Those long ago words were written by Emma Lazarus and they referred to the immigrants coming to America. But today the millions of people fleeing the war torn Middle East, in particular Syria and Iraq, are heading to Europe. Their journey is long and arduous, and their hopes are just like those long ago immigrants to America. Leaving their homes, their loved ones, and their homeland they are looking for a safe harbor, a place to raise their children, a place to live out their lives in peace.
Some of those migrants are taking a path through Greece, on their way to other countries in Europe.
For many of the travelers Greece is just a stepping stone, but it is probably the country with the least resources to act as a transit point.
Germany is a popular destination point.
But tensions are rising.
While Europe is the primary destination the United States has accepted limited numbers of Syrian refugees.
This is a crisis of massive proportions. It will take a large scale response.
This week there was a story in the news about a young American couple, who had just gotten married, who intended to journey to Syria to join ISIL. Periodically I read about people who have been recruited by ISIL, to fight or to just live out their lives under ISIL rule. The young couple seemed to think that what was published in Western media was lies. It appears that for them ISIL seemed like a worthwhile cause, building an Islamic Caliphate. They didn't seem to see, or if they did see, they didn't care about the darker elements shifting beneath its surface. I found that profoundly sad.
I think as we go about our lives we tend to take for granted what our forefathers fought so hard for. Slavery in the United States was abolished a long time ago, after a bloody civil war. Personally, I think for citizens of the US to, in effect, throw away their efforts by going to live in a land where slavery has been reinstated is to dishonor their memory.
I know it's the weekend, but tonight I'm feeling the need for a more serious subject to climb up on my soapbox and shout about.
I have here two videos. The first one is only about 11 minutes, the second is a bit longer at 25. Both are worth watching.
I had in mind another post, but it's
the weekend and I'm feeling like something a little lighter. So it's
movie night!
This is an old movie, which you may or
may not have seen, but given the nature of my last post I thought
maybe it an appropriate follow up. No one knows what the future
holds.
While I do not read poetry, I really liked Dead Poets Society. It stars Robin Williams as an English teacher at a conservative boarding school. His teaching methods are rather unusual.
If I had had a teacher like that I think I would have enjoyed school a lot more! This is one of my favorite scenes.
If you have some free time, and even if you've seen the movie before, give it another look. Everyone has a verse to contribute. :)
