Refugee “Caravan”
WRITTEN DURING TRUMP’S PRESIDENCY: Is the use of the word “caravan” to describe South American families fleeing from prosecution to the Promised Land of the United States, appropriate?
The word “caravan” has commercial undertones as it originally described a group of merchants traveling by camels through a desert. The goal of merchants is to profit.
I don’t know about you, but I find the use of the word “caravan” to describe South American families fleeing from prosecution in their native countries to the Promised Land of the United States highly offensive. None of the Latino refugees waiting on our southern border right now to apply for political asylum has broken the American law. They aren’t entering our Country illegally. What’s the problem? (For the record, I’m not a Latina and I don’t know any of the immigrants.)
What’s wrong with this picture?!
America has always been a refuge. Welcoming refugees is one of our fundamental values. America always stood for human rights and opportunity for all.
The South American refugees are no different from the many other refugees from allover the world we’ve welcomed throughout our history. What’s up? Why – all of a sudden – hatred and contempt toward refugees is openly preached by the President of the United States and applauded by many?….
They are NOT a “caravan”! These are individual people and families; they are mothers with babies; individuals who witnessed the murder of their loved ones. They didn’t come to our border to make profit but to save their – and often their children’s – lives. Who can possibly liken fear of death to commerce?!….
Why did the perception of refugees changed?
What happened to “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”? Click To Tweet
Since when do we – in our nation of refugees and immigrants, the nation in which those who work hard and are savvy succeed and prosper – look down on refugees?
Except of American Indians, all of us are descendants of immigrants and refugees. When and why did our compassion turned into contempt? They are called a “caravan”; why not take it further? They are also poor, dirty and many are sick. They live outside in tents, their babies have shortage of diapers, they eat stuff we wouldn’t touch… Terrible, right? WRONG: they are so “disgusting” right now because they had and have faith in US (I mean you and me!). They endured every imaginable hardship to reach our border.
Propaganda would have us believe that the “caravan” consists of merchants and / or criminals… Did you ever see a merchant? A drug dealer? A criminal? Even, a competitor for your job?…….. Do any of them look that disheveled? Of course, not.
And by the way, how would you feel if the wave of new arrivals on which your family came here were referred to as a “caravan”?
I’m sure that there are some people among us whose predecessors came here for commercial reasons. Most of our ancestors however arrived in the United States seeking refuge from prosecution and / or looking for opportunity. Our very own pioneers – those who made our lives here possible – were welcomed with compassion and given a chance.
What the hell happened?
How did we make the transition from the ONE nation on Earth known for its compassion and respect for human rights to being racist, selective and contemptuous of desperation?
A “caravan”; the “Blacks”; the “Jews”…. Doesn’t it remind you of something? And isn’t it worrisome? Click To Tweet
