Preliminary Reflections on the Global Displaced Persons Issue

Preliminary Reflections on the Global Displaced Persons Issue

            Nothing can convey the emotional rhetorical appeal (or pathos) more than well-crafted photojournalism. The header photo leading the New York Times article The Displaced: Introduction effectively demonstrates the plight of displaced peoples in ways in which mere prose cannot. I am haunted by the furrowed brow and thousand-yard stare of the young Kurdish refugee at the far left in the picture. Yet, having read Gatrell’s introduction, I wonder if I am being manipulated in some way. I am sure that will be answered soon enough. For the time being, I will lend the benefit of the doubt. What is most striking when considering the photo and accompanying article is that the issue of displaced persons is a seemingly unsolvable or perpetual problem. The photo was taken in 1974 and Silverstein’s article suggests that at the time of writing (2015) there are some 60 million people currently displaced. This brings me to answer the next prompt; “Why does studying this topic matter?” It matters as a contemporary political issue. The immigration and refugee integration policies of the Obama administration are attacked by the Republican nominee who contends that Syrian refugees cannot be adequately vetted to prevent terrorists from infiltrating them. Progressives argue that we should speed up the process to relieve the displaced persons fleeing the civil war in their home country. Now, more than ever, have issues related to refugee crises and immigration been made relevant in the national debate.

            Silverstein speaks to the shortcomings of a myopic media focus that seems to demonstrate selective coverages of displaced persons incidents only when the imagery is sensational and the narrative dramatic. He writes, “Media coverage has lately focused on the Syrian dimension of this tragedy (in part because of the fate of one refugee child, Aylan Kurdi, the Syrian toddler who drowned crossing the Mediterranean in September). But these 30 million girls and boys are from all over — Afghanistan, Iraq, Eritrea, Libya, Nigeria, Honduras, El Salvador, Myanmar, Bangladesh (Silverstein). It is important as an informed populace to recognize the totality of the situation as well as discern when our media outlets are sincere and authentic in their reporting and when they are merely manipulating viewers with sensationalism for its own sake.

            Taylor Mayol’s article entitled THE SADDEST SHIP AFLOAT' AND AMERICA'S RESPONSE TO REFUGEES further emphasizes that refugee crises are nothing new. Although I found the piece informative, I had to take issue as I, again, felt as though I was being manipulated. I felt as though the author was reviving an obvious black mark on the nation for current political traction, and using the Syrian refugee crisis to do so. The progressive tone was blatantly obvious and further research revealed what I suspected. OZY media who claims to focus “on the "change generation" by delivering content that focuses on what is new and next which is delivered to a global audience” was actually seeking to prop up the current administration’s policies by asking Americans to self-shame themselves (. And in the end, the displaced persons are being used as political pawns. I hope we delve more deeply into these political realities during the course. I am mystified at this points as to why there is such media focus on one unfortunate historical incident placing blame on the United States without one mention of the 65-year track record of the UNHCR of which we have been a major benefactor. Displaced persons is not an American problem……it is a global problem in need of a global solution.

            Resistance to immigration is another issue that seems persistent historically.  Cannato’s analysis contained in Immigration and the Brahmins reveals the underlying fears, suspicions, and hatred that led to the formation of such organizations as the Immigration Restriction League formed by Prescott Farnsworth Hall in 1894 Boston (Cannato). I am curious as to the duality of the refugee issue; there is the plight of the displaced juxtaposed against the host countries that must deal with assimilation issues. There will always be a portion of a population which gravitates towards xenophobia. However, I feel as though the majority is inherently good-willed towards the unfortunate regardless of geographic disposition.

            One of the things that I think might be important as we move forward is making the distinction between refugees and displaced persons. While conflict may be the main catalyst for the displacing of peoples from their native homes, natural disasters also contribute to this figure. I guess I am just voicing my own confusion at this point. Again, another issue that I am confident this course will address.

            While reading on the official UNHCR site I am again left wondering if their mission over the last 65 years has been effective; if we go by mere numbers then no. I feel as though I really want to know more about this organization (I know that Gatrell’s treatment began to speak to this). What is the role of the MPI? How many similar organizations exist?

            Admittedly, I am at a point where I need more information, true information free from political agendas and emotion-based appeals. I need the truth concerning displaced persons, conflict and the perpetuity of this concern. Why is this something that seems so difficult to rectify in any meaningful way? I have so many questions. I need to know more and I am willing to set aside what I think I know about the situation and diligently strive to learn the truth so as to make informed decisions in the future.

Works Cited

Cannato, Vincent J. "Immigration and the Brahmins." National Endowment for the Humanities.    N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Sept. 2016.

"OZY Media." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 01 Sept. 2016.             <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OZY_Media>.

"Record Numbers 'Forcibly Uprooted' From Homes Around the World in 2015." Yahoo. N.p.,    n.d. Web. 01 Sept. 2016.

"Refugee & Asylum Policy." Migrationpolicy.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Sept. 2016.

Silverstein, Jake. "The Displaced: Introduction." The New York Times. The New York Times,             07 Nov. 2015. Web. 01 Sept. 2016.