Failed journey

Picture tells a thousand words. Even without a caption or descriptive texts, it leaves numerous impressions and ideas to the viewers. Oftentimes, it provokes compelling reasons for someone to move or be moved. It provides us the historical background of a certain social milieu.

The picture of a three-year-old boy Aylan Kurdi captured the attention of not only the world leaders but people all over the world when it went viral and shocked the conscience of the world. It depicted the dark-haired toddler, wearing a bright-red T-shirt and shorts, washed up on a beach, lying face down in the surf not far from Turkey's fashionable resort town of Bodrum. Not so distant from the site of fierce fighting between Islamic state insurgents and Kurdish forces. 

The image of Aylan's body washing up on a Turkish beach last week following his family's failed attempt to reach Europe has sparked national and international debate about how to deal with the millions of refugees displaced by war. A war created by men, by adults, whose conflicting ideologies and wants have brought so much disaster to men-much more to the innocent children. 

After all this is not the first time a picture has created a large impact to the world. The picture of that little girl, Kim Phuc, running naked and screaming, down the road in Vietnam in 1972, against a backdrop of smoke attacked by America's ally, the South Vietnamese air force, has captured the enormous impact of world conflict. It brought home in a massive way to the US domestic audience the human effects of the Vietnam war.

In war there are no losers and winners. But we can't help but see the most vulnerable sector – the children. As innocent victims of war, the world is creating a bleak future for them.

Photos capture the intense emotions of our children who are victims of world's atrocities. They are not pests or part of the swarm either. They are not cockroaches but human beings who deserve to be accepted by a caring country. They deserve, at least, a temporary settlement, as cooperating countries are working for long-term solutions.

Aylan doesn't know what war is all about. Why are there people running and screaming? Why does his family have to go somewhere far from where they live? For us, these are simple questions that Aylan also wants a simple answer-peace. But such abstract concept of peace means devoid of screamings, runnings and moving to other places.

Aylan Kurdi is a symbol of a war-torn country and the world's inability or hesitancy to provide acceptance and humanitarian care. His death screams for compassion. A far-reaching and elusive dream but we don't need and wait to be moved by a photo that depicts reality but an understanding that in war the most vulnerable victims are the children.

We are fortunate that we are not in the battlefield. Our lives are generally peaceful as we face common daily concerns. But wait, back in our country, in Mindanao, we also have our brothers and sisters whose lives are threatened by military, para military, New People's Army, Moro Islamic Liberation Front and other Muslim rebel groups. Every now and then we are confronted with our very own local insurgencies that for so long creating political and socio-cultural divide in our land. And as usual the children are the most affected victims. The killing of our brother lumads in Bukidnon was a local strife. Allegedly a "legitimate encounter" between government forces and the New People's Army but left a picture of helpless innocent locals.  

Aylan, his mother and his only brother have never reached to another place for better living. Their coming back came unexpectedly but cannot anymore experience the elusive peace they hoped for.

Aylan's photo left a memory that will never be erased from history. The messages of desperation, hopelessness and survival have moved the world. Someday, we hope to take pictures of children with innocent faces devoid of terror and uncertainty.