Who are these refugees?

They are God's children, like you and I. That sounds too facile. They are Everyman. Also too facile. One thing I do know is that every refugee inside their country or leaving their country is driven by some unbearable situation. Whether it is war or famine or oppression or disaster, leaving is a terrible and wrenching decision. Our birthplaces smell right, the water tastes right, the land and seasons are familiar. And moreover, leaving family and friends is terrible. No one takes the decision easily. It is a gut wrenching decision.

And things have to be so bad, that staying just is not an option. Period.

And when we see them coming, they are at their worst. They have been traumatized, often starved, have watched their home situation get worse and worse. Then they travel, often with no food or water, often being brutalized in transit, often bringing nothing, often experiencing more losses as they flee. So many refugees look like shit when they find their destination. And they smell bad sometimes. And they are disoriented and often arrive where a different language is spoken.

You all know this. But what we should remember, I think, is three fold. They may have a fabulous education and be wonderful human beings. They might be simple souls. But they will be forever grateful for a bit of love and help. And above all, they want to go home when things get better in their country of origin.

A lot of things confuse this. There may be no home to go back to. They might fall in love and start a family where they land. There might be a death sentence if they go back. Lots of things. But my experience with the young refugees who lived in my home over the years was that they really appreciated being given an education. They really appreciated being welcomed. They really wanted to be free from the strife they were fleeing. They wanted to reach their highest potential. They were like my ancestors when they came here, hungry, tired, and ready to work for the chance at life.

I find them, as a group, inspiring. Recovering from trauma is daunting. Starting over, especially with no language skills is really daunting. Walking into the great unknown is daunting. I look to refugees past and present for inspiration, for strength, for hope.

They are not going to take a big chunk of your piece of the pie. They are going to add more to it. If we and other countries treat refugees honorably, we will be working toward creating peace on earth.