When Terrorism is “A Far Away Reality”

Over at her Pursued by Truth blog, Sister Theresa Aletheia Noble, FSP, wondered why the recent massacre of thousands in Nigeria didn’t get much attention in the media initially. Compared to the Paris terrorist attacks, the coverage is still minimal.

Her post reminded me of a song I heard a few months ago.

Though it was inspired by a different situation, “A Far Away Reality” by Jonathan Jackson + Enation asks many of the same questions.

As I wrote about my interview with Jonathan:

The hellish situation for Christians being persecuted in Syria served as the impetus behind the song “A Far Away Reality.” Several years ago, before the American media began covering the war there, Jonathan met a monk from Mount Athos in Greece, who told him about the conflict. Heartbroken by the suffering he was hearing about, Jonathan wanted to express the victims’ stories artistically and raise awareness. When he sat down to write the song, it came out quickly as if it was writing itself.

Here are the song and lyrics. (You can buy the album “Radio Cinematic,” which includes “A Far Away Reality,” on iTunes and Amazon):

Every war is a civil war
Cut from the edge of a broken sword.
We all bleed the same red.
We all weep for our dead.

It’s as close as a mother’s tears.
It’s as far away as your apathy.
It’s a far away reality
When you don’t hear them call.

Every heart has the right to sing,
And from their conscience choose what to believe.
Would you cry if her eyes were blue?
If she looked just like you?

It’s as close as a mother’s tears.
It’s as far away as your apathy.
It’s a far away reality
If you want to keep it there
You can always keep it there
Out of reach.

We can do better than this.
Don’t tell me we can’t coexist.

Every war is a civil war.