The Refugees We Never See (Part I) | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

The Refugees We Never See (Part I)

Do they cease to exist?

5
The Refugees We Never See (Part I)
Sci-ast-facts.blogspot.com

The year is 2015, 101 years after the beginning of the First World War, when human "officially" rose against human. Like an erupting volcano, the Syrian refugee crisis has exploded. Its hot lava melts in the eyes of a 21st Century audience. Europe in particular is feeling the heat.

Syria's genocide is so dire and so inhumane that, as it unfolds, hearts race, government officials sweat and police arm up. On Twitter, followers become foes based on what is tweeted regarding the crisis as it is highly sensitive. The heart wrenching photo of the late Aylan Kurdi, one of the younger victims, brought tears to many eyes last week as he lay lifeless on the shore.

“Journalism largely consists in saying 'Lord Jones is dead' to people who never knew Lord Jones was alive.”

G.K. Chesterton

While the media's and consequentially most people's concentration latches onto the unfolding stories about masses of Syrians knocking for admittance at Europe's front door, a question lingers mid-air. And it impatiently begs for an honest answer. Those trekking across in Hungary struggling to get on a train to Germany are but the ones we see. What about those we do not? Are they any less important? Is their situation any less dire, given that no camera lens has captured it?

An exhaustive case study from 2012 aptly titled "The European Response To The Syrian Refugee Crisis" contains important insights. The document was prepared by the Migration Policy Center of the European University Institute co-financed by the European Union. Its most compelling statement is:

Although over 450,000 Syrians fled to countries nearby Syria, numbers seeking refuge within the EU remain small...Only 1,490 irregular entries of Syrians were recorded during the last three quarters of 2011, which rose to 2,739 in the first two quarters of 2012. Numbers of Syrians applying for immigration have also remained negligible.

Given the above fact, there could be several possibilities as to why the coverage of refugees in Syria has been extensive in 2015.

One reason could be political propaganda. The stringent police action and calls for tighter border control measures are opportunistic actions governments across the European Union are taking to curb the "immigrant question" especially the undocumented. One of the consequences of the European financial crisis was that nations' hopes for making gains in the Union were dashed. And so, a scapegoat became the pesky immigrant. This sparked an upsurge in nationalistic movements that are characteristically xenophobic.

Another possibility is that the media is feeding its users what they need: A chance to momentarily get away from their very miserable or boring lives. Schadenfreude, however slight, could be that which leads to this focus on the European-landed Syrians. They play into the perfect scene: They are Middle-Easterners doing all they can to get into Europe. Those who watch these have a show more like reality TV, only that it's real. Therefore, the human fallacy of gaining comfort by seeing someone else in a worse situation feel comforting could be the driving force behind the over representation of the refugees who have (at least!) made it alive out of the danger zones.

So, what to do? There are many choices, two of which are either surf the euphoria wave or extend your sympathy/empathy to the faces you don't see. Those are the people incapable of finding the boat to Europe. They are trapped in the cities fortified by bloodhounds of militia. They need help, too.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

196634
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

18690
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

460747
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

28238
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments