"Beware the Ides of March"

March 15th. This is more than just any day. Throughout history, March 15th has been a known date. In Shakespear’s Julius Caesar, a fortune teller said: “beware the ides of March”, meaning “beware the dangers of March 15th”. In fact, March 15th was the day Julius Caesar was stabbed to death.

March 15th, 2011. The day the first uprising of the Syrian revolution began.

A year ago. A year of blood, murder, torture, death. Imprisonment. Pain. Heartbreak. Children are no longer children. They have seen death. They have laid their own parents in graves. Parents have laid children in graves. 365 days ago, there were 10,000 less graves in the country of Syria. Those 10,000 people are more than just a number. They all had a life, story, past, present, future, dreams. They wanted freedom. Of these 10,000 are children, some so young that they haven’t even had the opportunity to attend school.

It’s been a year. How much longer do we have to wait? How many more people need to die? Where is the justice? Where is the world? Can anyone hear them? Does no one care? Why isn’t anyone doing anything? All these meetings, conferences, interviews; where have they gotten us? It feels like we’re just going in circles. One thing we know for sure: the Assad regime must leave Syria.

What I’m asking is for you to try and do everything you can to help the innocent people of Syria. Raise money, donate money, organize a protest! Call your senator or state representative, tell them to take action. Show the government that the American people really do care. That we really do want to see the people of Syria freed.
10,000 lives too many have been taken. I just want to stop seeing that number go up. I don’t want to have to see any more pictures of mutilated bodies of children.

Please. Show that you’ve heard the voice of the Syrians. It’s been a year too long.

-Amal