This is What Genocide Looks Like

Take a close look at the picture below.

Now Imagine this is your child. Imagine you had to leave your home with a hope of a save haven for your child. Not for yourself, but for your child. You are going through hell right here on earth.

I am actually speechless for all the war crimes ISIS is doing against humanity. I am numb for all the hate in the world. I am powerless because we can't stop the war or the hate.

I still remember like it was yesterday when I was listening to my history teacher and he was talking about Hitler's war crimes. At that time I was thinking "wow, and no one did anything to stop him. What a world!". I never guessed that 10 years later I would be the one to witness such cruelty. History keeps repeating itself and we never learn. Do we?

I know what you are thinking. Lots of kids are dying everyday in Asia, Africa and in the whole world. But when will we stand up and say "Enough is enough!". We can't keep letting our people die because they are running away from war! I mean how can we sleep in our cozy warm beds when we know there are people dying because of our style of living?! Our standards and needs are so high that we keep asking for more and more, and who gets hurt? Guess twice.

I won't get into too much politics, because it's one woman's opinion. What we need to do is put our focus on humanity, instead of who wins and who looses.  We are living in the same god damn world, same bubble but yet we have two separate worlds: The West and the East. The rich and the poor. We are breathing the same air, enjoying the same rain and sunset but yet we somehow feel more privileged and close our borders from the ones in need. Not to even mention the rich Arab countries who ain't moving even one finger!

I mean what the hell?!

Since when our lives have prices and labels? Since when I am more privileged just because I was lucky enough to live in one of the safest places in the world? Since when we human beings are the smartest race in the world? Huh..what a laugh! At least animals care for each other, at least animals show compassion and empathy towards one and another.

I am simply disgusted and I blame the world leaders and their unbelievable greediness.

Let's all make a stand and do our part. Always remember to help each other, always show love instead of hate and always remember this innocent child.

May this angel rest in peace.

The Two Parallel Worlds of Finland and Kurdistan

After work I met a friend and we had a cup of coffee. Once I got back home it was close to 8 PM. Couple of hours passed even though it felt like minutes. I opened my convertible sofa and laid on it. I was literally exhausted even though my daily job is not physically tiring just mentally.

Now it was 10 PM and my little sister came to lay next to me. As I was looking at her, I couldn't help myself thinking what if one day I lost her. I can't name a single person in this universe that would never fight with their siblings and we are no different from others. There are days when I can't even stand looking at her because she knows exactly how to piss me off. Nevertheless, I love her a lot and I can't think of anything bad happening to her. There are days when I worry how will she manage if someone treats her bad, or what if she gets lost on her way to a new place. Even a thought of letting her go study alone in a new city freaks me out. I mean how will she manage all by herself! She is just a kid -and in reality she is already 18 years old. 

I guess its love.

I remember an incident from 2009 like yesterday. My little sister was around 12/13 years old and she called me in the morning. She was in school and I was just about to start my shift. I answered the call and in a matter of seconds I felt like my heart jumped to my throat. She was crying over the phone screaming "stop it! leave me alone!". I was in a shock but I managed to get myself together and ask her "what's going on!". No answer, but I only heard her crying over the phone telling me to help her. I couldn't take it anymore and I yelled her name and demanded her to answer me. Finally she told me another girl is bullying her and she is scared because she couldn't defend herself. 

I will never forget that call.

We all know how it feels like when we are completely helpless and our hands are tied. The day I received the call from my sister was the worst day in my entire life. Why? Because I was so damn helpless. I was too far away from her. I couldn't protect her. I couldn't make her stop crying. Most of all, I couldn't teach a lesson to the bully.

No one can argue the strong bond between siblings and loved ones. If we truly care for someone there is not a single thing in this world we wouldn't do to protect them.

Let's think of a parallel world, but don't forget my little sisters' incident. Right now I am laying down on a warm bed with a peace of mind, I feel safe and my stomach is full. I know deep down in my heart even thought I might sometimes forget it that I am blessed. I am blessed since I know the next morning I open my eyes it's a new day with a bright future ahead. I also know that the sky is clear and the day is mine to take.

At the exact same time, but in a different world there is a little child. Whose same minute is uncertain not to even mention the next morning. He is not safe. His stomach is empty. While I have a peace of mind he is shedding tears. The tears are the size of a small bubble, coming down on his cheeks. He is scared. There is not a promise of a safer tomorrow nor a feeling of being cared and loved.

