DoThis Tuesday morning, I woke up with sunlight streaming through my window directly onto my bed. It truly was a beautiful day, or at least it was for me. Here in my American suburban apartment, I could wake up happy and relaxed, ready to face a day like any other. And like any other day, the first thing that I did upon waking up was to check my cell phone for any new notifications. On it was a notification for a new Washington Post article, which stated that overnight, eighty-two Syrian civilians were murdered in the streets and in their homes by their own government. Upon reading it, I felt a weighty sense of sadness and hopelessness, thinking about the people who had fallen victim to such senseless violence. I went to work that day and found it impossible to continue on with my ordinary day, while for so many, this was the worst in a long series of horrific days in their lives. I remembered an article that I read a while ago, which stated that a large portion of the over 400,000 people who have been killed since the Syrian conflict began were children — children who never got the chance to be anything but afraid.
The next morning, while prowling through social media, I came across this video
It showed the birth of a young boy, whose mother had just barely survived a bombing in Aleppo. The boy was born without a heartbeat, but after working for almost an hour, doctors were finally able to resuscitate him. I watched with bated breath as the doctors shook and spanked the baby in a manner that seemed far too rough for a newborn child. But eventually, unbelievably, the child makes a sound. He begins to cry, and in that moment, I felt such hope for him and for Syria. Here was a boy for whom the most logical conclusion was an end to his life before it began, yet he survived, and as his initially grey skin became flushed and full of life, I realized that this boy, as frail as he is, could be the future of Aleppo, or indeed our world.
Like all newborn children, this child is a creature of infinite potential, despite the fact that he was born into such incessant violence. He could become anything in the world if given the opportunity — if he does not become one of the thousands of Syrian children who never get the opportunity to actualize their potential. At the end of the video, the narrator states: "The war almost ended his life before it had a chance to start. But the war will continue to be his companion and shape the world that he has entered."
This child may have survived the war this time, but his future is uncertain. As much as I could like to see him as a beacon of hope, I also realize that he is vulnerable in a way that none of us can fully comprehend. This child, and so many like him, have the potential to do and become anything at all, yet they are trapped in a world where their futures are bleak. And perhaps the most shameful thing of all is that so much of the world, including the United States, has largely chosen to turn a blind eye.
So if you are like me, and are wondering what you could possibly do to help the innocent human beings who are trapped in Syria, and particularly in eastern Aleppo, here are some things you can do. For many, the most obvious option is to donate to organizations like the White Helmets, a group of Syrians who risk their lives daily in order to save the lives of others; Doctors without Borders, an organization of doctors from all over the world who work to treat the ill and injured, particularly in war—ravaged areas; and a host of other organizations that are working directly with and for Syrian people. However, for many, money is not exactly easy to come by, and while a small sacrifice might be possible, there are more effective methods of making a difference. The most important (and effective) way that we poor college students can help make a difference is by contacting (or harassing) our representatives and senators and letting them know that they will only receive our support if they agree to support (a) the US accepting more Syrian refugees and (b) an increase in American involvement in stopping the Syrian conflict. I personally have begun calling my representative every morning in order to force him to take action.
You can find contact information for your representatives here
While calling might seem like a very small step to you, elected officials actually take personal phone calls very seriously. Officials assume that each phone call is representative of the opinions of at least a hundred other constituents. So if hundreds or thousands of us take the simple step of calling our representatives, they will have no choice but to take us seriously.
We may not be able to bring back the lives that have been lost to the Syrian conflict, but we can work to better the lives and futures of the survivors. If we work together, we can ensure that the children who until now have known nothing but war-torn terror can start thinking about their futures. It is not enough to pray for Syria; it is nothing at all to feel sad and helpless; it is something to act. We may not be able to directly make the policy choices that will make Syrians' lives better, but we have access to the people who are, and it's time we use it.
