at war instead of giving humanitarian aid we will not advance on the path of reconciliation. The attacked countries have the right to defend themselves. But in the context of a global policy only the international mediation will resolve a conflict. Because war is always death and destruction, it is always a defeat for all the countries at war.