It’s midnight.
Today – December 15, 2016 – is my 21st birthday.
If you had asked me a year ago where I would be on my 21st birthday, I wouldn’t have known what to tell you. This time last year, I was frantically preparing for a final exam and two final papers I had due the next day. It was also the day I submitted my application to study abroad at Oxford. So I really didn’t know whether I’d be in Cleveland, New York, or in the UK.
Instead of any of those three locations, I’m in Mumbai, India, writing this from my Dadi’s living room. Bua and Dadi are long asleep. Mom’s frantically creating my birthday photo album on Facebook like she does every year. The rest of my extended family has gone home, after an evening of good food and pictures. Tomorrow’s (or rather, later today’s) celebration in New Delhi with my mom’s family will be similar. It’s quiet and homey, not like your stereotypical 21st birthday celebrations (I already did that two weeks ago in Oxford, anyway 😛 ).
I’m grateful for the life that I have, and I’m so lucky that I’ve been so blessed over the years. I have a loving family, am getting an incredible education from two amazing universities, and have friends from all over the world.
But there are many people who aren’t as fortunate as I am.
The media is not covering Aleppo the way that it should be. The genocide has been going on for years, but only now are people paying attention – but even then, not enough attention. Looking at the New York Times home page right now, almost ever single one of the headlines on the front page are about Donald Trump’s cabinet selections and questions of Russian hackers interfering with the election, which is shameful. I, too, am guilty of getting too caught up in post-election craziness, not focusing on the daily human rights abuses that are affecting the men, women, and children of Aleppo.
I am grateful for the friends and family members who have given me presents this year (including the suckers who got me the Make America Great Again hat…you know who you are). But this is what I really want.
Read about Aleppo. Search for #Aleppo on Twitter and look at the results. You won’t just find news articles – you’ll also find tweets and messages from people who are in Aleppo right now. Look at the pictures – even the gruesome ones that make you uncomfortable, and recognize the privilege that you have from just looking at the pictures and not physically experiencing the horror in person. If you are able to, donate to organizations that are able to provide direct aid into Syria. Organizations such as UNHCR, UNICEF, Syria Relief, and Doctors Without Borders are good initial places to look into, but there are many other possible charities you can donate to. It also doesn’t have to be monetary aid – even just donating your time is helpful. Remind yourself every day that the violence and horror is happening in Aleppo daily, and to constantly check the news – beyond what’s in the front-page headlines.
That’s what I want for my birthday.
Thank you to everyone for the wishes – I’m incredibly fortunate to have all of you in my life.
Much love,
Tasha
Perspectives 