Refugee by definition is “a person that has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution or natural disaster." Crisis in the Webster Dictionary is defined as “a difficult or dangerous situation that needs serious attention." How does a person seeking safety from a war-torn country become viewed as dangerous?
In 2015, there was an influx of immigrants in Europe, which led the media to speak on this matter by calling it “The Migrant Crisis,” indicating that these refugees are somehow dangerous to the countries they have arrived. There are many explanations as to why the media would use “migrant crisis” to refer to this situation, which could include the cost those countries would incur by providing housing and healthcare to the refugees.
However, the word "crisis" is not referring to the challenges these countries are facing; it is referring to the migrants as posing a threat to these places. To most people, refugees became dangerous because they believed that a terrorist would disguise himself or herself as a refugee. The word crisis leads people to fear refugees. As individuals, we must be aware of the process refugees have to go through and truly understand their intent for seeking protection.
The refugee process is very long with countless interviews and background checks. The most important part to understand about this process is that these individuals do not get to decide which country they will live in, that is decided by the International Organization for Migration. What about the people who come through the sea? They are not documented, nor have they applied for asylum. These individuals are more likely to die on this journey than to arrive in a country with the intent to do harm.
Imagine what terrible condition you would have to be in, to embark on a journey that is more likely to kill you and those you love. The term "crisis" being associated with refugees is troubling to me because I do not view them as a danger to our society. The journey these individuals have taken with their families has been one where thousands of lives have been lost and families separated. We need to think about the impact the terms we use have on those we are describing. Refugees do not come to a new country with the intention to cause harm to anyone. These people have faced great sorrow in their countries, and all they dream of is having a safe and sound environment in which to raise their children.
Coming to America was the best experience of my life because I knew I would be able to accomplish anything I set my mind to. I did not have the opportunity to go to school because tuition, books and uniforms, were out of our budget. Now, I have an associate’s degree in paralegal studies, and I am continuing my education to receive my bachelor's in international and global studies. My ultimate goal is to work for the United Nations, dealing with human rights issues in the world. Refugees are doctors, musicians, teachers, politicians, authors and activists, among other things. When we use words like "crisis" to describe refugees, we are characterizing helpless people as a threat. I think that the media could have used other terms to describe the influx of migrants.
