Recently, WTTW Channel 11 aired a story about the human tragedy of Syrian people. The story focused on one family’s plight in Aleppo. They struggled to survive by living in the rubble of their bombed out home in the war zone. Much of the documentary focused on the family’s little girl, about 5 years old, and her struggle to survive. The father disappeared in the fighting and the family became refugees.
Their story touched me deeply. As I watched the documentary, I cried with compassion for the little girl. I empathized with the child’s bewilderment, her struggle to comprehend the meaning of life, and her yearning for hope. In 1944, I too became a child refugee from the Russian front of WWII.
I have become aware that children’s plight resulting from conflicts has changed during my lifetime. In my childhood, children became casualties of “collateral” damage in wars. Today, children often are the intended targets.
Two years ago, a week before Christmas, the world was shocked by news of a massacre in Pakistan — 148 people killed, 132 of the victims were children. The Taliban proudly claimed responsibility for the deed. They said it was in revenge for the Pakistani army raids in the tribal areas of Pakistan. Attacking children is characteristic of the Taliban. In 2012, they shot Malala Yousafzai in the head for advocating education for girls.
The Pakistani army responded with a raid of their own and killed 77 radical militants. In protest, the Imam of the militants issued a statement saying that the raid was un-Islam-like. It seems that the Imam is inferring that killing 132 children is consistent with teachings of Islam.
Pakistan is not the only place in the world that has a hostile environment for children. War, poverty and other disastrous conditions cause immeasurable suffering to all, especially children. In many cultures, children are treated as less than second-class citizens. They are often marginalized, diminished, discounted, exploited and abused. Often girls bear an additional measure of degradation and exploitation. During the past two years, Boko Haram in Nigeria abducted over 300 girls to be sold off into marriages, slavery and human trafficking.
Children’s victimization is worldwide. The United States and Canada are no exceptions. There have been numerous massacres of children in school shootings by deranged killers. The number of casualties, however, is small in comparison to other nations and cultures.
About two years ago, thousands of unaccompanied children from Central and South America overran the southern border of the United States. They were attempting to escape the poverty and peril of their living conditions. Most of them were turned back.
The United States has also proven itself to be not child-friendly. Someone forgot to read the inscription on the Statue of Liberty, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free. I lift my light beside the golden door.” Politicians missed a great opportunity to embark on a humanitarian mission.
Targeting children in their vendetta, the Taliban intended to inflict the greatest pain, which is grief for children. Perilous mistreatment of children stands contrary to all measures of humanness.
Fred Natkevi is an Oak Park resident.