Taking Refuge

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Taking Refuge

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The difference between refugees and immigrants is significant. Refugees migrate for reasons of safety or civil rights from their own country. They are usually in danger of losing their life. Humanities basic rights and simple safety are at risk. Immigrants migrate because they choose to look for a better life. Many times immigrants are seeking economic opportunities not available in their country of origin. These migrants could be seen as economic refugees because they are often unable to feed their families and must immigrate for work opportunities. This is usually due to disruptions in local economies, not dissimilar to situations feared in refugee populations.

Refugees leave because of war, danger or the threat of imprisonment to themselves or their loved ones. They have no choice if they want to continue to live at all. “The term refuge is associated with some of the most profoundly disturbing human experiences, that of persecution, genocide, dislocation, disruption, forced migration, alienation, and loss.”(Koltyk, p21, Pioneers) Many Hmong have migrated to the US because they were actively involved in helping US Armed Forces during the Vietnam War. The people who recruited them for their expertise and assistance assured the Hmong that if the war was lost the US would take care of them and their families. They are the veterans of our own war fought on their land. We owe it to them to take care of them and their families. They are our allies. They helped us when we needed them; we owe them the same in return.

None should ever be left behind to suffer for involvement in our war. They assisted us out of choice; they could have chosen the other side and become our enemy....

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Having overcome my own set of adversities in this country, I can only imagine what being a refuge must be like. They have been forced to leave their homes with little or nothing. They run for their lives leaving behind war, civil strife, famine and environmental disaster. The Statue of Liberty says,

“Give me your tired, your poor,

Huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teaming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!

Is this not the basis of America, Liberty and justice for all or only the select few who possess the correct characteristics that is deemed appropriate, I wonder? I believe that I will lift my lamp. This will be my mission. This is what I believe in, will the real Americans please stand up & Lift your lamp!

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