Reece Harding - First Anniversary

On June 27, 2015 Reece Harding lost his life in Rojava. Before that day I had never heard of Reece Harding. Had his life gone differently Reece Harding may have been a name we became familiar with as an Olympic or Commonwealth Games medal winner, another good looking, bronzed Aussie making waves in the pool and winning an army of fans with a grin and a quiet calm nature. As it was Reece didn't make the Olympics, a workplace injury made sure of that and with acceptance he continued to make the most of his life as his youth entitled him; travel, spending times with friends, dating girls and being a regular Aussie guy. In a normal world I would of never met or heard of Reece Harding but the world is anything but normal and its in his passing that I've come to know this young man and understand why he is loved so dearly by those that knew him. Reece had no strong political, religious or ethnic views but he did have a strong sense of humanity and empathy for others. Reece had traveled and was not ignorant of the world and events unfolding in Syria and Iraq. The suffering of the Kurdish and Yezidi people at the hands of Daesh drove Reece to act, not from an irrational impulse and a desire for revenge, but from a strong sense of love and compassion. A pure and selfless act. Many people ask the question; "what would make a young bloke with no military experience and everything going for him want to go and do that?". I never met Reece but I think I know now. Love for life and compassion for the suffering of others would have to be the answer. Şehîd Namirin - Martyrs Never Die