"Just saw this young man crying outside in the rain. Tried talking to him for 20 minutes to see what was wrong but he was too scared to even talk. The strange thing is at least 10 other people walked by and they didn't even seem to notice. He can't have been older than 6; we really have fallen far."

Aryan Qazzaz

The question is, how does this affect me? Well, it doesn't. You are absolutely right. I mean why would you care about someone living in a different world? Miles away if not even light years. See, the point is not about caring, the point is not about doing something, the point is not stopping something bad happening in a different world. 

What's the point then?

Wait, what the flower did I just write.. Rewinding back.

Two different worlds, I mean two Parallel worlds? Oh Hell No. We are actually living on the same god damn planet, living under the same blue sky, enjoying the same ray of light, breathing the same air and YET we separate ourselves with borders of different countries, communicating in languages I have never even heard, we drink and dance differently depending on the culture and then again I sleep in a warm bed but that kid up there is crying bubble tears.

Hmm.. What does my little sisters' incident, this kid and the two parallel worlds got to do with each other? EVERYTHING.

My little sister is everything to me, she is family, and that is the reason why I can never think of living without her. That's why I want to protect her with each breath I got. This feeling, this need of protecting family shouldn't be only for the close people. This feeling and need should be for the whole world. We are not living in two different worlds, we are all the same no matter how hard we try to prove other wise. 

It doesn't matter if you are rich or poor, beautiful or ugly, because at the end we all turn into dust and rest in identical graves.

I'm not here to preach any of you, I just want to give you some insight. We should do our best every single day to help each other. We need to hold on to the thought of Family and the strong bond between us. We are the destruction of humanity, which means we are also the key for the salvation of humanity.  

Look into these eyes and decide for yourself.

Explain Again, Why Do I Need a Man?

Being a woman is more than just becoming a wife when 

finding the right man -at least for Kurds. 

Yes, it's true that due to our geographical location our women should be nothing else than just order obeying daughters and wives. Yes, it's true that Kurdistan is an Islamic country and it makes any western doubt our rights as a woman.But are we oppressed eastern women? Hell no.

I'm a woman and I personally stand for independent, hard working and goal-achieving Kurdish women. When did the mainstream media become a manipulative source of information? Ugh, I guess the day they invented media. 

For days I've been thinking of this topic since it is more than a recent topic, when considering what's going on in Middle East and the whole world in general. We talk about degraded women rights in Middle East but highly valued woman rights in the West. Really? Is it just the ignorance of the West to see the whole Middle East as one? Is it the educated West and the uneducated Middle East? 

I want to clean the air and express myself by telling you all how a Kurdish woman truly is!

"Behind every man, there is not a woman. She is beside him, she is with him, not behind him"

-Tariq Ramadan

We have women fighting side by side with our men

We have women in politics; making decisions with men as equals

We have women as police officers

We have women representing the Great Kurdistan

I am sure not many of you expected this, but it does not matter since I am here to show you even more! Maybe you think, the pictures above are about people who belong to the "upper-class", hence does not really represent the whole nation. Or does it? I have had the privilege to interview some Kurdish women who more than proudly represent most of us. 

 

Without mentioning any names I decided to interview Kurdish mothers all around the world. I chose to interview mothers because they are already occupied with the household, being a mom and at the same time a wife. I asked them questions such as:

How do they manage being a mother, a wife and at the same time follow their dreams?

What were their dreams and did their husband support them?

What are they doing today?

I got many answers and most of them did not surprise me because I knew Kurdish women are strong and willing to go that extra mile in order to make everything happen. Most of the interviewers were working and not just being a stay-home mom. One was even starting her own business and she inspired me by her plans. I wish nothing but success to all of them!



The question is, what is my point in all this?

My point is that nowadays women are stronger than before. We have a voice none can take away, we have motivation and most of all we thrive for success. What do Kurdish women do? We make sure the whole world knows our name, knows our background and definitely knows which way we are going. And let me tell you, there is no way than straight to the top!



It's All so Black in White

It's Sunday morning and I wake up to the sound of rain drops. The weather seems so cold and laying on my warm bed felt the best thing in the world. I look at the time and it's 10 AM. Still too early to wake up but I still get up.

