Behind the picture
Some weeks ago, on Wednesday 3rd September,
the world became deeply moved by a
picture. It was not the usual photo one had
been used to watching in the media. It encompassed
a two-year-old infant and maybe due to this fact its effect was more shocking. Aylan Kurdi was his
name. Aylan Kurdi was supposed to be at his home, enjoying his early years,
playing games but instead, he was found lifeless lying on a shore. What happened
with this innocent toddler? What was so dramatic that ended up with
this boy paying with his life? So far, one tended to blame his parents and
charge them with the responsibility of not having assumed their role. But this was not actually the case. Not only was
the picture depicting a dead boy, but also a plight thousands of people were
facing.
There was history behind Aylan, a history which
was not well-known by people until the picture was brought out. At least, that happened to me. I knew nothing about immigration crisis far less about the implications of it. But that
day I woke up and, when I revised my Facebook account, the first thing I watched
was the picture of Aylan unfolding on a shore. I could not help but feel
sadness. Then, I realized the image was spreading all over the world and due to
this reason I decided to look for information. I watched this one-minute video
which succinctly explained the tragedy:
I learnt that owing to a civil war in Syria,
people have fled in search of a better life. Hundreds of thousands of people
have taken the risk of abandoning Syria to have a safe home. But many of them have
died trying. Aylan Kurdi was a famous case, but how many others there should
die for people raise awareness of the refugee crisis? Why did Canada reject
the application for the refugees to live there? They were ignored.
I deem Aylan Kurdi has become a symbol of human
absurdity. Differences among countries emerge, wars break out, people die and
the chain never ends. I think it is time to leave aside politic and economic
interests and think a little bit more about people. I know we cannot stop the
war, but at least we can make our own contribution day by day so that these things do
not happen again.
