“They Don’t Represent Us Syrians!”“They Don’t Represent Us Syrians!”

As Syrians, social media is an integral component of our identity today, connecting us with family & friends scattered across the world, or even with Syrian-led initiatives and communities. Increasingly, I see Syrians angered by the mere fact of other types of Syrians simply existing. Whether it is footage of Syrian youth partying, women dressed in a particular manner, or even the increased visibility of certain communities or ideas that make up the wide spectrum in Syria, I see the wretched statement “they don’t represent us!”. But who are we?

Syria has long embraced well over a dozen recognized religious sects, each with experiences, and histories unique to their own in the country. Despite differences in rituals and lifestyles, all share a deep connection to the same land. While differences have long been an integral characteristic of Syria, many still seem to be unfamiliar or even uncomfortable with that.

Some Syrian Muslim women choose to wear a hijab, while many other Muslim women in and out of the country also don’t. Millions of Syrians worldwide are Christian, others are Alawite, or Druze… increasingly, more Syrians live a secular life amongst a society that revolves around religion. More so than before, religion has become more of a personal matter than a communal one. And ethnicity? I think of the millions of Syriac and Kurdish speaking Syrians who were forced to assimilate to a Syrian Arab identity that supposedly represented the majority.

This should never be a shock. How saddening would it be for a country like Syria, with some of humanity’s most prominent history and oldest metropolises of the world, to never take pride in the diversity of its people who are a witness to its legacy.

We must progress as a community by embracing our differences rather than approaching it with hostility. As youth, we must push forward a culture of respecting differences. While I have only discussed religious & ethnic variety, this Syrian phenomenon also extends to differences in social/cultural upbringing and even matters of personal choice.

Bullying has become rampant and is a serious epidemic within the Syrian community, both in reality and the virtual world. A society that does not take the initiative of changing itself, will relish in its ignorance and close-mindedness. We must be careful in preventing the establishment of aggressive conservativeness in Syria. It is our collective duty to remember that our Syria is for all.