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  3. Syria ~ now what?

Syria ~ now what?

Syrian refugee children peer from the window of their classroom, newly decorated with a mural, at Zaatari refugee camp, near the Syrian border, in Mafraq, Jordan, Tuesday, July 23, 2013. Several writings in Arabic can be read on the mural, made up of old sayings and poetry that encourage the people to seek knowledge. Most of the trailers and tents match the beige color of the swirling sand surrounding the Zaatari refugee camp, home to about 120,000 Syrians who fled the nearly three-year war still gripping the nation. Slowly though, that's changing with the help of a U.S.-based artist who is leading children haunted by the conflict to paint buildings and walls at the crowded camp with murals expressing their lives and hopes. (Mohammad Hannon / Associated Press)
Syrian refugee children peer from the window of their classroom, newly decorated with a mural, at Zaatari refugee camp, near the Syrian border, in Mafraq, Jordan, Tuesday, July 23, 2013. Several writings in Arabic can be read on the mural, made up of old sayings and poetry that encourage the people to seek knowledge. Most of the trailers and tents match the beige color of the swirling sand surrounding the Zaatari refugee camp, home to about 120,000 Syrians who fled the nearly three-year war still gripping the nation. Slowly though, that's changing with the help of a U.S.-based artist who is leading children haunted by the conflict to paint buildings and walls at the crowded camp with murals expressing their lives and hopes. (Mohammad Hannon / Associated Press)

We are war weary in our country: Iraq, Afghanistan, even the memories of Viet Nam for some of us are enough to cause us to exhale grief as we recall images of caskets draped with our own stars and stripes. And now those images of innocent civilians in Syria writhing in pain from chemicals invading their bodies and killing them, their children, their families.

The evil in the world is ever-present. Where is one safe? What next? 

(S-R archives photo: Syrian refugee children peer from the window of their classroom, newly decorated with a mural, at Zaatari refugee camp, near the Syrian border, in Mafraq, Jordan)

Spokesman-Review features writer Rebecca Nappi, along with writer Catherine Johnston of Olympia, Wash., discuss here issues facing aging boomers, seniors and those experiencing serious illness, dying, death and other forms of loss.