I open the window blind and I see a foggy world. The moment felt different because for once I didn't feel like the world needed to make any sense. The world didn't make any sense.

No matter the weather, I still decided to go for a jog. As I run under the rain, the cold wind hits my face, the rain drops on my head and nose -a small memory hits me like a flash back.

I suddenly see myself on a summer afternoon back in the 90's, when I am 6 years old. I am at the playground and building a sand castle, but I am alone. All the other kids are running around, screaming and laughing. Seeing myself playing all by myself I remember something. I remember that I did not know anything about the world I know today. I did not know anything about the world I am originally from. I did not know anything about the world we live in. I did not know what it meant to worry or suffer. I knew one thing, and it was that I was free to do whatever I wanted.
I was only a child and that meant that the world needed to love me and care for me as much as I needed.

But this is not for every child. 

We are living in the 21st century and yet we see suffering children every single day. The worst part is not that they are living in bad conditions, the worst part is that we see them walking on their bare feet without a shelter and we are not doing anything about it. Innocent children are in the battlefield as our shields.

"Kurdish children don't know how to be children, they act as if they know everything. They skip the age of knowing what being little is. They act like they are the protectors. And they are willing and always will look on the bright side."

-Ashna A. Wasman

What does it mean to be a child? Humanium -Help the Children defines a child as the following: "Etymologically, the term “child” comes from the Latin infans, which means ” the one who does not speak “. For the Roman, this term designates the child from its birth, up to the age of 7 years." If the definition of a child is one that does not speak, then how can they tell us they are suffering? They can't. It is our responsibility, the worlds responsibility to nourish a child in a  way that promises them a brighter day and a brighter future. 

What happens when we don't guarantee them a safe life?

"Kurdish children are not suffering from a natural disaster, being abandoned or for being homeless. Their role is to survive a war. A war, which has been going on forever and protect their fellow siblings through it. Even the ones living outside of Kurdistan, who have escaped war and have managed to be taken in by other countries, they struggle too. They struggle to explain to their friends what and where Kurdistan is and where they originate and why they had to leave. Kurdish children are the strongest ones and Kurds have it in their blood to keep fighting for their nation and it runs through each and every generation. It's amazing that Kurdistan is not officially on a map and all the Kurds are separated and scattered around the world, they are all united as one spirit. All our thoughts are with these babies, our babies. I pray for them all the time. They didn't do anything to deserve what they are going through, but they will fight against it and keep the Kurdish faith running through their veins for the Future Kurdish Generation."

-Joanne Abbassi-Nejad

As Miss Joanne put it, the role of the Kurdish Children is to survive a war -an ongoing war. What makes me wonder is that since when being innocent is for the privileged ones? Since when a child has to live inside the European union or the states to be cared for, to be protected, to have the right to breath and live in peace? We feel sorry for them but we refuse to help, we refuse to plan a better future if it does not directly concern us. 

The future doesn't lie in the hands of a 6 years old child who has an iPad to play with, a warm bed to sleep in, a healthy breakfast he gets or a school he attends. The future lies in the hands of a child that has nothing but still survives the war, sleeps during the cold dark night, barely eats. That is where our future is and will be.

I don't know for how long the West will close their eyes for the injustice that is happening in the same world, not in light-years away. Our children are scared to live every single moment of their life.

Imagine if your own child didn't have their safe haven, their own safe surrounding where they can play with their dolls, laugh and run as much as they want. What if your child's future was All so Black in White? I can bet, that is the moment when you open your eyes and do your best to guarantee them a brighter future. What kind of a parent you would, if you did not do that?

Well imagine these are your kids.

Imagine that these two little children are in the middle of a war, and their only playground is the battlefield and each second could be their last. 

Forget the iPads, the dolls and even shoes, but focus on their face expressions. These two little angels don't even realize what is happening, because they don't know any better. All they know is today. 

What if we can give them also tomorrow? We can. Every passing day we have the possibility to change their life, and their future. We can give them shelter and not just in our hearts, we can give them a smile that lasts longer than a minute - a life time, and mostly we can give them a real life. A life every child in the world deserves.

The Children of Kurdistan deserves a colorful life just as our flag.





Long live #Kurdistan !



The pictures with name of Rekar Hiwa are his property and they are used with his permission. For more information: Rekar Hiwa.