The killings of Deah, Yusor and Razan have forced us to mourn and question their loss. Three Muslims shot dead over “disputed parking” has made little sense to mourners around the world. The world is right to be shocked, angry and sad, but their deaths are more than that — they are a call to action.
A once apathetic community, NC State now stands together in the wake of tragedy. But this unity will soon be gone.
Social systemic problems are historically pushed aside in favor of the intolerant status quo. Racism, religious intolerance, homophobia and sexism are all interconnected and institutionalized. Deah, Yusor and Razan’s killings are further evidence that this can no longer be ignored nor accepted.
Nadine Shehadeh, a teacher at the Al-Iman, an Islamic primary school, said Deah, Yusor and Razan “were here to make a difference and we should follow that same path.” She was right.
We have failed to follow the same path as Deah, Yusor and Razan. College students consistently lack the social awareness that leads to positive social change. Our generation has failed to answer to our role in this problem.
The killing of Deah, Yusor and Razan has brought shallow unity, but also a wave of intolerance. Just as thousands have liked “Our Three Winners,” some have displayed blatant racism on social media. Many will deny the underlying root of Deah, Yusor and Razan’s killing and avoid facing the reality of hate.
Shehadeh said “Hate will fire on, it will just create more problems.” While the deaths are shocking, atrocious and irreconcilable, they should also be stirring, reflective, a personal call to action.
Along with the lives of Deah, Yusor and Razan, we lost the luxury of not caring.
NC State students, be angry, afraid and mourn the taking of Deah, Yusor and Razan’s lives, but channel these emotions into action.
There is no excuse, no pardon, no reason to be unaware of your role in racial, religious or other intolerances. It is time we follow Deah, Yusor and Razan’s path to becoming leaders of social change.
