Faces Of Resolve
Somewhere in the world, a new alarm is set at 5 a.m., beckoning its owner to use those precious hours to make good on their resolution of going to the gym. Somewhere in an urban city, a cautiously optimistic face is seen at a food bank or local YMCA, unsure but confident in making a difference in the community. Yet if you check back in a week or three, you likely won’t find either of these nameless people doing squats or helping package canned beans. One of the first and hardest lessons that we learn is that motivation is fleeting. Waking up early for the first day of a New Year’s resolution is easy. But success is a sustained effort that requires an extensive and consistent force to push through the excuses, fatigue, and fears. One of the ugliest truths comes from knowing that all greatness, no matter the scale, requires this resolve. It can come in many forms, but the underlying thread that connects them all is its bitter medicinal value. 2018 was painted with flashes of grit, determination, and purpose. Here are some of its hues.
Risk
Every action you take has inherent risk. Jamal Khashoggi risked upsetting an entire government with his views and publications, and ultimately put his life on the line for his beliefs.
Throughout his career, Khashoggi had always been outspoken of his views. He believed that women rights could not be neglected in Saudi Arabia, and was critical of the Saudi’s War on Yemen. In 2003, as editor-in-chief of Al Watan, he allowed a columnist to criticize Ibn Taymiyyah, a scholar with authoritative influence over the development of the Salafi Movement and Wahhabism, major tenets of Islamic faith in Saudi Arabia. The resulting backlash ousted him from his position, and he plunged into a self-imposed exile in London. In his first brush with the regime, he risked his esteemed position.
Returning again in 2007, perhaps to make amends or reduce tensions, he once again took up the mantle of editor-in-chief at Al Watan. Three years later, poet Ibrahim al-Almaee published a fierce criticism of the pillars of Salafism in Al Watan, forcing Khashoggi to resign in order “to work on personal projects”. His second brush with Saudi officials had the same consequences, but this time with lingering displeasure.
Khashoggi, in a departure from his previous ventures, attempted to start a satellite news network in Bahrain with the goal of provided a balanced view of Gulf politics. He once again was thwarted, this time by the Bahraini government, after hosting an interview criticizing the monarchy and discussing Shia oppression. In the span of 11 hours Jamal Khashoggi had feuded with yet another government and paid the price.
Tensions between Khashoggi and the Saudi government seemed to brew over the years, but the tipping point came after his criticism of Donald Trump. Branded as a Saudi dissident, the government banned him from television, and even after moving to the Washington Post in the U.S., he was haunted by Saudi led cyberbullies.
On October 2, 2018, Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul and was assassinated for his views and beliefs. His final article, published after his death was titled “What the Arab world needs most is free expression”, a hopeful plea for press freedom. Even posthumously, Jamal Khashoggi risked himself for the possibility that his ideas would take hold and blossom.
Sacrifice
When Brett Kavanaugh was on the short list for the highest court of the land, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford had a choice to make. Under the promise of confidentiality, she made contact with The Washington Post and congresswoman Anna Eshoo. A mere eleven days after President Trump nominated Kavanaugh for the Supreme Court, Dr. Ford met with Eshoo and disclosed the alleged sexual assault that occurred when they were in high school. Convinced by Dr. Ford’s credibility, Anna Eshoo escalated the matter to Senator Diane Feinstein. In a letter to the Senator, Ford unfolded the events that occurred on the night of the assault. Above all, Dr. Ford prized her anonymity and entered an agreement with Feinstein.
During the initial confirmation, Diane Feinstein held true to her commitment to Ford’s anonymity, and did not raise any objections. News began to trickle, however, that the senator was withholding key information about Kavanaugh from other members of the Democratic Judicial committee. The trickle moved into a full-blown gush as the media tried to find the source of the anonymous allegations on Kavanaugh. The stakes were much higher this time, and once again Dr.Christine Blasey Ford had a choice to make.
