A letter on my grave by Malek Hajlaoui from Tunisia

It was really hard for me to pick a subject for my article. I wanted something to bind us together. I wanted to send a letter through YaLa Academy and for all the participants here. So here is my final assignment.

Who are we? What have we done? Where do we stand? When will it all end?

Whomever you are, allow me to help you to the greatest possible extent. We all want to help one another. It’s what makes us human. We want to live by each other’s happiness not each other’s misery. We do not want to despise one another, but we have lost ourselves on the way. Greed has poisoned our souls and imprisoned our minds. It has spread hate and bloodshed. We have developed science yet we lack sympathy. We have reduced distances yet we shut the doors. We have mastered technology yet we are dissatisfied. Our ignorance has made us cruel. Our isolation has made us selfish. Our intelligence has made us cynical. Our knowledge has made us inhumane. We think too much and feel too little.

We see everything and do nothing. We need humanity now more than ever. We need emotions all together. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost. This very truth about humans cries out for the unity of men, cries out for the universal brotherhood. Even now, I think my words will reach hundreds throughout the world. Hundreds of despairing people, victims of a system that tortures the weak and imprisons the innocent.

Do not give up, their hate will pass and dictators will die. The power will return to the people. My friends, don’t give yourself to those who enslave you and control your life, who tell you what to do, what to think and what to feel. Fight them with love, don’t fight them with hate. You don’t hate only the unloved hate. Fight for your liberty. You the people have the power to make this life free and beautiful, you have the power to create happiness, to make this life a wonderful adventure. Let us fight for a world of reason and freedom. Show them the Samaritan in you.

I have a dream, I wish I could make you feel better. I wish you could wash away my pain. I wish we could live together and learn to co-exist.

In every moment, a choice exists. We can cling to the past or embrace the inevitability of change and allow a brighter future to unfold before us. Such an uncertain future may call for even more uncertain moments. Either way, a new day is coming whether we like it or not. The question is, will you control it or will it control you?