In recent weeks, several horrors took place across the world. Bombings in Beirut and Baghdad, shootings and bombings in Paris, violence in Burundi, civil wars in Yemen and Syria—those who committed these acts largely targeted innocents.
As our campus struggles for meaning after these incidents—notably with a student-led vigil in front of Rush Rhees Library on Nov. 15—it is important to remember that we should mourn every human life that ended as a result of these incidents and others like them.
It is disappointing that we are selective in who we mourn. As students, adults and members of society, we are all guilty of this. We have the Internet, phones that allow us to instantaneously message people around the world and work that keeps us busy. Some of this is in our control, some isn’t. We can—and must—do better.
By default, we are only as unbiased as the media we are exposed to. It is up to us to sift through the information we receive and make the effort to keep abreast of all current events. Of course, we should show solidarity with and support for nations that have experienced terrible loss. But, we must be aware of the implications of who we forget. It is too easy for us to lose sight of that.
Even with the best intentions, our show of solidarity for one nation has the potential to exclude or alienate others. We need to pay attention to the language we use when talking about these events and make sure that we include, in times of trouble, all ailing nations in our thoughts. This is particularly true of recent weeks.
Students should be sensitive to other students, their situations and events occurring in their countries. We are a diverse, international campus, and it is our responsibility—as members of that community—to be there for others.
Among other things, our experiences in college show us how to cope—with tragedy, with stress, with loss, with heartbreak. At the vigil, students showed one such method of coping—strength and solidarity in numbers—which we are grateful for. We are glad to see that students are taking the initiative to organize events like Sunday’s vigil.
College can be seen as a time for increased activism and engagement with the world. It takes a commendable level of empathy to organize an event in support of nations thousands of miles away.
At the same time, we must be aware of the ease with which we can plan and attend these events and consider our goals accomplished. We cannot feel as if a one-time show of support, online or in person, fulfills our obligation as citizens of the world.
