Syrian refugees. Images of families, individuals, women, children, young men flooding into other countries, scared and afraid, seeking shelter. Injured physically, mentally, and emotionally, escaping their war-torn homeland, Syrians are turning to other countries for help in their time of need. But, who cares about the Syrians when there are so many more interesting topics to report about? New stations are supposed to report about global events, educate viewers on what is happening in the world around them. However, covering popular celebrities, infamous politicians, and the economy in online articles and local news channels are guaranteed to generate more views and revenue than would a segment series on Syrian refugees. Social media, apart from activist websites and international news, are dominated by pop culture, heckling American politics, and how-to food videos.
Syrian civilians, at risk of kidnapping, torture, and death from their own government, are flooding into countries that hopefully will grant them refugee status. Arab countries such as Lebanon and Jordan, that border Syria, are the first place refugees think to go because they are so close; perhaps they have connections or family there. However, these small nations only have to much physical space and resources to distribute among the refugees. A more permanent country with better job opportunities, that are farther away from the conflict, would seem better long term options that Lebanon or Syria. European countries such as Germany and France are opening their door to Syrian refugees, despite the fact that there have already been acts of terrorism in France, realizing that these are also human beings who are in need of help. Perhaps the reason for Europe’s open arms is that this is not their first experience with war; during World Wars I and II, refugees were displaced from Poland, Prague, France, Germany, Yugoslavia, and other countries and were forced to seek shelter in neutral nations. The United States is debating whether or not to let large numbers of Syrian refugees inside its borders; to date, less than 2,000 Syrian refugees have been admitted into the United States since the Syrian conflict began. The reason? Fear of the unknown; fear of a repeat of what happened in New York fifteen years ago; fear of minority groups in general, especially those from the Middle East because they are subconsciously associated with the recent ISIS terrorist attacks around the world (ex. Paris, France in 2015).
Though is is a possible threat to America’s security to permit large numbers of refugees in (through which terrorists - who can be young or older - can slip in, posing as refugees), I believe America has forgotten what it means to be human and to be compassionate towards the peoples of other nations. If America is truly a superpower, should we not help set an example to the rest of the world what it means to help the less fortunate? In this discussion, I believe we have also forgotten the countless numbers of poor and underprivileged in other areas of the world that also need help: those in Africa, India, South America, that are suffering and dying from hunger and disease every single day. Why suddenly helping the Syrian refugees become such a big issue, when for years other nations have needed our help just as badly? Perhaps aiding the Syrians has become a popular topic that suddenly is a means by which to judge affluent nations on how successful they are. News stations no longer stress the importance of or question America’s involvement about conflict in Africa or helping starving children in India; just because Syria’s refugees are a relatively new news topic, does that make them any more important than those in need on other parts of the world?
Immigrants as well as refugees face many of the same struggles: the challenge of moving to a new country and leaving everything behind, learning a new language, assimilating into a new culture, maintaining one’s cultural history in a different society, finding employment, etc. Immigrants seek a better life from the conditions they were living in before, and make a conscious choice to uproot and migrate to a new land. Refugees, on the other hand, don’t have much of a choice in regards to moving out; either they move out and move on, or perish in their homeland. Whether or not the new country(s) they migrate to hold better opportunities for them is another matter.
America’s politicians personally may believe in supporting causes such as allowing refugees into the United States and permitting immigration, but they publicly do not state so because to say that would mean political suicide. It is up to us as individual Americans to take a stand for what we believe is right and moral. In our own faith communities, such as in my home parish, we can advocate and raise awareness for the starving children in Africa and India, abandoned baby girls in China, and Syrian refugees that are in need of a place to stay. All human beings are in search of a good life; by seeking security in other countries, refugees can reassert and begin to reconstruct their cultural identity within a new place, and create a living space in which to feel safe and secure. Their journey from across the Atlantic will not be in vain; united in faith with others that have come before them, and individuals who welcome them into the promise of a new life, the Syrian refugees can hopefully continue on their path to a ‘good life’ here in the United States.
Works Cited
Altman, Alex, and Dallas. "What It's Like To Be A Syrian Refugee In America." Time. Time. Web. 20 Mar. 2016. <http://time.com/a-syrian-refugee-story/>.
Bosman, Julie. "A Chill Grips a Michigan Haven for Syrian Families." The New York Times. The New York Times, 23 Nov. 2015. Web. 20 Mar. 2016. <http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/24/us/syrian-refugees-cling-to-a-longtime-haven-in-michigan.html?_r=2>.
Sullivan, Kevin. "Refuge: 18 Stories from the Syrian Exodus." Washington Post. The Washington Post, 2013. Web. 20 Mar. 2016. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/syrian-refugees/story/refuge/>.
No comments:
Post a Comment