Bravely Facing The Fear Of Terrorism
On Sept. 11, 2001, my generation had its first encounter with the new kind of war: terrorism. The fear was near and instilled into the conscious memories of us all. We grew up with the color code dictating our safety. We saw the change in society as it begged for safety and precaution.
Previous generations had a different kind of warfare. It was far away and televised into the homes of American families. It was a group of people making conscious decisions to fight.
The world had become accustomed to this scary but disconnected threat.
By 2015 the world was supposed to be safe and far from the grey smoke that clouded all of our safety at the turn of the decade.
Yet on Jan. 7, France was host to the somber reminder that we are not safe and that terrorism is more alive than ever.
The world took cover as the satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo, paid for the intolerant attitude fostered between humans.
Violence snuck through the corners of the French streets, as two brothers declared war on a difference of opinions and free speech.
Further south, on a different continent, Boko Haram continued to plague the inherited safety of the Nigerian population with bombings, murder and kidnapping.
On what feels like light years away from the Tuesday that changed the world, with our free wi-fi and smart phones, modern society once again found itself questioning the safety of every day.
The militants causing havoc are people, armed and dangerous. They claim lives of innocent civilians as the rest of us vow to change the illusive safety we aim to achieve.
They hijack more than just planes; they claim ownership of our everyday normality. Jobs that aim to express are dangerous, being a certain gender is not a safe biological denomination.
Even participating in a marathon is not safe anymore.
As twenty first century citizens, we are seen as the generation of grand student loans and even bigger smartphone devices. Yet we are currently inheriting a different and unknown collective subconscious: a fear of radical ideals.
They are no longer just “crazy” ideas with no substance. Turning a blind eye on the news and not wanting to discuss politics is no longer enough to keep our world rose-colored and sheltered.
The concern and terror we witness on every terrorism victim is the truth.
Charlie Hebdo reminded us that its not impossible to rob the world of its innocence, even today. Boko Haram continues to plague us as the most advance terrorist attack.
As a young adult, I am ready to end the fear that generations after me are almost born with.
I will fight ideologies that will cause events like Charlie Hebdo and groups such as Boko Haram, with a lack of fear and a conscious mind.