There are never solely two sides of war. War is not black and white, it is filled with gray areas between the black and white. Lost within those gray areas are the innocent, not just men and women, but children. Children are given no other choice but to be trapped in the middle of the wars happening around them. Everyday children are senselessly murdered as a direct result of war. As devastating as this is, the wars do not cease, in fact, the wars worsen and the death tolls rise.
The children within war torn countries have experienced more pain, more loss, and more suffering in their short lives than anyone should ever have to experience in a lifetime. These children helplessly watch as their mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, grandparents, aunts, and uncles are all ripped away from them. Instead of looking to the sky in awe as an airplane or jet soars overhead, they seek shelter, wondering what type of bomb will be dropped and which of their loved ones will be killed next. Many of these children know no other life than that of war and loss. For many people in war torn countries, escape or death are the only two options they have. Syrian refugees are desperately searching for safe homes for themselves and their families, only to be turned away by nations due to fear. “Every day, we see and hear of news about Syrian refugees being sexually and economically exploited. People keep calling for their expulsion from the hosting countries. I’d rather die at home than endure this humiliating experience,” states Abu Khalid of Bustan al-Qasr, Syria. In such dire situations, such as that of the Syrian people, nations must not let fear get in the way of humanity. History must not repeat itself. How many more deaths must occur before people truly understand the severity of what is occurring in Syria? One child killed is one child too many. How many more must be killed? We must respond to these inhumane acts with acts of humanity, not fear. The purpose of my show is to use graphic imagery and statistics to evoke a reaction from my viewers. My intention is for people to not only remember these images, but also to remember why these images exist. The use of the graphic images within my show are not only meant to evoke empathy towards the victims of the Syrian war, but are meant to leave people questioning their own actions and morals relative to the Syrian war.
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Sarah Pisney |