In 2015 the Syrian Refugee crisis was brought to the World’s front pages and screens. It is now March of 2016 and the crisis is far from being fixed. Currently The United States of America is still trying to figure out how to help.
A little over a month ago World Vision released this open letter from Syrian Children to the world.
We are children from Syria; some of us came to Lebanon two years ago, and others came three or four years ago.
We suffer from many problems; one of them is being beaten by others. For example, in the school, we are beaten by Lebanese students. In the streets, we are beaten as well and some people make fun of us. A friend and his brother are sometimes beaten by the owner of the house where they live.
We also suffer from big economic problems. For instance, there is someone in the group whose brothers sell tissues in the street to bring money to help their parents. But sometimes Lebanese children steal the tissues from them or the money they gained from the selling. Some children cannot register at the school due to economic conditions and others because they lack legal papers.
Despite all this, we still have dreams. Our dreams are like the dreams of all other children. We hope that no one will beat us on the road, in the neighborhood, at school, or at home. We hope that no one will speak to us in a bad way, and we would like to be treated by the Lebanese and the Syrians in a good way.
In Syria, we used to live in a house, and we live now in a tent. We wish to go back to our homes and our country, and that the war is over and that our parents can find a job to work just like any other parents.
We also dream that the truth will come to light in order to go back to Syria and all the problems will be over. Coming back to Syria is like the re-entry to paradise.
All of us have dreams for the future:
- I dream to become a football player and help people through sports (Ahmad)
- I dream to be a doctor in the future (Haitham)
- I dream to be a professor (Muhannad)
- I also dream to become a teacher (Fatima)
- I would love to become a police officer to help people (Wael)
- I would love to become president in order to help everyone (Madiha)
Finally, we want to thank you for all your efforts and your concern about us. Thanks you for coming here and helping us, and we wish if you can make all our dreams come true. We would like that this message could reach all decision-makers in the world in order to help us in achieving our dreams.
-Noah, Mouhanned, Thanaa, Doha, Wael, Hiba, Fatima, Madiha, Ahmad, Saleh, Haitham, Ahmad
It seems throughout the shuffle of the world news these children have fallen through the cracks.Their voices have been silenced, their cries have reached deaf ears. Our cold backs have turned to them.
My opinion may be unpopular, but it needs to be heard. These children deserve so much better. These children need someone to stand up and fight for them. If our politicians won't stand up to bat for them then I will. These children don't want to come to America and bomb us, no, they want to go home. Their hearts long for their beloved homeland. Their souls deserve rest.
As a student majoring in Child Life Studies I believe that every child has a voice, every child is special, every child needs to have their tears dried. If we want to save the world and actually make a difference then we must start with the children. Instead of closing our borders and screaming death to muslims we must show mercy. These children did nothing to us. What kind of man can look them in their eyes and turn their backs because of their religion, heritage, and their country's mistakes.
I could be wrong but as a country that cares so much about helping everyone that we would be at our hands and knees washing the feet of these helpless children. As a country that is predominantly Christian I would think that we wouldn't forget verses such as Leviticus 19:33-34, Leviticus 19:9-10, Deuteronomy 10:18-19, Exodus 23:9, Malachi 3:5, Matthew 25:25-36, etc.
In a world so bent on creating change, why have we forgotten about those who need us the most. This video helps shed a new perspective on the issue.
If you would like to send aid to Syrian Children here are the links to different organizations:
It's time to end the cycle. Don't punish the children of the world, for the mistakes our fathers made.