Taking off the cloak of anonymity, she sacrificed a nameless identity to display the darker character of the Supreme Court nominee. In one swift motion, she turned her and her family’s life upside down. Throughout the hearings and the FBI investigation that followed, Ford was under constant attack by the media, other congressional members, and even the President himself. Personal threats flooded her home and phone, requiring a constant security presence. Any semblance of stability was gone as she ended up moving four times to stave off danger. And her career and passion, teaching and conducting research in psychology, has been halted indefinitely amidst these challenges.
Brett Kavanaugh is now a Supreme Court justice, despite showcasing a lack of levelheadedness during the hearings that would be expected of an impartial judge. And although Dr. Ford’s bravery has opened the dialogue about sexual assault, the question still lingers. What was it all for, if nothing really changed?
Pain
There was a 15-year-old boy enrolled in JROTC who had hopes of joining the military after high school. His name was Peter Wang, and he was fatally shot while holding open a door so other classmates and staff could escape from the shooter. A week later, he was awarded the Medal of Heroism, and granted posthumous admission to West Point during his funeral.
There was a 35-year-old man who wanted to work with kids since he was seven, and became a geography teacher who doubled as a cross-country coach. His name was Scott Beigel, and he was killed after unlocking his door to let students into his classroom to avoid the shooting outside.
There was a 14-year-old girl who was the captain of her soccer team, and dreamed of making the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team. Her name was Alyssa Alhadeff and she was shot 10 times while trying to hide under a table from the danger outside. Three weeks later, the women’s national team invited friends and family to honor her with national jerseys printed with her name.
There was a 37-year-old man who was a football coach, seen as a pillar of the community by kids and adults alike. His name was Aaron Feis, and he was killed while shielding students from the hail of bullets.
And there were 13 more like them.
On February 14th, 2018, the deadliest school shooting since Columbine occurred at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. 17 were dead, 17 were injured. The misery didn’t stop there, though. The mass shooting sparked a new wave of debate on gun control, and as it reached elevated heights, conspiracy theories began floating around the internet. Some claimed that the shooting did not occur at all, while others posited that the entire event was staged by “crisis actors”. The roots for these theories began to stretch deeper, with outlandish claims that the students, like David Hogg, who was targeted by conservative media, were paid by George Soros or Antifa. The toxic environment was a breeding ground for all manner of hate to be hurled at the victims and their families. Students and parents alike were sent death threats on Twitter, Facebook, and other platforms. The weight of losing loved ones, classmates, and friends combined with the outright denial of the events that unfolded seemed insurmountable.
Yet through all the agony they felt, from the losses they endured and the attacks they received, the Parkland community continued fighting. Their vocal calls for stricter gun control laws and tighter manufacturing requirements sparked a movement across the nation and the world, demanding an end to senseless gun violence. The following month, the March for Our Lives demonstration took D.C. by storm with an outpouring of support and sibling marches planned both in the United States and in other countries worldwide.
They Marched for their Lives in one of the largest protests in U.S. history, and they’re still marching.
The past year showed many ugly faces. But underneath this black veneer, there were people with admirable qualities who fought for what they believe in. Ones who steeled their will and sharpened their resolve, angling to make a difference. And most of all, there are glimmers of hope. Turkey, journalists from the Washington Post, and other national entities are continuing the investigation into Jamal Khashoggi’s death. With the spotlight now turned on Saudi Arabia’s brutal methods, more countries are denouncing them and halting trade. For all that Dr. Ford sacrificed, she stated that she had no regrets about her decision. And there is hope that her bravery inspired others to come forward, talk about their own experiences, and lead the way for reform. Facing overwhelming pain, the students of Stoneman Douglas High School channeled their emotional turmoil into a nationwide movement advocating for gun control. Because of their actions, the push for change is still as strong as it was in March. All three of these vignettes show people who fought, lost, and ached for their beliefs. But they all made a difference. They all had resolve.
Akshay Thontakudi ‘19 studies in the School of Engineering & Applied Science. He can be reached at a.m.thontakudi@wustl.edu.