Real Talk: The Syrian Refugee Crisis

What would you do if your child was starving? What would you do if your husband, or wife was gone in a split second because a bomb struck them? What would you do if your neighborhood was falling apart, if your city was deteriorating because you just so happened to live in a war zone? Honestly, I don't know what I would do. To think this is real life for not some people, but many people is truly unfathomable. And the rest of the world needs to understand that these are people just like you and me; these are people who once had a job and had a family to come home to every night. Everything you know and love in life can quickly change in a matter of seconds. It's important to remember to have open arms to those who are at loss because if you were in their place, you would long for the same sense of open arms too.

In 2011, a civil war in Syria began between the authoritarian regime of Bashar Al-Assad and civilians within the country who were, and still are for pro-democracy within their country. When tensions between the opposite sides were on the rise, global powers began to take sides. Iran and Russia (allies of Syria) continued their support for the Assad regime, while the U.S. and the EU longed for the Assad regime to step down. Since then, there has been traumatic changes to the many lives who used to call Syria their home. According to recent demographics, there are approximately 4.9 million Syrians that are refugees and 6.1 million Syrians that are displaced within their own country. Families, neighborhoods, and hope has been broken for the innocent citizens that have been forced to endure the consequences of what it's like to live in a war zone. It is truly heart wrenching to know that people that used to live in a home are homeless, or people who used to make dinner every night for their family are scrambling to find their next meal.

According to UNICEF, 1 in 3 children in Syria have grown up to only know crisis. Children's lives are being formed around fear and violence, and we need to protect them; protect the children of our future. Additionally, many Sryrian refugee children are becoming years behind in school. To think that these children's futures are on the line because they unfortunately just so happen to live where a war zone is, is downright sad. Life really is unfair when you look at it from this standpoint. I am receiving an education in a safe country, while other children are years behind in school because they are just trying to survive to see the light of day. I could of been born anywhere, but I was born in the U.S..They could of been born anywhere, and they were born in Syria. That is life, and life ain't fair, but it doesn't mean we all can't help each other out and give a hand to the one in need.

It is hard and purely depressing to listen to the facts, but people need to know and understand that these people didn't choose their life, or their destiny. Many of these people that are located in a safe haven outside of their country most likely would prefer to be back in their own country, in their own home, in their own neighborhood, and with their own culture. Life will forever be different for these people, and the world needs to open their arms wide and show love, not exclusion. So next time you hear about the refugee crisis, simply think of your own life. What would you do if everything you ever knew, or everyone you ever loved was gone? I'll leave that up to you to think about...