(Eqtsad)- Mohamed, a pseudonym, is a Syrian refugee in France. He thinks that he indirectly ate a whole pig and also he ate a significant amount of non-halal meat. He also drank without knowing at least two bottles of alcohol and gambled when his friend asked him for the first time to try his luck. He smoked weeds out of curiosity and stared carefully at nudity in the streets, parks, river’s banks without controlling himself.
Mohamed continues saying he did all of those things in only two years of residing in France even if he came from a conservative family and he tries to observe his conducts when he suspects them, so how about the rest of Syrian youth in Europe?
-Secret World-
It is not easy to avoid vices in Europe. If he did not intend to do it, he practically does commit without knowing or by force. The nudity scenes and those who do love rituals in public areas are a lot too, but after a while, a human being gets used to it.
The danger stays of all those is gambling, brothels, weeds and drugs. Almost every street in Europe has those and it’s a big seduction to get involved in those experiences since it needs one simple experience. So how do Syrians who came recently to Europe deal with this?
-Youth and Awareness-
Most Syrian families which arrived in Europe are obsessed with raising their kids away from involvement with corruptions of life here.
But those who arrived with teens or youth, they face a real problem especially that in most cases they do not have the means to confront the problem. They either get into a violent confrontation with their sons or use moral methods in educating their children to raise the awareness of the young man or girl who will be shocked with the European openness.
Abu Adel says that before he came with to France three years ago, he thought carefully of his three children who are more than 18-years-old. He did not hide that he went into dispute with himself and was afraid one of his kids will slip into darkness. But on the other hand, he sees that education at home is the main environment which decides the kids’ future in Europe and the road they will take.
He continues, “in general, Syrian youth is more aware than other youth. Who came here as an adult and was raised the right way, there is nothing to be afraid about. The problem though is those who came with children and raised them here.”
His son Ali, 21, has been infatuated with the open life in Europe and that he always questions himself of what does he lack to have a beautiful European girlfriend to live with, kiss in the street and hang out with her in clubs.
He answers, “I quickly stop thinking of that when I remember that I have an 18-year-old sister. To accept this kind of life for myself, I have to accept it for my sister and I do not want to even imagine that!”
Ahmad, a Syrian young man living in France, came to France two years ago. He is now 20-years-old and he sees that he does not feel pressure to live his life freely away from parents’ censorship and society in Syria.
He adds that he does not mind trying everything and he thinks he has control over himself because he stops whenever he wants and can change his life to whatever is good for him and his future in this country.
Another Syrian young man was present in the discussion with Ahmad. He sees that comparing Syrian youth to Moroccan youth living in Europe is wrong.
According to him, no matter how much Syrian youth get corrupted and went far into having fun, they will not do what Moroccan youth do who get involved in weeds and drugs taking and trade. in addition, Moroccan youth often go to brothels and he thinks the reason is because of education at home primarily.
Whoever is raised to certain values, no matter how far they move from those values, they will return to them and those values can stop them at the end.
Libyan Journalist and author Fathi Naseeb questions the reality of young men and teen girls who come to Europe and how they can avoid involvement in corruptions of European life like drugs, weeds, and other things saying, “do you think that it is possible for you to live in an open society and stop teens from getting involved in it. If you or I came here in our 20s, we will move along with the current.”
He adds, “I mean that we cannot control children totally. Parents cannot control school, club, friends, internet no matter how they try. But there is a difference between who comes to Europe with values and culture he was raised with to those who will be raised here.”
He clarified, “in our societies long ago, there was only one TV at home and family watch it together. Now, the teen girl has a TV in her room with 1000 channels. She has open internet to check any websites even extreme or porn.
She has her iPad and also the young man. The conditions of life forced the father to work from morning until evening and so the mother. They only see their kids at home for 5 minutes.”
He adds, “with the worsening education, the school does not have cultural or social clubs only football. As a result, even in our countries all ways or corruptions got really spread so how about open societies in which laws force you not to talk to your children with a loud voice.”
Regarding the solution, Naseeb said we are forced to pay the price either ways; either quick death in our countries or slow death here.
He concludes, “I personally have to only discuss things with my children and try to convince them to get into activities to use their energy in a positive way, but what they decide is up to them.”
Comments About This Article
Please fill the fields below.