Essay On Refugees Coming To America

All lives matter, including refugees. Many are not aware of the extensive hardship a refugee must face before an invitation to the United States is offered. Sometimes it takes upwards of three years to be given the ticket of freedom. Because of the prolonged process it takes to come to America it can be hard to get a refugee to talk about the conditions he or she has had to endure before beginning a new life here in America. For those who are familiar with refugees it is not uncommon to hear survivor and think of a refugee, however, often times survivors are more directly related to those battling cancer. Regardless of the battle either encounters, one has multiple barriers to overcome. When it comes to looking from the refugee perspective, survivor seems to be the most accurate descriptor. Many people are not necessarily able to make the connection between survivors and refugees. Luckily, I had the chance to work with refugees before this class and even though I cannot really say I understand their battle from a personal point of view, because I don’t. But I can say I have a newfound respect and understanding of why refugees come to America, or to anywhere really. The conditions many of them had come from, make poverty in
America seem like a luxury. Obviously, poverty is not what most people aim for in life but it is simply a part of life. Just how those living in refugee camps isn’t necessarily something someone asked for, but it happens, far more often that it should. Before working with refugees, I never even thought twice about their struggles. Now when I see something in the news about refugees and how they are not accepted somewhere it almost tears me apart, why am I sugarcoating… it DOES tear me apart. I know that if my life circumstances where to change so drastically and quickly that makes my home that I’ve known to grow and love is no longer safe; I would be more than grateful that some foreign country would willingly take me in and give me a new chance at life. This time around I was not directly involved with the refugees, however, it did not take away from the fulfilling experience. In this instance, all I did was inform people of the documentary 7 Days in Syria but, with that effort it got several people more interested in why refugees exist and what that one individual can do to make a difference. Knowledge is obviously the first step in making a difference, knowledge is power, and power can come from anyone who is willing to make a difference. Unfortunately, several individuals within the Twin Falls area do not see refugees, more specifically Syrian refugees, as people who can make a positive difference here in America.
An example both positive and negative (all dependent on how one looks at is) is the Europeans that came to America when they were facing a form of oppression as well… that also killed a lot of Native Americans, BUT! America is the way it is today because of this turning point in the past. For those who made the journey over will more than likely express the joy and also the ease of mind one has due to the opportunity to leave and start all over. However, many seem to forget this when it comes to the Syrian refugees because of stereotyping from just a few bad
apples. Now, don’t get me wrong those few apples were not just rotten on the outside, but rotten down to the core. However, by allowing refugees in and learning his or her story can emotionally and spiritually impact an individual that motivates that person to change the world. Often times the world may be a big target to try to change when first starting out so that individual may begin to organize rallies at the Capital so show support to the refugees like Boise did earlier the semester that got the community involved. Then the individual may be able to find others who feel the same way about refugees and organize a viewing of a movie to see what refugees go through and see the terrors he or she faces. Just how the Agency for New Americans was able to do. However, the efforts here in Boise have yet to directly have a direct effect on the international or even national spectrum, it is still a start. A start that so many Syrians are praying for, fighting for, and dreaming of, a start that YOU can aid by passing along that they, are in fact, humans too and are just as deserving of a new life as you and I.