FINDING YOUR IDENTITY AMIDST CIVIL UNREST

FINDING YOUR IDENTITY AMIDST CIVIL UNREST LOSING A CULTURE, GAINING SAFETY, AND NAVIGATING YOUR WAY IN BETWEEN.

Civil unrest, commonly a result of social injustice and a lack of human rights, causes the loss of many lives and often leads to the loss of one’s own identity. My friend, a Syrian, shared some of the difficulties she faced due to the civil unrest that her country has been enduring for two decades. Amidst protests that rose as a way to bring justice, many people lost their lives and a lot were forced to flee the country in hopes of finding a safer place to live. That, in turn, caused Syrians to face a fragmented sense of identity as it is challenging to maintain one’s tradition and identity as a foreigner.

Fleeing did not stop the oppression they were facing. In fact, now they were faced with new challenges as they navigate a new and unfamiliar life and world. My friend, Hanan, found herself in America with a fresh start, and with that fresh start, she realized that the problems she faced, the issues that were such an integral part of her life and what led her to where she is today, is almost non-existent to the people around her.

So just what is an identity?

An identity is who you are and how you are perceived. It’s shaped by where we come from, where we live, our interests, cultures and traditions. An identity gives a sense of belonging and confidence. For Hanan, her identity lied in educating those around her about the conflict and civil unrest her country has been facing.

Shedding light on the issues Syrians faced linked her to her country and heritage. Amidst the new life and culture she has been exposed to, she showed me just how Syrians, despite being faced with all of these challenges , still found, and continue to find, a way to form a new and unique culture of their own. They paved a path, while still not smooth, that is admirable and a sentiment to the resilience us humans have while faced with adversity.