Good Peoples of the Internet, earlier today I wrote about the issue with Charlie Hedbo Journalists. Upon further reflection, in the spirit of equality, I am deciding to write this piece to every innocent soul taken by war, those unknown people of the world suffering injustice and so on. It’s NOT okay to blow the horn about the current situation in France and ignore the rest of the world. I am by no means belittling that horrible tragedy however I am saying let us cast out gaze on not only France but on the world.

An occurrence should not be a tragedy only when it happens in the US or in Europe. Extremism has adversely affected the Middle East the most. All the people in the Middle East are not terrorists, they are people just like you and I. They have feelings, they have a sense of humor. Their location does not make them any different than you. Is it now when this thing has happened in France that it is a tragedy? Is it only now that the whole world wants to support France and hold candlelight vigils as a means of either pandering to this socio-political conundrum. Why now? Just yesterday, 29 innocent people were murdered in cold blood in Afghanistan, 12 in Syria, and 9 in Iraq. Why isn’t that getting airplay? Why isn’t the world decrying these murders? Why isn’t the world rallying together in support of the right to life of these persons in the Middle East? Ask yourself that question, Why am I concerned about France and ignoring the Middle East? Have I written off the Middle East? Why don’t I care that children are being made orphans and parents are losing children? We need to start focusing on what is right- loving one another irrespective of race or skin colour. That’s what true equality is. I think part of the reason the world jumps whenever a first-world country is attacked by terrorist is because people are made to believe that in First-World-Countries, everything should be tip-top, they should have no flaw, no blemish, no problems. Everything should be smooth. However, in places like Iraq, “Oh it’s their country, we don’t care. They can kill themselves as long as they don’t bring it to our side”. We literally don’t care what happens there. We assume it’s normal for them to bomb each other. This is wrong. It shouldn’t be the case. They are people as well.

This ode is to you armchair activists. So you know, Jumping up and carrying banners to every cause that you can add a hashtag to is not activism. It’s high time we started caring about every race. Don’t rise up only when it affects a 1st world country or it’s so cool with a hashtag. Yes, I’m looking at you “#BringBackOurGirls”. Posting a photo online is not how strife is subdued. Giving something awareness by pouring water over your head doesn’t help anyone. Awareness alone will not change anything rather clear-cut decisions and choices will.

This post was much more random, but it still sounds like me. Yeuup.

Shayne.