9/11, Boston Bombings, Fort Hood Shooting, San Bernardino attack, Orlando Nightclub Shooting-all terrorist attacks led by extremists that rocked the ground we walk on and the way we live our day-to-day lives.

The most recent attacks include the Manchester Arena bombing two weeks ago and, as of Saturday, the two separate attacks in London that have been identified as terrorism.

As most know, two weeks ago, we witnessed yet another attack, the Manchester Arena bombing. The bombing took the lives of 23 and injured approximately 116 concert attendees exiting an Ariana Grande concert.

Although the investigation is still underway on whether the attack was related to a terrorist network, ISIS claimed responsibility of the attack soon after the event. London police identified the suicide bomber as Salman Ramadan Abedi, a 22-year-old British Muslim.

Today, it seems as though terrorist related attacks are occurring monthly or even weekly.

Considering 1970 to 2000, there was a total of 1,988 deaths from attacks claimed by terrorist networks. From 2001 to 2016, there has been an astonishing 18,188 deaths that were caused by terrorist networks such as Al Qaeda and ISIL.

On top of the amount of causalities, the most catastrophic factors behind each terrorist attack is why they occur, who becomes its victims, and where the incidents take place.

What’s their motive?

I remember sitting in my 7:45 debate class the morning after the Boston Bombings.

On April 15, 2013, two homemade pressure-cooker bombs deployed twelve seconds and 210 yards apart at the finish line of the 117th Boston Marathon by two Islamist Extremist, Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev.

Three people were killed and hundreds injured including more than 15 who lost limbs.

Shocked by the footage of the bombs exploding, debris flying, and people scurrying to find shelter from the chaos of streets, the only thing running through my 15-year-old mind as I heard my debate teacher speak about the situation was ‘what’s the motive of these sick, troubled people killing the innocent?’

Courtesy: Wikipedia

The simple answer was to invoke fear. Something that the whole world was feeling as we watched the footage repeatedly through news broadcasts and the scene of chaos plastered on magazine after magazine.

As a ninth grader who was fascinated by breaking news and current events, I watched the news footage featuring interviews from witnesses of the event, family of the victims, and friends of the terrorists.

I soon got wrapped up in the same mindset that terrorist want us to fall for-fear of what happened and what is to come.

The one thing that hurts every one of us is falling into the state of fear, paranoia, and for some, hate that terrorist wants us to live in.

Soon after the attack, President Barack Obama spoke words that have stuck with me until this day: “…That’s why a bomb can’t beat us. That’s why we don’t hunker down. That’s why we don’t cower in fear. We carry on. We race. We strive. We build, and we work, and we love.”

Instead of falling into this world of fearing what is to come or turning to hate, we must turn to unifying.

That could have been me or you…

The aspect that hits every one of us the hardest is the simple thought of ‘that could have been me.’

The footage of kids and their parents walking out of the Manchester Arena bloody and injured when all they were doing was enjoying a concert- maybe even their first- was something that hurt everyone who heard the news.

Courtesy: CNN

When I thought back, I remember my first concert and the joy and excitement I had. A terrorist attack was definitely not something on my mind.

United is greater than divided.

As more and more people are declaring that today’s world is growing crueler in criminal and terrorist activity. The world also has witnessed a form of unification that has been rarely seen until now- faiths coming together when it feels as though there is no hope left.

I was watching CNN last Sunday morning while sipping on my cup of coffee and saw something that made me rethink of what this world has become. A Muslim man was praying next to a Jewish woman at the memorial outside of where the Manchester bombings occurred. This scene portrayed more than just individuals mourning the loss of innocent lives, but a symbol of hope for the world.

Courtesy: US News

I realized the power of this image. We are greater united than divided. The war on terrorism is at its greatest, and as citizens of this world, we need to unite in times such as these.