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

The Refugees We Never See (Part I)

Do they cease to exist?

4
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.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

55496
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

35772
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

957789
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

185885
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments