MY RACE IS ONLY SKIN DEEP
MY CULTURE IS NOT.
The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination was observed annually on 21st March.
On this same date in 1960, parents never went back home , spouses disappeared from the face of earth and children became orphans. The police opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration in Sharpeville, South Africa, against the apartheid “pass laws”.
Yet even with the pain of losing loved ones, Nelson Mandela still preached forgiveness!
In 1966, the General Assembly called on the international community to redouble its efforts in eliminating all forms of racial discrimination. It was declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 1979, that 21st -27th of March will be a period that celebrates the importance of communities and nations to strive towards racial equality and tolerance.
“Knowledge and information on the diversity of human races, ethnicity and customs contribute to overcoming racism and is a conduit for a better understanding, tolerance and acceptance.”
Racial intolerance has led to serious conflicts in the past and has fuelled hate , prejudice and war that has crippled countries to its knees. We need to protect our future! What they did hurt and we might never get over it , we might never understand it but we need to heal as a universe and it begins with us , not them. The future is in our hands; we can shape it together and commit to a world free from discrimination.
In 1979, the General Assembly adopted a Programme of activities to be undertaken during the second half of the Decade for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination. On that occasion, the General Assembly decided that a week of solidarity with the peoples struggling against racism and racial discrimination, beginning on 21stMarch, would be organized annually in all States.
New Zealand, a usually peaceful nation, recently experienced unprecedented mass shootings which were carefully planned, after the biggest massacre in New Zealand’s history happened nearly 30 years ago. A man killed 13 people in a shooting rampage. Fifty people were killed and 50 others wounded in a terror attack on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinta Arden has described the attack as one of her country’s “darkest days.” She said that the suspects held “extremist views” that have no place in New Zealand or anywhere else in the world. The gunman targeted two mosques in central Christchurch at lunchtime Friday local time. Friday is the busiest day for many mosques around the world.
A graphic video which streamed live on social media for about 17 minutes purports to show a portion of the attack: In it, a man is seen driving through the streets of Christchurch before arriving at the mosque and eventually opening fire. The horrific attack on al Noor Mosque, including the time where shooter returns to the car to re-arm, lasts approximately six minutes. As the shooter drove away from al Noor mosque, he opened fire on several people who were walking along the street. Briefly after the live stream ended, a second attack took place at Linwood mosque. At least seven people were killed there and another died later at the hospital.
Just before the shootings, a link to an 87-page manifesto on Twitter and 8chan, an online messaging board that has been used by anonymous accounts to share extremist messages and cheer on mass shooters, was posted to an account in Tarrant’s name .The manifesto is unsigned. Its author claims to be a 28-year-old white man, born in Australia. It is filled with anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim sentiments, as well as explanation why the attack had to happen.
In the face of what happened in New Zealand let us keep in mind…..
You don’t have to be Muslim to be heartbroken,
You don’t have to be Muslim to be angry,
You don’t have to be Muslim to grieve,
Yes this was a terrorist attack against Muslims
But if we are ever going to defeat this dangerous idea that Muslims are inherently violent or outside invaders, it is not enough to stand with the Muslim community. It is not enough to be outraged on behalf of the Muslim community
Realize the Muslim community is your community.
Our faith should never matter more than our humanity
-Hasan Minhaj-
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Sub Saharan International Model United Nations (SAIMUN) is a five-day international relations simulation for both high school and university/college students that is held annually at the United Nations Office in Nairobi (UNON) Gigiri. The international meeting is attended by more than 800 students from all over the world, in which they debate the major issues of the international political agenda. SAIMUN19 now beckons all of us to once again take part. The theme is “Youth Leadership at its Peak:The role of the Youth In Sustainable Development” It will be held from 1st-5th July 2019, so make sure your calendars are marked!
SAIMUN also strives to offer an all-rounded journalism experience to the media team through simulating different media: a newspaper — The Daily SAIMUNER, a video news channel on YouTube — SAIMUN News, this blog along with various social media platforms. To get all this and more, subscribe to our mailing list below.
