Saturday, April 4, 2015

I am a Garissa Student

I am saddened by the killing of students at the Garissa University in Kenya. Last months, France and Denmark had their shares. When it happened in France, the news was in the air as if the entire world was shaking. Heads of states from different countries came to France to share the sorrow of the French people. Even Barak Obama was thought to make the trip to France. We saw how the leaders of Europe walked hand in hand. Charlie Hebdo insulted the prophet. The 147 students in Garissa never made such a statement. They never went out insult any religion. Still they were targeted, and dealt in the same way as journalists at Charlie Hebdo. The 147 students were no Jews. Regardless, there were killed as Jews in Paris. What did the 147 students to deserve a death penalty? Did they write essays condemning al-Shabaab?
The images in France and Denmark were amazing. I could not help it. I felt like as I was part of that society. Even though I am not living in France, the emotion came all the way to me. I was almost feeling as being Charlie. Now there are 147 students killed in Kenya. Three days of mourning in Kenya. But what is the response of the world? We cannot compare. It is day and night. Africans felt Charlie, but as for Garissa, they don't feel a thing.
The emotion for the 147 is minimal. You cannot compare with the emotion orchestrated for the 19 in France. I will not ask for the international community to mourn for our 147 young students. They have been many tragedies in different parts of the world claiming more life. But it is important as an African to get a good perspective of values, and emotions the Westerns talk about.
147 young students killed, not because they were black, but because those who killed them thought that they were not thinking like them. They were a danger for their virtual society. The sentence of death was taken to show power, the capacity to harm. Of course, as African themselves, easy targets were chosen. Unarmed people holding in their hands at best a pen and a notebook. The murderers knew that they will be victorious. Terrorists had guns in their hands, our 147 students had books. Books against Guns, where is the so much power of the god they kill for.
147 young persons, the future of Kenya, and the hope of Africa assassinated for no good reasons by ordinary people with an agenda written by others.
Kenya is a melting pot of people from different parts of Africa.
I visited Kenya in 2000, loved Nairobi, and promised myself to go back there. Bad news does come from Kenya, but most of time you hear good things about Kenya. You hear these things from foreigners who had a chance to visit the country. From the airport to downtown you come to appreciate Kenyans. They have really learned how to accommodate a foreign visitor. You can take a taxi from the airport and reach your hotel without much wondering. This is a touristic place. Kenya is a country Africa can be proud of.
I don't know why Kenya is a target of terrorist groups. Is it because the country open itself to different religious cultures? It is difficult to answer the why question. Only those who committed such a massacre know the answer to our questions.
We cannot rationalize the killings of 147 students. These murderers want take Kenya back to the time of obscurantism. The same philosophy as Boko Haram in Nigeria, they do not want the young African to be free in his/her mind. They don't want Kenyans making their ways to a better understanding of their neighbors. For them I guess their neighbor must be a god.
Now it is pointless to try talk reason to theses guys. Their representation of the world is completely at the opposite of the common reason. They want Kenyans to point finger. But I hope Kenyans should continue to speak the language of brotherhood.
I also pray that my brothers and sisters in pain will find peace in Jesus Christ in their own ways and times. May God show mercy on all of us.

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