Dear India,
When the 23-year-old medical student from New Delhi had her life shattered, many hearts were broken with her rape and death.
I hope we meet someday. For now India, please prosecute the men who did this; seek justice; seek justice for each case that keeps getting uncovered. Unfortuantely, she is not alone. Her case just served to open eyes to a widespread problem. This time, it is not just the media painting us a picture. Women everywhere are opening up to share their stories.
Most of all, I ask that you make it so no other young woman or girl needs to have her life broken in this way. As in every place, nothing is perfect. Danger lurks in the most unexpected places sometimes. However, each society’s ills shows a disease that eats at the people themselves. There is something in our societies that enshrouds our hearts in darkness.
Humanity everywhere must stop playing a game of trying to be simply moral and do good things. Change goes deeper than that. Our societies must be transformed starting with each individual heart.
Even if time goes by, this should not be forgotten.
The problem needs to be fixed. The police must stop shrugging, and men must start caring in action and attitude not just in word and philosophy.
Nation, it is time to mend some broken lives, hearts and deep wounds.
With all of my hope for a brighter future and hope for the healing of the women of this nation,
a beti at heart
GABRIELA YARELIZ 