Ukraine sympathy VS Syria

[JustWhyy]

Why does Syria not get the same sympathy as Ukraine?
I've followed the conflict in Syria for years, therefore what's happening in Ukraine is not shocking to me because I've seen it happen to the Syrian people, but I never recall the outcry/support for Syrian people as much as I've seen it for the Ukrainians?
Am ibu?

Because it's upsetting to see only women with small children and the old and disabled running for their lives instead of fit young men. There, I've answered your question, no racism involved. Goodnight.

Personally, it's the potential for nuclear conflict and/or strikes that concerns me. This hasn't been as much of concern for other war zones. (And, incidentally, I have followed those as some of family originate from those areas, plus I have an interest in OSINT.)

The last time a sovereign country was invaded was Kuwait by Iraq IIRC and look what happened there? Did we sit back and wag and our fingers at Iraq and watch it play out? That was almost 30 years ago as well.

The war in Syria like all the others since then have been civil wars where they have been fighting amongst themselves and we have intervened in many cases but it is within their own country by their own people rather different to an invasion!

That this has been allowed to continue is a travesty.

Putin’s nuclear threats are empty as any logical person can figure out and we’ve shown him what utter cowards we are so he will continue. His dick has probably doubled in size by now.

Well the op didn't bother coming back so obviously not THAT bothered!!

Stirring the pot

@WomblingWilma

Putin’s nuclear threats are empty as any logical person can figure out and we’ve shown him what utter cowards we are so he will continue. His dick has probably doubled in size by now.

This isn't a logical statement. I wouldn't underestimate Putin or dismiss what he is doing as mere willy-waving. That's just ridiculous. What do you make of the news that Russia has moved its special nuclear armament train into Ukraine? This train, the Barguzin, may carry up to 24 thermonuclear warheads.

twitter.com/aldin_ww/status/1500838282829172742?s=21

@HereComesSpringAgain

Well the op didn't bother coming back so obviously not THAT bothered!!

Stirring the pot

Yes, interesting that isn’t it. Either typical entitlement and what is actually just as much over-investment in their own culture as they are critiquing in ‘westerners’, as if we’re all identical… or it’s just possible that this is connected or arising from the kind of anti-western propaganda games we know Putin likes to indulge in.

Or just somebody being bored.

Because they are white Christians.

Syria was a civil war. Ukraine has been invaded by a large, powerful and predatory global power. Can people really not see the difference or is it easier to just shout racism as usual?

Why do posters start these threads and then don’t come back? (No need to answer that question).

@EasterIssland

They’re blonde and with blue eyes like us 🤔

Are they? They all are?

And who is we?

People say Syria is different online for reasons such as:

• many people aren’t bright enough to realise the conflict is ongoing, and are judging it all on the reactions of the first few days
• people are too lazy to read the many accounts from Syria about Russia, understand the solidarity or link what is happening in both

-people selectively pick facts. The UK has given visas to 25,000 Syrians and 50 Ukrainians so far- yet they’ll claim we’re still giving more to Ukraine. They’re proving pretty shit in all ways that can’t for both peoples, bar a few extra blue and yellow buildings. -people think it’s a choice, brown or white and you need to pick a side- simple minds -some people have agendas to post -some people are easily manipulated by those with agendas -some people want to justify the fact they don’t care, or inaction to keep them personally safe -people don’t like the idea of change, the idea of a wave of refugees lowering their lifestyle standards and wealth so need an excuse each time to stop them -the same people who don’t care about Palestinians and the same majority who don’t care about Ukraine either

I can offer more….

I am somewhat confused by people who think we as a nation throw our arms open to people from Eastern European countries because they are white.

www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-36656348.amp

@DrDetriment

Syria was a civil war. Ukraine has been invaded by a large, powerful and predatory global power. Can people really not see the difference or is it easier to just shout racism as usual?

This. Plus the very real risk of a nuclear war. And Syria was very much reported at the time, so op you are full of it.

Syria saw many many civilians killed by Russian air strikes, they laid siege to cities, what they are now doing in Ukraine.
It was a civil war that Russia became involved in and bombed cities flat, with people in them.

To a large extent Ukraine is now a proxy war of the west and Putin. Ukrainian hands doing a job that the west is keen on. It’ll prolong it painfully with fuel. The war is physically in Ukraine, but the information war is here.

