A Forgotten Crisis
By Caitie Steffen
In 2009, when I decided to change my major from Kinesiology to Theology and Religious Studies, there were a few influential figures that helped guide my decision: His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh, and Aung Sun Suu Kyii. What I had read about Buddhism at the time was strongly guided by Western Buddhist thought. It was a very romanticized vision of Buddhist principles and ideals, and in reality, I was naive and uninformed. Throughout my 3 years of studies the rose colored glasses were lifted. However, it wasn't until I heard about the attacks on the Rohingya and refugee crisis that my perspective was 20/20.
It is easier to empathize with a stranger when we can find commonality with the subject and the subject appears non threatening. The Lady, as Aung Sun Suu Kyi is referred to by her supporters, was not only an inspiring icon as an Asian, female, but also a victim while she was held under house arrest. And yet this icon of freedom, Nobel Laureate, Buddhist, and mother looked the other way and even denied when women and girls were raped and thousands of people were murdered including hundreds under the age of 5 years old. Myanmar defends and denies what the United Nations has called an ethnic cleansing by stating that they are fighting insurgents. And Myanmar citizens believe that their army is fighting terrorists. This label of terrorist over the past 20 years has led to plenty of misassumptions, particularly in Western nations. And unfortunately, in this circumstance, it seems like more than a coincidence that it is being used to describe a Muslim minority group.
I did not choose to study Theology and Religious Studies out of personal belief. In fact I am Agnostic. I was baptized Lutheran and then during my middle school years, I attended Catholic school where I converted and was Confirmed Catholic. Throughout high school though I became more disenchanted with the Catholic Church and religion in general. You could say I lost my faith. However, during my studies in college I developed an interest in others who still had their faith. I took an anthropological perspective on religion and immersed myself in religious experiences, which taught me how to respect those who believed. Interestingly enough my emphasis was on East Asian religions and Islam. Studying polytheistic and monotheistic religions may seem like they would be at odds, but religion is rarely ever just religion. History tells the story of how religion is often intertwined with politics, culture, war, and women.
I mentioned earlier that it is easier for humans to have empathy when they can find a similarity or common ground. However, sometimes simply just broadening one's perspective, immersing one's self in a new experience, and learning from the people who think differently is enough to generate respect, and ultimately empathy. One of my first classes after switching my major was Islamic Feminism and it completely changed the way I thought. I am still shocked at how ignorant I was prior to that class. I was in 8th grade when the twin towers were attacked, and I still remember that day so clearly. Those attacks were a tragedy yet the aftermath instilled misassumptions and generalizations in my mind that were not dissolved until I was in college. Throughout the semester I read about women who chose to reinterpret religious beliefs that were imposed by patriarchal objectives. These women did not simply accept one way of thinking. They used a scholarly approach and maintained ties to their faith while doing so despite it being dangerous, lonely, and controversial.
The Rohingya people are at the cross hairs of political agendas and a world where terrorist activity is quickly associated with extreme interpretations of the Qur'an and Islamic teachings. Their future remains unknown and bleak at the refugee camp and in Myanmar. However, their plight is not forgotten by all, and Sesame Street introduced two new characters named Aziz and Noor. Aziz and Noor are 6 year old Rohingya twins living in the refugee camp in Bangladesh. A couple of Sesame Street characters may not seem like much, but half of the 1 million Rohingya refugees are children. These children are casualties of an unsolicited war. They are forced to forgo a childhood and grow up too quickly. Maybe seeing Sesame Street characters who can empathize with what they experience everyday will provide comfort and quell the loneliness and confusion.
