Aitzaz Hasan
CNN article
http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/09/world/asia/pakistan-boy-stops-suicide-bomber/
Aljazeera article
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia/2014/01/pakistan-teen-dies-stopping-suicide-bomber-201411093049572374.html
(Various articles spell Aitzaz's name differently; I am unsure of which one is correct.)
At a school in Pakistan, Aitzaz Hasan Bangash was killed when he confronted a suicide bomber trying to break into the school, saving the 2000 students inside. Aitzaz tackled the bomber, who then panicked and detonated the bomb, killing them both. Aitzaz was fifteen years old. He has now been recommended for Sitara-e Shujaat, Pakistan's highest civilian honor for bravery.
I don't have a lot of specific, political commentary for this event. In fact, the event's connection to AP Government is probably not as strong as posts on this blog are supposed to be ideally, but I wanted to talk about it nonetheless. My question for this post is this: Is the United States obligated to try and intervene in other nations where civilians are at the kind risk Aitzaz faced? Political neutrality is very safe, and America already has its reputation as the world's unwanted policeman, but when I hear stories such as this one, it is sometimes hard to grasp the idea that the best route is to not act and let it be. Also, I understand that the answer to the posed question has a lot of grey area, so don't feel obliged to, I don't know, sound really sure of yourself or anything.
1 comment:
I have a difficult time forming an opinion about the U.S' involvement with foreign nations, especially in situations like this. On one end, I would hope that some U.S intervention would help prevent more situations like this, but I also see the possible risks it presents.
But more importantly, I think it's appropriate to applaud what Aitzaz did. His father stated "My son made his mother cry but saved hundreds of other mothers from mourning their son". To imagine that someone younger that me would do such a heroic act seems unthinkable, but this only brings us to the reality that innocent people are affected too.
In terms of what the U.S should do, I don't know myself. But I do hope that another event like this will not happen.
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