Make it all stop! (they're just children)
On children's rights
Dearest readers, Today’s post was meant to be the usual, i.e., a poem, analysis, explanation, and tips, but I couldn’t do it. I was infected with writer’s block and couldn’t think of a poem. So, I decided to go on a mission and take a break from social media (for about 24 hours) to relax my mind and find my creativity again. Then I returned to find horrendous news waiting for me. I decided that I would ditch my usual format again and write my thoughts away. Here goes nothing.
Innocence—a word associated with dumbness and inferiority. Innocent people who anyone can take advantage of—seduce and trick.
Before today, I seldom thought of the word and what it meant. Today, I realise its significance. It no longer remains something I disvalue or someone I belittle.
What happened in Southport was horrific. Is horrific.
But all I can think about are those who are left behind—those beautiful little children who've been robbed of their innocence. Robbed.
I can’t help but be grateful to God that I wasn’t completely robbed of my innocence like they are. No, my childhood wasn’t terrific, but I’m grateful.
Some things seize you and bring you back; they make you realise that the world is bigger than you. This was one of them.
Of course, I haven’t forgotten the Palestinian children who are being ruthlessly killed by Israel, being deprived of their rights and robbed of their innocence. I don’t care what anyone thinks, but you can’t just do that. You can’t. You can’t kill their families and friends and force them to watch; you can’t bombard their homes and force them to suffer; you can’t destroy their schools and force them to understand; you can’t take them as prisoners and force them to cope; you just can’t.
They are just children like we were once too. Just children. Remember, just children.
Yet, it’s all happening. There is not a day that goes by when I don’t question God. Why? Where are you, God, when we need you? Why aren’t you putting an end to this?
And I plead and question into ominous silence. The answer does not come to me in voice, in reassuring kind words. It just doesn’t. But whenever I ask, I’m answered. A series of faint whispers rant within me. They swirl around my gut and provoke a visceral determination to arise within my soul.
I believe this is God’s way of waking us up, encouraging us to begin anew and resort to humanity; to stop pursuing our foolish desires and do something worthwhile. Like John F. Kennedy said, “With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own.”
These children are our heroes, our inspiration, and our signs. We cannot ever let them down, for they paid a heavy price for our shortcomings—a price that was not theirs to pay. A price we will never be able to pay for it knows no currency. So, we must give all that we have; maybe it might do.
We must give our lives.
Innocence is a sign of power and sanctity—a quality that makes one a precious jewel, a royal, a prodigy, a child. It is not a sign of weakness but a sign of strength; it is not a quality of the inferior but of the superior; it is not a form of ignorance but a form of bliss; it is not a reason to welcome war but to welcome peace.
Another thing I’d like to say is that it doesn’t matter who or what the person was. A single person can never define a certain religion, ethnicity, race, caste, etc.
We have to stop focusing on the tiny details that don’t matter. We should be asking why and how. We should learn to prevent and understand how to safeguard ourselves and others. Such terrorists have a mental illness/ mental illnesses, which neuroscientists and psychologists should explore. We must stay updated on such discoveries and provide help to those who need it so that they do not cause terrorism. Keep in mind that certain things are in our control and some are not. For example, trying to help someone is in our hands, whereas eradicating terrorism completely is not. Be realistic, but be optimistic.
And every time thoughts like, “They’re not our children” or “So what, they’ll deal with it” cross your mind, know that if it can happen to them, it can happen to you. God forbid, they could be your kids. What if they were? Would you then stay as you are right now, unbothered and hopeless? Would you?
The thing is, they are our kids. They are our brothers and sisters. We all descend from one man, namely Adam, so why do we act like we don’t?
If they’re hurt, we should be restless and determined to fight for them. As Emma Watson famously said, “Ask yourself, if not me, who? If not now, when?”
There are children all around the world who are being deprived of their rights. Every day, children are raped, drugged, kidnapped, abused, deprived of their education, and even married off without consent. It’s not restricted to certain countries or incidents; it’s happening everywhere behind the scenes. Children are being deprived of their childhood. Now, how can children be children without a childhood? They can’t.
You can’t excuse yourself by thinking that you’re not prepared for such a battle and that you’re not fierce. But they weren’t either. They were unprepared. Whether it is that they were cooking supper or dancing to a Taylor Swift song, they were oblivious.
But you aren't—not anymore. And now that you are awake, you are responsible. I am responsible. We all are, whether we like it or not.
Do anything you can to help, whether it is donating or raising awareness. Use your platforms and educate yourselves. We must equip ourselves with the right weapons for this battle to win.
And remember, everyone can do something about it; you just have to choose to. Even if you are not in a position to do a lot, you can always use whatever skill you have to do what you can.
If you’re a young writer like me, you can write about it. Put in the work and strive hard because your efforts will never be lost in vain. Never.
The children who are gone are the luckiest of all, and as they rejoice in heaven, it is our duty to live for them, to remember them, and to make sure that they did not die for nothing. You have the opportunity to not only live for yourself but for them as well. They have given you a purpose; embrace it. Don’t let them down.
“What is there beyond the sky?' I asked my mother.
'Paradise.'
'What does it look like?'
'Like children’s dreams.”
― Refaat Alareer, Gaza Writes Back
Smile for them.
Play for them.
Love for them.
Fight for them.
Live for them.
But first, wake up.
I know that these types of posts are controversial, but to hell with that. I chose to speak up for the rights of children, and I don’t care about anyone who doesn’t like that. Every child deserves their rights. Every human deserves their rights. We ought to speak up against injustice and fight for liberty, especially for those who can’t do it for themselves.
If you have something nice and worthwhile to share, go ahead; otherwise, please don’t say anything at all because negativity is not needed here.
If you feel that this post should be shared, please go ahead and share it. Feel free to help me spread this message.
Thank you for reading.
This is certainly a call to arms. I would complement you on your writing, but the message is the powerful thing here; the children… you write:
“The thing is, they are our kids. They are our brothers and sisters.”
And I agree with you.
You have motivated me to write new songs about current events that should be disgusting to everyone. One song, I have already posted, called “have mercy,” touches upon our personal responsibilities towards our fellow human beings, but yes, I need to compose one about children all over the world who are starving, dying, growing up in war, (and thinking it is normal!) —that this is how life is. That’s a sad thing, and it needs to be rectified.
Thank you Ayesha.
You are right that all children are ours. No matter where they are we owe it to them to keep them safe and loved. I have and will always fight until my final breath to build a world in which our children are sacrosanct. Keep the faith.