(I am going to utilize my freedom of speech as a right to
discuss some things that have very little to do with my Thailand adventures and has
everything to do with the state of our world today. So if you don’t want to
read about my thoughts about the events of late, stop here. On the other hand,
if you are genuinely curious about my feelings, please continue! BUT, these are
MY thoughts and feelings and I am not trying to prove one group wrong or right.
Frankly, if I piss you off, good. That means you’re thinking about these
issues. And if you get that fire burning in your soul, do something about it! I’m
merely sharing why I think our world is bleeding and cannot be cured with a
Band-Aid.)
(by: Simon Kneebone- cartoonist and illustrator)
I am so tired of hearing all of the racist, ignorant, and down
right rude discussions regarding Muslims as a whole, and the concept of “Islamophobia” is baffling to me. I am
appalled at what people, namely people in our government system, are doing and
saying in regards to the Syrian refugees and Muslims across the world. I am in
a unique situation, because I am living in a Buddhist country and am in a
province with a Muslim dominated population. I live, work, eat, and play with
Buddhists, Muslims, and Christians alike and I can tell you that I have never
experienced such a feeling of solidarity and community as I have here.
I am the foreigner, the white person, in a strange land. I
have had my fair share of struggles and issues here in Thailand and I know I
will continue to wrestle with issues as my time here progresses. But. None of
the people I have met have ever wished me ill will, hurt me, degraded me
because I am a falang, or denied me services because I was not like them. This
is community. No, this is what it means to be a human. Whether you worship and
look to Buddha, God, or Allah, in the end, we all have the same core beliefs
and a respect for human dignity.
In the article entitled, “Not
Tourists: Refugees are Human Beings”, written by Global Ministries, a branch of
the Disciples of Christ denomination, the authors state that “the answer is not
to shut out whole populations collectively; we know that each and every one of
us could be excluded based on some aspect of identity.” This could not be truer
because America is a melting pot of identities. This rings very clear with me
because I am the minority (literally, I am like 1 out of a handful of white
foreigners here in Satun).
The article goes on to conclude
saying, “We are called to be a merciful and caring community; to seek justice
and to honor every person; and to stand up and shout out when such a vision is
challenged or violated. We urge caution and caring in our discourse and in our
actions, so that we all may hold ourselves to a higher standard and ideal.”
(I've conveniently added the link for you!)
If we cannot help our global
neighbors, who’s to say they will ever do the same for us when we need it most?
Syria is vulnerable, being pushed and pulled all different directions, and the
majority of Syrians are being thrown around like basketballs, constantly changing
hands without free will. Their lives are turbulent and ever changing, without
security and safety, and how dare America think they hold power over these
people’s lives! These refugees are fleeing terrorism, and even though they may
be Muslims, this does not automatically mean they are terrorists themselves. Justice
and peace are being challenged and we have the opportunity to do something
about it, to extend a welcoming hand, and to help our brothers in need.
I applaud France. After the
brutal attacks in Paris last week, France still says they will take in Syrian
refugees. France is being the bigger person. Right now, France is leading by
example while the US is turning its back on innocent people.
I also applaud people like
Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) who can stand on the senate floor and discuss the
need for humanitarian action. Much of what she says, and I encourage you to
read the article and/or her senate address, hits a chord with me.
(I've conveniently added the link for you!)
Over half of the Syrian refugees
are children. Fact. Many of whom no longer have a family. No home, belongings,
country, no idea of where to go or what to do next. These are the people most
vulnerable. Fact. Children, especially children alone are easy targets for
human trafficking. Many of the refugee children will not make it. They will get
taken to be sold as child prostitutes. Many of the young girls will die because
their bodies are not physically able to sustain continual harm. Those that
don’t die will get pregnant eventually. If they live through childbirth and if their
child lives, they will be thrown out and now you have this 14 year old mother
with no education or means of earning an income, stuck in some slum, trying to
survive. Oh by the way, she will most likely have HIV/AIDS or other STD’s. What
a wonderful life for a teenage. If the children are not taken for sexual or
labor slavery, they could be trafficking into the organ trading business.
Sadly, these operations are growing. It is exactly as it sounds. Boys and girls
will be cut into and their healthy organs will be harvested to sell to 3rd
parties, namely in developed countries (guess what Uncle Sam? That kidney
transplant you had, well it probably came from a terrorist!) Har har.
Not funny. How is any of this
funny? How can we knowingly sign off on refugee’s lives saying “yes, we don’t
want you and too bad so sad, but we know you wont survive without our help.” This
is the kind of ethnocentric thinking that proves we are just as stuck up as the
rest of the world believes us to be already. America is scared because ISIS is
on the other side of the fence. The brown, crispy, dead side of the fence.
Syria is scared because ISIS has already invaded the house and is searching
room by room to take and oppress.
So America, let’s show the world
the best version of ourselves. I don’t understand why we think we can play God
and determine the fate of millions of people because we are scared of leaks in
the gaps. Inevitably, a terrorist or two will get by the system, but so will
hundreds of thousands of innocents. If we don’t help now, we will forever be
jeopardizing our international standing, and what country would ever put their
trust in us to do the right thing ever again?
(Sorry if it comes up weird colored or something. I had some technical issues with this one!)
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