Journalist's death should inspire peace, but not forgiveness

In a pattern of events that has become disturbingly familiar, Islamic State militants have executed yet another hostage. On Saturday, the kidnappers posted a video that appears to show the beheading of Japanese journalist Kenji Goto. Goto, who had been missing in Syria since October, was in the country attempting to aid in the release of another hostage, Haruna Yukawa, whose murder was announced on Jan. 24.

Goto’s death at the hands of extremists is particularly poignant given the fact that he dedicated his life and career to covering conflict zones with a humanitarian focus. He was known for reporting on the lives of regular people impacted by war, disease and natural disasters, reminding the public of the human costs of foreign conflicts.

As someone with extensive experience working in dangerous areas, Goto was well aware of the risks facing him in his travel to Syria. Shortly before his capture, he released a video stating that he was fully responsible for his own fate and urging others not to blame the people of Syria for whatever may happen to him. Nor was this the first time Goto had issued a call for tolerance. In the aftermath of his death, a tweet of his from 2010 has gone viral: “Closing my eyes and holding still. It’s the end if I get mad or scream. It’s close to a prayer. Hate is not for humans. Judgment lies with God. That’s what I learned from my Arabic brothers and sisters.” 

We live in a world where people are cowardly enough to attack and kill those whose only mission in life is to help others, seek the truth and report the news. Before leaving for Syria, Goto stated, "It's very dangerous, so even if anything should happen to me, I won't blame the people of Syria. Whatever happens, I am responsible." Goto is hardly the first journalist to be killed by this organization, and sadly, he likely will not be the last.

Goto’s message has touched a nerve both in his native Japan and across the world. “I am Kenji,” a Facebook page for mourning and messages of solidarity, currently has over 49,000 likes. Because Goto’s fight for justice and humanity in times of conflict lies in stark contrast to the Islamic State’s senseless violence, many view him as a hero.

And rightfully so -- Goto’s philosophy has much to teach us about the way we should deal with the horrors of ISIL’s actions. While the behavior of these extremists may leave us desperate for retribution, we must always remember to guard against Islamophobia within our own countries and prevent further oppression domestically. Furthermore, we must remember that the victims of these conflicts are not just high-profile hostages, but also the ordinary people across Iraq and Syria who have had their countries and lives destroyed by the Islamic State. Their fates are an extremely important piece of this conflict, a fact of which Goto worked hard throughout his career to remind us.

To truly honor Goto’s life and work, we must embrace the principles he fought for and avoid the type of intolerance that allows groups like ISIL to function in the first place. We do not need to forgive or forget the horrors, but we need to ensure they stop and prevent them from happening ever again.