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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU that I can't feel the Christmas spirit with what's going on in Aleppo

56 replies

Toomuchhistory1 · 15/12/2016 14:13

Just that really. I'm feeling so helpless and sad watching the news with these horrific images of the poor people over there and what they're going through. Those poor children, it just breaks my heart.
It just feels so incredibly stupid to be worrying about buying trivial presents at the same time families are being killed in Aleppo. No amount of monetary donations make me feel less helpless and guilty. I honestly fear for the world that my children are growing up in but then is this any worse than WW1 and WW2 and the thoughts our grandparents had then?
Sorry for the rant, just feeling a bit Sad

OP posts:
Wifflewaffles · 15/12/2016 14:17

I feel that way too. I can't get into it this year, I'm just going through the motions. I feel so pathetic, useless and powerless.

J0kersSmile · 15/12/2016 14:19

I can't watch it. I should read about it, listen to the news and watch the videos on fb but it breaks my heart. I caught a bit of a video today of a boy who survived an attack but wouldn't let go of the Dr. I started crying and typing it out remembering it I've started again. How an earth is this happening in this day and age.

Hysterectical · 15/12/2016 14:29

I am in Qatar at the moment. They have cancelled all National Day celebrations that involve flyovers, fireworks etc in a very public wanton show solidarity. I ❤ that

Hysterectical · 15/12/2016 14:30

Way to show

Hysterectical · 15/12/2016 14:32

I also have many Syrian friends, some of whom are dead now. The people who are still alive say that the charities who make a difference more than anything else are the people who turn up with cuddly toys. Utterly traumatised children who have lost everything respond to them more than anything else

heartskey · 15/12/2016 14:34

It's absolutely unbelievable what's going on out there. There's hardly any country left. Sickening, disgusting and totally futile. The squabbling fighting bastards the lot of them.

notquitegrownup2 · 15/12/2016 14:36

YABU feeling this way. And if it's not Aleppo then there is Yemen , and northern Nigeria, and those drowning in the Mediterranean. And no, it isn't worse than the World Wars, or countless hideous conflicts before and since. (My dh says that it's time to put the women in charge, since men keep making such a mess of things!)

If it helps, however, this is exactly what we are supposed to think about at Christmas. It originated in a country under occupation and oppression, where every child under 2 was killed by the oppressive regime. It was supposed to be a statement that hope, and love, and self sacrifice can make a difference in a world of pain - however dark it feels at the time.

That seems an awful lot more relevant than buying an extra mountain of food or worrying about trivial presents. And you are right, monetary donations won't solve everything - but they can still make a difference, like those teddy bears, Hysterectical - that is so moving. And you can still make a difference to people around you, too. ( I think that the year I was able to work with Crisis at Christmas was one of the best Chrismases I have had.)

Backingvocals · 15/12/2016 14:37

To my shame I've been trying not to think about it. I must give something to charity as a pathetic way of doing something. Anyone know which one?

Thanks for raising this OP. We are all so helpless in this but at least I can show solidarity and give something.

Viewofhedges · 15/12/2016 14:39

You're not at all unreasonable. Indeed I find it sad that more people aren't reacting like this. I went to my work Christmas do on Tuesday feeling sick that here we were and there they were... it's awful. I tweeted, wrote to my MP (again) but wish there was something, anything, we could do.

I think we all need to get more involved in 2017 - join movements, shout, write, sign up to things. We are all going to have to do something in whatever small way we can to try and stand up for basic human principles. We can't sit back any more. We can't just watch.

But as for Aleppo, my heart breaks for the people there.

SilkThreads · 15/12/2016 14:41

I've been feeling this way too.

notquitegrownup2 - that is a very thoughtful post.

I would like to send a sack full of bears/bunnies/dolls but how can this be done??

(anyway it is a pitiful response to a massive problem).

