“ people around me are falling back on their sub-identities leaving less room for our common identity as humans”
terorrist attacks in brussels the day
Eric: The day of the attack was not a good one for me. I remained indoors since we didn’ t know what could happen next. But the following day I resumed my classes but limited my movements between my room and school campus. On campus I was very vigilant with all movements around my environment.
Naisula: After class I received a call from my host to pick the kids, Moses( 11) and Lloyd( 9), from the school as they were not allowed to go home without parents. The conversation on our way home was intense, Lloyd was quiet while Moses got curious. His first question was‘ Naisula, are you Muslim? Why do bad people hurt other people?’ so many questions I didn’ t have answers to even myself, I don’ t think anyone has. I also received a couple of messages from back home to ask how I was, some even wanted me to go home. I think everyone was emotional considering that most of the IOB students are not from Belgium, so the emotions were magnified. Fortunately, I have good social support so it was bearable.
Do you think these events will affect your personal and / or professional life? How?
Eric: In one way or another, acts of terrorism will always affect our life. As for my personal life, I have limited my movements to just what is essential. Professionally, I work in Cameroon and we also experience acts of terrorism from the Boko Haram group from Nigeria. But I still go on normally with my daily professional activities. We cannot give in to threats from these barbaric groups. However, we remain very vigilant and ready to report to authorities all suspicious movements and attitudes in our communities.
Valeria: The March attacks have definitely affected me. I had never experienced that type of fear and feeling of insecurity before; this time the attacks were very close and in places I frequented every day. I am worried about what or where the next‘ black day’ will be, because I am sure that 22 / 3 will not be the last one. But at the same time I hope that these
events have not only been a trigger for division and discrimination; but hopefully they have also been an eye opener, a call for more empathy and solidarity towards those escaping this type of violence and simply looking for a safer place.
Naisula: No, I think terrorism is a global challenge and it can affect any country. A Parisian who lost his wife during the Paris attack wrote to the attackers:‘ I will not give you my anger, I will not satisfy you with my hatred, and I will not waste a single second of my life on you’. This made
“ people around me are falling back on their sub-identities leaving less room for our common identity as humans”
me realize that I do not want to live my life in fear. Whether in Belgium or in Kenya, human nature always prevails, we come together during attacks, that is positive.
Dries: Yes, in the wake of the attacks, many people around me have fallen back on their sub-identities leaving less room for our common identity as humans. Many now seem to explain our challenges in matters of cultural differences, leaving less room to focus on other socioeconomic and political origins of our challenges. In a diverse city where people fall back on their“ own” culture and identity, it is harder to run a house where kids, teenagers and youngsters from all sides are welcome. Nevertheless, many of our kids are showing that they are very resilient and flexible to identify cross cultures. I always tell them, let’ s be an example for the world and show that humans can live together no matter their colour or beliefs.
Exchange to change June 2016 7