Foreign Policy

Where are you from?
I don’t mean your hometown.
I mean back 3 generations.
Where are you really from?
Oh so you aren’t really from here
You are OF here
But your roots lie potted in the soil of another region
I imagined this question
Because you looked out of place
But then again you called this your home
It seems, then, we have a conundrum
Manifestation is multifaceted.
It is a spectrum
of good, evil, and everything in between
Manifestation will bring what we desire
Sometimes I have a hard time determining if what we desire is what we need
A Tragedy of Commons
I remember when I was a kid. They called me Dash because I hit one home-run off a butt past
third base.
I felt the joy from that moment for months, I’m embarrassed sometimes to say I still feel some of
those sentiments today
It reminded me of a simpler time
I read a story about one family’s trauma and a decision that would change their lives
after a deadly trip to the beach
4 young cousins from Palestine had been playing at the beach
when they saw a shadow in the sky
This story ends more tragically then mine
The bird in the sky wasn’t a soccer ball incoming from a nearby neighbor or family member
But It was a jumper missile that fell on a public beach
Sanctioned by Israel, sold by America
Those kids would never go the sea again
Pause for a second and reread that statement. One seemingly small act of aggression,
rectification, and righteousness traumatized kids and adults alike

I wonder if the missile had been replaced with an idea but then I remember the big idea here is
execution without representation.
The lack of empathy in strategy indicates that.
Children do not instigate wars.
Children do not fight wars.
Children do not end wars.
Just 2,000 miles south, entering into Nigeria. A geographically diverse area bustles with
business. In a brazen day, 276 Nigerian girls & women were taken from school.
Only 57 would ever return. The world empathized with them. The world embraced them.
The world did not listen to them
The world mourned for the fate of the other Chibok girls. Galvanized by celebrity outrage.
The response to Chibok, would be the first time social media galvanized a military response
Pause and let that sink in for a second
Under the guise of counter-terrorism, The world sent more violence to counter violence.
I believe in proportionate responses but sometimes I wonder when we will use water in the fight
with fire as opposed to fire.
6 years later.
Nigeria still mourns for Jangebe in Zamfara State, Dapchi in Yobe State, and the remaining
missing Chibok girls. There is not
The United States is still spying on Nigeria
The fire from firefights in the jungles pale to sounds of manufacturing plants in the bustles of the
city. The bombs Israel has been dropping on Palestine pales to the sounds of pen scratches and
moist stamps.
With each directive, we are never truly given a choice in this systematic world.
So where are you from?
What’s out of place in these tragedies.
Is it a U.S. manufactured missile or drone?
When in conflict, they present themselves as resolutions.
Like a butt-to third base.

It’s a dash to the finish
A home-run out the park requires strength and training
Conflict resolution requires peace and development
At the root, I pray for for Nigeria and Palestine alike as they still reel from these tragedies today.

By Will Baker