October 30, 2016
http://www.cnn.com/2016/10/29/middleeast/iraq-mosul-isis-civilians/
The link above takes you an article that describes in depth the issue of displaced people in the Middle East. Currently, ISIS is forcing innocent civilians - mostly elderly, women, and children - into Mosul. The UN fears ISIS plans to use these people as human shields........ Not even sure if words can describe how awful an act that is if this is the reality.
However, this also touches on a much larger issue: What does the first world do about the Middle Eastern refugees whose homes have been destroyed? This is a very touchy issue in Europe as well as the United States, and is an important aspect of the current election.
After talking with Theresa last week in class about the refugees that have been residing in Germany, I realized how real the problem really was. So real that it has had a direct impact on one of our classmates (we have been relatively sheltered so far in Kalamazoo). Allowing thousands of displaced people into the United States or an EU country will certainly have an affect. And from the perspective of civilians of these countries, it seems like a negative one. Refugees flooding in from across the border use resources, take jobs, may be involved in crime, etc etc. Many people associate these types of characteristics with refugees, which can make it increasingly difficult to call for open borders.
But what about the alternative. Do we want elderly, women, and children being used as human shields? Are we okay with sitting in our nice air conditioned homes while thousands are forced away from everything they know? Some might argue it is our humanitarian right to come to the aid of these people. What do you think?
No comments:
Post a Comment