Photo by Jacey Yarbrough
To any observer, senior Jackie Abraham is a normal teenager. She works, dates, and studies like any teenager, but her stress isn’t based off schoolwork or petty high school drama. She’s She worries for the safety of her family in Syria among the warfare and whether or not she’ll hear their voice again.
“My family is in hiding,” Abraham said. “They can’t step outside without worrying about their lives.
She worries that she’ll never see them again and that Syria won’t be safe for years. To any people who aren’t entirely sure what’s going on currently, the overview is posted here.
“There is a food shortage and no electricity. I feel guilty for the life I have while they’re suffering. I’ve had two cousins,” she trails off and swallows hard, “God rest their souls, killed. I email them, or sometimes I talk to them on the phone before it gets cut off. Most of my family received their visas, and if they can escape without crossing paths with death, they’ll live with my family and me. I feel all the connection of the Syrian people. My parents are both from Syria. I have to carry their morals, their culture, their tradition. They’re humble people.”
She constantly waits for news updates, but refuses to support America in its pursuit, because she’s worried more about the people than the breaches in international law. There is a liveblog frequently updated to shed light on what’s going on, but internet is limited and coverage has become dangerous.
“I’m worried. I do not feel the US has any business in Syria. They are basing their war on lies, and they do not have the facts. Everyday the rebels who were imported to fight against the Syrian people are murdering hundreds of Christians. My family is all Christian. They all live there. I believe no matter how many people are against the US stepping into Syria, Obama still wants to step in. There’s a resource they want from Syria but as Americans, we don’t know what that is. I think we should send resources and help the people, instead we’re providing money and weapons for the rebels attacking their country. I’m disappointed we’re hypocrites. Bush dropped chemicals on people in Iraq, now Obama wants to frame Syria for doing the same. Who’s behind it, who knows? But the president shouldn’t be making assumptions.”
While many students around school have an opinion on Syria, Abraham believes they are misinformed.
“Students only know what’s portrayed in the media,” Abraham said. “They have no idea what’s real or fake. I want to help people open their eyes and make sense of our world. We can’t let the media be our perspective on life. I want to make a change.”