Original poster
Toomuchhistory1 · 15/12/2016 14:42

Wow Hysterectical, feels like our country is ignoring what is going on to some degree. My babies are 4 and 4 months and my heart breaks at the thought of them going through what the children over there are going through Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
Toomuchhistory1 · 15/12/2016 14:45

Thanks notquitegrownup2, I never thought of it like that Sad x

OP posts:
heartskey · 15/12/2016 14:47

I do feel guilty that we are living normal lives over here while they are suffering so much. But I suppose we should remind ourselves that it is not us causing this war. The arms manufacturers are making billions out of it. I bet they aren't feeling any guilt. The bastards.

stella23 · 15/12/2016 14:48

feels like our country is ignoring what is going on to some degree. can I ask (not being Goady) what would you like our county to do? What would be the correct path to take?

LittleMachine · 15/12/2016 14:48

Silkthreads are you on Facebook? If you search your area and refugee aid you may find local collections e.g. ours is called Merseyaid and was collecting teddies a while ago.

Original poster
Toomuchhistory1 · 15/12/2016 14:49

Oh and in response SilkThreads I've found a local refugee charity who collect clothes and donations to take over to war torn countries in containers. I've been setting aside so many baby clothes and bits and pieces which I'll take to them in the new year. Seems not many charities do this and just ask for money which is a shame because surely these items would be needed over there. There may be some local to you, I found them on Facebook x

OP posts:
FinnegansCake · 15/12/2016 15:01

I feel sickened by what is going on in Aleppo, I can't believe that in 2016 the world is watching such a tragedy and apparently can't stop it. Seeing the children who have known nothing but war all their short lives shivering in the streets with their exhausted families is heart-breaking.

I feel intense rage when I see photos of literally hundreds of Christmas presents under a tree for one spoiled family, and read threads about people worrying that they haven't bought enough stuff for their kids because they've only got 15 presents each when their friends have all got 50 ... Don't they realise what is happening outside their own little consumer bubble? And the "I'll be binning it all after Christmas" brigade ... don't even get me started ...

It's a lousy world. So many people have nothing, and the obscene amounts of money wasted at this time of the year make my blood boil.

JellyBelli · 15/12/2016 15:04

Theres a petition on Change dotorg to ask the govt to do something.

I'm beyond disgusted with the situation. Any criticism of the groups involved is jumped on.

JellyBelli · 15/12/2016 15:05

Petition link

Roodolf · 15/12/2016 15:09

You are so right, OP. I too believe this is exactly the world that the story of Christmas speaks to. What jars with it is the selfishness, and the waste, and many of the things we worry about because honestly they are trivial.
I give to MSF because I see a lot from them of where the money goes, and their campaigns eg #safepassage are fearless (and unpopular). It's an uneasy feeling certainly.

timeisnotaline · 15/12/2016 15:16

Signed that petition. I find it really hard to think about and know I'm not doing enough to help.

PollySyndeton · 15/12/2016 15:35

YANBU OP. I feel the same. I was crying (again) at the news yesterday and was thinking that if I did have a faith (I don't, I'm an atheist) I would find it severely tested right now. It truly feels like there is real evil and malevolence in this world. It's terrifying.

I need to create some space in the house for the mountains of plastic crap my lucky children are about to receive for xmas. I think I might get them to do a clear out of their rooms and donate all their unwanted toys.

SukeyTakeItOffAgain · 15/12/2016 15:41

I feel the same. YANBU.

I'm really resenting the commercialism this year. Those texts from SIL instructing us what to buy her kids, and the mountains and mountains of stuff that I know will be in their house...fuck off.

I'm not a believer, but the image of a small baby in a stable somewhere in the Middle East compared to what's going on there now...it's dreadful.

NotStoppedAllDay · 15/12/2016 15:42

finnegans it's all comparable

Even the poorest British citizen is wealthy in comparison to the people of Syria. We all have more, and a life of luxury compared to them.... you included! Why berate families over here for doing a bit of xmas bragging via fb? Pointless really. What should they do?

WhenSheWasBadSheWasHorrid · 15/12/2016 15:42

I feel the same op.

I'm a complete coward, can't watch the news at the moment. I'm donating money to try and help - but am I just doing it to ease my guilt?