Migrant.
Person who moves from one country to another to find work or better living conditions. A migrant can return home whenever they want. If they decide to stay in their new country forever they become an immigrant.Refugee.
A person who is outside their home country because they have suffered, or fear, persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, or political opinion; because they are a member of a persecuted social category of persons; or because they are fleeing a war or famine. There is no home country to return to. Until the country they've fled too accepts them, they are an asylum seeker. The photo is "The Refugee" by Diana Brandenburger. It can be seen at Chichester Cathedral.
Many of the people travelling to Europe and elsewhere are coming from countries like Syria, the Sudan, Eritrea or Zimbabwe. Countries run by repressive regimes, ravaged by war or famine ... Next time you read an editorial about the "migrant crisis" that says we should just send them back to where they came from, try substituting the word "refugee". And ponder ...
If the Syria now was the view from my window, I'd do anything, go anywhere, risk everything to keep my family, my child safe. In the hope of giving them a better life. Because I just would.
Hoping that when I got wherever it was, I'd be welcomed by people who understood that I'd come with nothing apart what I was wearing, the few things that I could carry and my family. Looking for a new home in a safe place, opportunities to work and learn. Want to help? The Independent has details of five practical ways you can.
We're all people and we all want the same things for our families. My friend Mandy shared this on FB. It's on a bus stop in Liverpool. Thank you Mandy, hope you think I've put it to good use.
There is nothing more heartbreaking than people who die trying to escape their homeland that is filled with war, angry and death. It's easy for me to turn away from such harsh topics but that's the problem... people have been turning away for far to long. May peace and safety be yours.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, may peace and safety be yours, mine and their's. It;'s all most of us ask wherever we are. Thank you for the lovely comment
DeleteGreat post it's totally heartbreaking - the image of the little washed up on the beach and dad carrying his child through the see, of course you would do anything or go anywhere else #effitfriday @MummyFever
ReplyDeleteI'd started writing something before, then I saw that picture of that lovely little boy. He could be one of the kids at church or from our toddler group ... So sad. It's a shame it took that to open the world's eyes though. Thank you for commenting
DeleteSo well said. The misuse of the terms really annoys me. I personally do not object to economic migrants at all, they are very important to our economy, and a lot of false information is spread about them. However, this issue is much more important than trying to change people's minds about economic migrants, so what is vital is that people know that these are not migrants. Nobody should be allowed to get away with insinuating that these are people taking a leisurely stroll to try to cash in on the wealth of our nation, when they are actually fleeing for their lives and dying in their thousands. Moreover, these deluded egotists who are convinced that ALL of these people are specifically trying to reach the UK (because we're so great), need to look at the statistics, get a grip and realise that they are trying to get ANYWHERE. Anywhere at all where they might be safe.
ReplyDeleteThat piece of graffiti is the best I have seen in a long time - well done that person!
I agree, if I was faced with what these refugees are, I would do anything and go anywhere to try to keep my children alive. & I would not risk them in treacherous journeys unless what was at home was worse. & if my children were ever in that sort of danger I would hope that there were people in the world who would do everything they could to help them.
High Fives Not So Silly Mummy! Exactly this! Thank you
DeleteNo human is illegal. Thats sums it all and we should treat them and help them as that, human. #PoCoLo
ReplyDeleteBest piece of graffiti ever! Thank you for commenting
DeleteGreat post, its so sad what's happening in Syria. I have heard a lot of celebrities are tweeting using the #, however, while I'm not trying to knock them for caring, tweeting about it doesn't actually solve the problem of where we are going to house these people. Kudos to Bob Geldof and Stan Collymore, both of whom have offered to house some of the refugees in their own homes :) (link to the article if you want to have a read http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/sep/04/bob-geldof-jk-rowling-mary-portas-stan-collymore-refugees-welcome) #momsterslink
ReplyDeleteDebbie
There seems to be two ways to help - raising awareness of the issues and changing the conversation and doing practical things like offering a room. Some are in a position to do both, whilst others can only offer their voice. Frankly, let's take what we can get! To quote a slogan from a supermarket started by a migrant from Poland, "Every little helps".
DeleteI agree, like I said I'm not knocking them for caring, I just thought it was good that some people who are in a position to offer rooms have done so and I thought they deserved a mention :)
DeleteDebbie
It's brilliant that people are willing to help. :). Have you seen this: http://www.homeforgood.org.uk/refugees
DeleteI hadn't seen it, but what a brilliant idea, well done to Home for Good :)
DeleteThis is so important to note. I was having this conversation with my husband just now...prompted by a really odd post on fb by one of my friends who seemed to have ignored the distinction and was voicing her problems with immigration while talking about refugees. Personally, regardless of who she meant, I didn't agree but you are right...the power of words. Eeeeek though...running off to check my post now. I love the sculpture and I wish I'd done that graffiti. Thanks for sharing #weekendblogshare AND#momsterslink Lucy at occupation: (m)other
ReplyDeleteIf your post is the one I think it is, I loved it! It was absolutely beautiful.
DeleteThis makes me so sad. The whole situation is awful. Thanks for linking up to the #BinkyLinky
ReplyDeleteIt is. One of the reasons I like The Independent campaign is that it allows people to do as little or as much as they feel led to do. It all helps :)
DeleteThanks for writing this. It makes me angry every time the BBC refers to this as a migrant crisis rather than a refugee crisis - though I have noticed today that they started to use the terms interchangeably which is a step in the right direction I guess! I hope that if enough people speak up then the media's poor coverage of the real issues and people's disgusting attitudes towards refugees will start to change. My heart breaks for humanity right now. #PoCoLo.
ReplyDeleteMine too. The vein in my neck isn't doing to well either as the news coverage just annoys me as it's designed to reinforce prejudices rather than challenging them.
DeleteThis is so well-written. So many people do not understand the difference between migrant and refugee - it is about time the world understood what it meant properly. Thank you for linking to #PoCoLo x
ReplyDeleteThank you of the lovely comment and for hosting each week. Hope all is well with you and yours
DeleteThank you for sharing this post, and poignant piece of street art. I agree that knowing the right words is an important step in understanding the challenges faced. #bigfatlinky
ReplyDeleteThank you, the street art is amazing. Well done that person!
DeleteIts sad that the people who are in the media, whose job it is to educate and inform, can't get so simple a distinction correct
ReplyDeleteI think they do it on purpose, I'm pretty sure the government does. If you see them as migrants with a choice about whether or not to go back to where they came from, it's much easier not to be bothered about helping them. Thank you for commenting
DeleteSomething so needs to be done about this situation heartbreaking thanks for linking to the binkylinky
ReplyDeleteIt is so sad ... Thank you for commenting and hosting each week
DeleteAll of this saddens me and to see the children just breaks every piece of my heart...especially being a mother. Thank you for sharing with #momsterslink.
ReplyDeleteThat picture, just thinking about it breaks my heart into tiny bits ... Thank you for sharing my post and for the lovely comment
DeleteSuch an important message and yes I really would like to change that. Thanks for linking it to #bigfatlinky
ReplyDeleteThank you for hosting each week
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