I also think if Syria o r Palestine manages to move to Europe, build the largest nuclear reactors in Europe and nuclear weapons are suddenly on the table then interest will rise in their plights.

Interesting question. Why Syria and not Venezuela though, terrible problems there? Maybe someone should come up with a rota so we can care about everyone and everything equally all the time.

Oh goody, another one of these "look over there at all those racists" threads.

I think most people have a lot of sympathy for anyone living in a war zone no matter where it is. What's happening in Ukraine has the potential to escalate to nuclear war and there's no guarantee that Putin will stop after Ukraine so of course people will be paying closer attention.
It's sad that there are so many on mumsnet who cry racist at anyone daring to show any kind of compassion towards the people of Ukraine because they're white. That's just wrong

I think our government polices can be rasist
I think our media can be biased

That said I am fed up of people on every thread about the ukraine popping up with a 'did you cry over syria and afgahnistan', etc.

I marched and protested against the war in iraq when I was a teenager. Im currently working with a charity to support syrian and afghan refugees in the uk. Ive signed up to house refugees of any nationality, i donate to charitoes that help with any global conflict. But i dont feel like i should have to put that as a disclaimer to any post about the ukraine lest i get accused of rasism.

I remember multiple threads on here about syria and afghanistan so the frequent implication that no one gave a shit about them is really frustrating. I dont doubt some people are rasist, but i dont remember people popping up on posts about syria to go 'did you post the same about in conflict in peru' that was happening at the same time.

In fact whenever there were posts about afghanistan i definitely dont remeber anyone popping up to go 'but what about the war in donbas'

So if we were allowed to discuss conflict in syria and afghanistan without being constantly asked 'but what about the ukraine'then why not the other way round?

When Syria first kicked off the media attention was huge and we were all crying at the photos of the little kids caught up in the situation, sending them supplies and money. Then we moved onto the next interesting drama. If the Ukraine invasion carries on we will get bored of that and move on. In a few months we will no doubt be grumbling about all the Ukrainians taking our jobs and housing.

*Porcupineintherough

Interesting question. Why Syria and not Venezuela though, terrible problems there? Maybe someone should come up with a rota so we can care about everyone and everything equally all the time.*

This put what i said much more succinctly

Additionally in 2021 the deaths in yemen, ethiopia, myanmar, mexico, nigeriaand the democratic republic of the congo were higher than the deaths in syria due to conflict. Now whilst I dont think support, grief and a desire to help should be measured by dead bodies no one is ever popping up to go 'but what about mexico' are they.

I have said this in a previous post, but being of a nationality of those fleeing from previous civil wars, and my husband coming from one of the countries whose students are unable to leave Ukraine, I think the present situation is completely different.

This issue is current, terrifying, with a monster basically threatening to start WW3, and happening in very close proximity to us.

Some people may be doing as the OP suggests due to racism, but I really don’t think the majority are. Many of us are deeply affected by the Taliban situation and the children dying in Yemen too.

The fact that it is happening near us makes us all be caught in a balance between intense sympathy for the horror the Ukrainian people are suffering and the fear that it could also shortly happen to us.

The allegation of racism is too simplistic. I have been volunteering with a refugee charity for some time, mainly helping Afghans, but I am more affected by the situation in Ukraine.

@StarbucksSmarterSister

I don't think YABU but I think the there are a number of factors, all of which have been mentioned here.

Racism IS a factor of course, despite what some want to think, but it's not the only one. A lot of people do think Ukrainians are "more like us" (this is reinforced in press coverage) but lots of Syrians lived a secular, westernised life in the way that we do. People are more familiar with Eastern Europe and it's closer. A lot of people seem to think the whole of the ME is in a state of perpetual war but that's not accurate.

Syria was too dangerous for journos to report from certain areas (think of Aleppo) so we didn't get the same immediacy of people trying to escape and being shelled or shot at as they did.

Boredom - it's gone on too long (no news coverage here now but it's still not totally over.)
Civil war is more complex - Assad & Putin are vile but the rebels were made up of different groups with different aims, including fundamentalists.

Self interest - it might actually impact us.

I agree with you @StarbucksSmarterSister, you've saved me posting.