I wanted to know more about the victims of today’s horrifying massacre, and since the media’s information wasn’t quite specific enough, I took to Facebook to look for them.
What I found was this playful, innocent status written by a student of Peshawar’s Army Public school. You can just tell how much these kids loved being at school.
Mubeen Shah, the boy at the end, uploaded his cover photo a while back with this quote: “We are a nation of beauty and great grief. Our smiles are much stronger than your guns.”
Mubeen and his other three friends in this picture were all killed by the Taliban today.
And, as much as I want to, I don’t know how to look at these kids and tell them to “Rest in Peace”
Because how can they “Rest in Peace” when every article covering their massacre is riddled by Islamophobic comments?
How can they “Rest in Peace” when they, the victims, are categorized alongside their oppressors?
You do not have to be any particular religion or political party to mourn alongside Pakistan today. Muslim, Christian, Democrat, Republican: it doesn’t matter.
All you have to be is awake.