By Meera Nathan
When you’re removed from conflict, it’s easy to think that you don’t make a difference. It’s hard to stay passionate about a cause when you are not there to witness the situation and the impact of your efforts firsthand. However, I urge you not to get discouraged. As a student-led movement, education is at STAND’s core and the greatest tool we have to fight genocide.
I was reminded of the importance of education a couple of weeks ago when the University of Damascus was hit by mortars. Many of us take for granted the ability to go to school day after day. I’ll be the first to admit that there have been days when all I want to do is skip class and instead, stay in bed, turn on a trashy MTV show, and eat peanut butter out of the jar. But can you imagine not going to school, not because you don’t feel like it, but because there physically isn’t a school to go to anymore?
With this said, we must take advantage of our ability to receive an education and use it to put a stop to mass atrocities. It is our duty to teach our fellow students and our communities about past genocides and the need to respect and tolerate others. By educating and spreading awareness, we can inspire others to also take a stand against genocide.