“In the White Helmets we have a motto: ‘to save a life… is to save all of humanity’”

There are no words that could rightfully articulate the horrors being endured in Syria right now, nor are there any to give proper rhyme and reason to it. The pain and suffering seem entirely senseless — and yet, through the foggy agony has come forth a passionate, hope-giving group, one that is now seeing illumination in the media through the way of their own documentary.

After watching a minute of the trailer, I was brought to tears. Today, we — at least, in common social scenarios — avoid talk of horrors overseas, particularly in places like Aleppo, Syria, where human strife and agony are so palpable. But this is a bad way to think; nay, a bad way to be. The individuals, the families, the human beings enduring these pains are as much connected to us as waves are to an ocean — what hurts them hurts us all the same, for we all are of the same water, the same energy. This is what draws me so fondly to the heroic motto of the White Helmets, that “to save a life is to save all of humanity.” I think they couldn't be anymore correct. Each individual human life is just as vital as the whole, for they are, in their own way, the whole — we each are.

What I mean to point out, here, is the ineffable beauty and valor in what the White Helmets are doing, not to mention the manner in which they are doing it — without any sort of political agenda. They are an entirely neutral group, working not for the benefit of any political group but merely “to provide humanitarian aid and save those who are trapped by the fighting” [ref: Newsweek 2014]. They are working to help for help’s sake — they put themselves in danger everyday for the benefit of people they have no familial or relational ties to. They spend time away from their homes, from their families, from their lives, in order to save those of others. This sort of “seva”, or selfless service, is the epitome of love. In my eyes, these men are actively and mindfully being love, and that is indescribably beautiful.

The pain felt by people across the globe is reflected in our great human ocean, and people like the White Helmets deserve every praise possible for their dedication to attempting to lessen that suffering, to calm that tidal wave of agony. The publication of this documentary is vitally important in getting their message out there, a message that has been shared throughout history, from the Beatles to the Buddhists to Martin Luther King Jr: we are all connected, and we are all love — if only we realize that, if only we live in that fact, we can attain peace.

I believe in the White Helmets, I believe in that love, in that selfless service that they have dedicated themselves to, and like one of the producers of the film have stated, I know there will be good men to rebuild Syria when all these tragedies finally cease. My heart goes out to you brave and beautiful individuals, those of you clad in White Helmets in Syria and those clad in their own metaphorical white helmets in their own homes. Each of you makes a resounding difference in the human ocean, even though things may feel dim. You are great for what you are doing, and you inspire thousands of others; please, keep being the lights that you are. The world thanks you for it.