ON THE holiday of Eid, I took the opportunity to bring my children at a beach in Bonbon, when student leaders invited me for their team building activity. It was the first outdoor activity we had since summer break was impossible to escape due to many committed activities and the children's summer classes.
There were only a few groups of families and people that time, which makes the noise less and the ambience serene. While observing the team-building activities, I looked at my children who were already soaking in the water. Things were at peace, as if there was no war, no martial law, and no people fleeing out of fear.
At the back of my mind, this might be the last time we can enjoy this kind of carefree moments at the beach (something I hope not), as rumors and paranoia have induced the chaos on all fronts, making it appear a larger battle is yet to be staged.
Every day, we hear stories of suspected people doing activities that are being interrogated, if not halted, by the military and police. Everyone is a suspect. Unfortunately, if one is a Muslim with a Moro/Arabic-sounding, the suspicion is high.
As every stories reveal, we tend to connect these dots, even in entirety, they are not even related.
And here comes the ground troops, in the checkpoints all over Mindanao, and in the ground zero in Marawi City. For some they are heroes, for the others, were looters and potential abusers.
There are aerial strikes destroying hard-earn structure and homes, while politicians are advancing their politics. Now, why these events can't be a prelude to a bigger chaos?
But we can hope not. Dialogues are better, except for talking with the terrorists.
There are already bright minds in Mindanao, who may convene to lead an action that would solidify not only peaceful intentions, but tangible outcomes in achieving peace initiatives.
The only hindrance is the political divide, no one seems to dissolve their political identity for the sake of unity as it appears. At least the saltwater in Bonbon has dissolved some human and animal wastes overtime.
It was a simple outdoor activity, no hassles, and your worries were buried for a while. At the end of the day, people will thrive to live and make things normal. I don't want to let my children feel my anger, I don't want them to carry my burden and later would be theirs.
I will never let them become extremists, in fact, I fear that time will come that I might be away from them and they will be left alone to face realities that may break them, which can be very painful to see.
But definitely, I will make them free from the bonds of narrowed knowledge and ultra-fanatical ideologies.
(Nefluczon@gmail.com)