Monday, June 10, 2013

Syria.

I cannot lie and say that the situation in Syria is not dangerous. It is. And it has become something of a reality for us students to hear the bombs going off at night. But tonight they have worsened. As one bomb after another went off in the distant, like the sound of distant thunder approaching, we looked at each other and realized with some small ounce of fear that we are very close to this war. We heard the boys rushing up the stairs past our open door to our apartment, heading for the staircase that leads to the rooftop. We followed and for the first time for the past several nights we attempted to look for any sign of the conflict on the horizon. After realizing that Syria lies in a different direction than we thought, we correctly turned our gazes to the North, to the border city of Daraa. Daraa is currently the city being fought over by the opposition and the Syrian government. But with the recent arms being sent over from Russia, the case for the opposition doesn't look hopeful. In fact, some people are saying that the government plans to massacre the entire city. That's upwards of 90,000 people. That is the estimated amount that has been killed in the past two years. And some expect that same number to now double because of this one fight. And a fight it will be. This is the city where the revolution began. It is the city were the protests started when around a dozen children wrote anti-government slogans on a wall and were arrested for it. People protested and some were killed in the streets. It is a symbol for the revolution. And it is very close to Jordan.

Today, we had intended to go to the border crossing once more, but this time to enter it, to be able to go as far as possible without actually crossing the border. We weren't allowed because of the recent battle that has begun. Some of the towns that are near the border have actually been evacuated for the first time, ever. Our professors said they heard that American military men had rolled through the city we are in, Irbid, around 8 pm tonight. Training exercises that have been planned for months began today in Jordan by the US military.

We are very safe where we are. The bombs are farther than I let on. But when we went onto the roof and saw the smoke billowing through the wind, we were startled at how real this is all becoming. Reading about a civil war for 2 years is one thing - seeing it with my own two eyes is another. I know what is happening a few miles north of us. But seeing a small part of the aftermath of bombs being dropped on people's homes with the intent of killing those inside, makes it so much more distressing and yes, terrifying. But it is an experience I wouldn't pass up. I am living through history right now. I am seeing refugees in cities, towns, and camps. I am learning how the borders may be closing soon, trapping those who want to flee inside the country that is killing them. I am seeing the economic burden it has caused on the country, and knowing not enough is being done to help make right this problem. I wish I could do more but I am just a student, a learner. And I am with people who also are so eager to learn. And in the end, what better way to learn than with reality. 

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