by Allyyah Aali
Dear peers, I have a few things I would like to say.
“If you find yourself sitting quietly while chaos surrounds your life, I ponder your moral compass in relation to your social circles. If you choose to ignore the pleas for support, consider yourself privileged enough to keep it locked within and if you remain indifferent to the cries filling the air by covering your ears, I am struck by the protective wall around your intelligent mind. Instead of extending that shield to children in jeopardy, you prefer to retreat, take up less space and silence your voice. I assume this is your interpretation of success in your journey. Maintaining a neutral stance, I presume, is your chosen path. So be it. Stand on the historical soil stained with innocent blood and echoing distressing cries. Take your place on that enduring side, depicting what innocence looks like when it falls. This is your choice.
May I pose a question? Would you want others to remain silent for you if you were in a time of dire need, with your people being slaughtered?
From the river to sea I pray for Palestine to be free. A simple stance, a whispered prayer a shouted decry. Palestine must be free”- Allyyah Aali
In the midst of the ongoing crisis in Gaza, it is of utmost importance that we do not adopt a passive approach. Failing to educate ourselves and not taking a stand on the right side of society could have profound consequences for future generations.
While the media might suggest that it’s acceptable to disengage due to past trauma or the distressing nature of the ongoing tragedy in Palestine, implying that we can take a break from social media until it all blows over, we must acknowledge that this external conflict, this mass genocide affecting innocent people, families and children, will not simply come to an end.
Choosing to remain silent while generations of families are being removed from the Palestinian civil registry is an ignorant stance that loudly signifies your privilege. It means disregarding the protests dividing your campus and ignoring the pleas of students nearby who are advocating for the freedom of their families and loved ones across the sea. Turning a blind eye and a deaf ear to the world that surrounds you is, in essence, condoning an oppressive side of history.
The situation carries a gravity that mere words cannot adequately convey. Watching you remain quiet, shrinking into the background and silencing your voice when it could make a significant impact on the current narrative is disheartening.
Even if we don’t consider ourselves the most educated or well-versed in politics, it is disheartening to witness the silence of numerous individuals in the face of something that profoundly impacts millions and future generations. We cannot afford to succumb to ignorance, especially when those in positions of power exploit the perceived ignorance of the younger generations, including “Gen Z,” to make sinister decisions that affect our world and our descendants.
We must not turn a blind eye to the stark realities before us simply because they are hard to digest, or because the news is distressing. This is exactly why we should invest in our education and actively encourage those around us to take a stand on critical political issues.
Let us remember that in these trying times, our actions and awareness can make a significant difference in the lives of those who are suffering and in shaping a more just and compassionate world for future generations.