I went to the seaside today. The weather was nice and the funfair was full of kids enjoying themselves.

And then I got home and saw the news. Kids being slaughtered, maimed and traumatized in Syria. All because men were fighting over dirt and religion.

Again.

The city they were fighting over was little more than heaps of rubble. They were squabbling over dirt. Dirt that will hold the bodies of the dead.

But dirt is blameless. It is just there.

Religion is far from being blameless.

The Christians and the Jews and the Muslims all say their God is loving.

God loves war and death, as a means to an end. He encourages fighting and conflict and strong-arm tactics in His holy books. And we prize these holy books very highly. We put them above human life. And since men don’t need all that much encouragement to fight, or to find some cause to attach to their bloodlust, we have a world that has never known peace.

And so, on it goes.

Ultimately, the dirt is the only victor. Long after I have been consumed by it, there will be others in my stead, bemoaning the death of children, and the insanity of fighting over dirt and religion.