PHOTO COURTESY (C) AL-IMAN SCHOOL, RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA
PHOTO COURTESY (C) AL-IMAN SCHOOL, RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA
COVER STORY
Deah is the first one on the left sitting.
Yusor is fourth sitting from the left.
A Teacher Remembers Deah Barakat, Yusor Abu-Salha and Razan Abusalha lived lives that need to be emulated. MASSARUT JABEEN
I
feel compelled to write for the first time how I feel about losing three beautiful souls. Deah Barakat, Yusor Abu-Salha and Razan Abu-Salha — three outstanding young individuals whom I knew since they were in elementary school. All three of them were involved in community service. They were compassionate, lively and extremely talented. They always were there for their family, friends, and anyone who needed help. These gems were selfless and always available to serve their alma mater. Barakat organized events to donate food and dental supplies to the needy in Durham, North Carolina. Barakat and Yusor visited Syrian refugees in Turkey and helped at a dental clinic there. It’s just amazing how I requested Yusor to interview me for StoryCorps, which broadcasts weekly on National Public Radio’s Morning Edition, last year in May. Out of hundreds of students whom I have taught, she was the first one who came to my mind. When I listen to the recording now over and over again, it seems everything fell into
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place, what she said about her pride being an American and still upholding her Muslim identity. The last question Yusor asked me in that interview was, “If you had the podium that you can stand on in front of the whole world, and all attention is on you, what would be the one thing that you would say?” Tears well in my eyes as I write this, and
I want to respond to it today once again. Yes, I am on the podium today and I want to address the whole world and dedicate it to dearest Deah, Yusor and Razan. To parents: Please raise your children to respect and love people regardless of their faith, race or nationality. Get to know your neighbors and be there for them. You are the ones who lay the foundation of your child’s character and personality. To educators: Teach children the importance of respecting differences of opinion and focus on similarities. Nourish global citizens, and caring individuals. Get students involved in community service and humanitarian projects. To world leaders: Work toward bringing world peace, and save lives. It will be great if our leaders today follow what Thomas Paine said: “My country is the world, and my religion is to do good.” To education policymakers: Using test scores to gauge student performance
BARAKAT, YUSOR AND RAZAN HAVE LEFT BEHIND A LEGACY THAT WILL BE CARRIED ON BY MANY, AND THEIR MEMORIES WILL LIVE ON FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS.
ISLAMIC HORIZONS MAY/JUNE 2015