‘I thought it would be just another boring day at school when I was packing my bag this morning.’ This is what one among those 145 souls must be wondering right now. How little, must those 8 year olds would have cared about ‘terrorism’, when they left their homes yesterday in blazers and scarves, trying to fight the chill of Peshawar?
Were these kids a part of government’s previous missions against Taliban or any other terrorist group? If the answer is no then why they were so mercilessly dragged into this shit?
These kids must have been really naughty to deserve such a punishment.
If for a moment I assume, that the retaliation by Taliban is justified, even then, how does emptying bullets in bodies of 140 innocent kids make any sense, I just don’t get it. ‘Extremist ideology’ cannot be the answer to it. I think people should come up with a new term to justify an inhuman assault like this. Some ‘X’ party has problems with ‘Y’ party, what does it has to do with children and why it is they who have to pay the price, is what perplexes me.
I really don’t want to talk to talk about government, terrorist groups, military attacks or diplomatic policies, and that is because, a normal school going kid has got absolutely nothing to do with all this.
I am angry and I am agitated but deep down what I actually am, is broken. It’s been 4 years since I passed out of high school and even now I don’t think my heart is anywhere close to ready, to experience such a thing, then how those kids can have the strength to see it through. It gives me shivers down my spine when I think what it would be like, seeing your own teacher set on fire. And you can’t take your eyes off, because you would be dead if you dared to do so.
At such a small age, a child is only used to hear the ringing sound of a bell, and not the shattering noise of a machine gun. Over 140 kids died yesterday but by God’s grace, many managed to survive as well, now what about them. Those 500 students who managed to dodge bullets and bombs have been given a horrible image of death. Before they could even discover the different facets of life, they have had the most evil and brutal possible death, right in their face.
No matter what I or anyone else says now, the harmless lives which were lost yesterday can never be brought back. A child is not supposed to witness a horrifying sight as this, and my gut wrenches when I see myself just writing about it rather than doing something which can actually protect them. I am not here to blame anyone or point fingers, all I want to do is beg for forgiveness.
Forgiveness from every kid who died in yesterday’s attack. Every citizen of the world who at least has a heart, is feeling guilty right now and so am I. Guilty, because it’s not only about the death of hundreds of kids, it is the death of humanity which we have witnessed. It is not a nation which has failed here, it is the entire world which has collectively failed.
I am feeling completely helpless right now, and all I have left to say is, sorry.
