34. Syria's Christian Minority Lives in Fear of Kidnapping and Street Battles

http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2013/04/syrias-christian-minority-lives-in-fear-of-kidnapping-and-street-battles/275084/

This article published on the 18th of April, 2013, written by Danny Gold, reports that the Christians in the currently war-ravaged Syria are suffering from the terrible conditions of living, including the fear of attacks from soldiers, and of kidnaps that often seem to be specifically targeted toward the Christian minority. Gold uses many direct quotes from the people of the Syrian city of Ras al-Ayn as his main source of evidence. Gold develops an interesting and attention getting introduction by illustrating the situation of a resident of the city of Ras al-Ayn, who is "filling in bullet holes with plaster." This introduction demonstrates the destructive impact of the war on the city in the physical level as well as the individual level at which people's way of life is dramatically affected and distorted. To specifically address the impact of the war on the Christians, he moves his description to the churches in Syria which "haven't had services for four months, and most of their congregations have fled or are picking through the rubble." Gold briefly covers the situation in Syria of which the war has technically ended but the fighting had not, and makes such background information available for the audience to understand. Gold mainly relies on repeated real life evidence to assert that the Syrian Christian residents are especially faced with hardships and danger because of the war. He illustrates the individual lives of a several people that have been affected by the war in such way using quotes and descriptive language.

Gold's purpose of presenting this article is mostly to inform the general public and arouse their empathy for the Christian minorities in Syria. However, the article seems to be also intended toward other Christians living in other places to deliver the news about the Christians in Syria. This is indicated by his reference to such source as an "article written for a Christian Orthodox website," which would provide a stronger source of supporting evidence to Christian readers than to the non-Christian readers. In general, Gold's article is intended toward the general readership without a necessary level of education, and toward those with interest in the international issues as the Syrian war.