Why Refugee Children Should NOT be Blamed

any a time, refugees are accused of not fighting for their  home countries, but rather seeking asylum and a better economic life. The stigma associated with being a refugee could be the reason why many displaced people tend to hide their identities and status as 'stateless' according to UN charter definition. Their situational poverty is coupled with constant undermining. Although a fairly large number of people sympathise with the refugees( many of them who experienced similar atrocities and some never experienced but may feel through reading or any other reason), there are those who blame the refugees for not being strong enough to fight for their respective countries instead of fleeing. This negative attitude about refugees as cowardly leads to bullying of refugee students which in turn may cause low-self esteem, low performance and even physical injuries. Some may even go too deep that they scrap off a person's dignity on the basis of being a refugee.  The fact is, however, refugees too are humans with feelings, needs and ambitions. Waking up from a brush house does not mean one cannot do it. With love, care, determination and opportunity anyone can achieve the desired goal, for common sense proposes that one's background does not determine the future lifestyle.

Firstly, in the time of war, children and women are believed to be the most vulnerable as indicated by their numbers in any refugee camp around the world. Once again, in almost all societies around the world, children do not decide. In most families, decision making is reached by parents. And without doubt, they do it in the child's interest. Since refugees too are human, parents want their children to develop spiritually, socially and economically. In the end, why would an innocent child suffer the war of men of different ideologies?

Secondly, escaping death is buying time, which is, in my openion a war tactic. Thus we too are brave. Buying time allows the children to regrow and get educated and use it as a harmless but effective weapon. A weapon that changes minds, for the mind controls the body. After all, the only way to fight a war is not to hold a gun against those who hold a different opinion. In fact, as Mandela said, education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. So by going to school, we may prepare sustainable solutions to violence, eradicate poverty and most importantly be grateful of God's unique creation for if God wished we would all have been similar in attitude and thinking. Therefore, the notion that fleeing people are cowardly simply cannot hold water. One should understand that by getting educated we are not only fighting but also changing the fighting tacts. Just as a gun is the weapon of a fighter, education is the weapon of a writer.

Thirdly we could embrace refugees. What is the effect of embracing refugees? In both the written and unwritten history of humans, it is known that people have been migrating to run away from unjust political prosecution. As a result of this migration, political, social and economically thriving societies have been built up. For instance, East Africa's hospitality to politically and religiously persecuted Omani Arabs, is known, to have resulted in well thriving economies and cultures in the City-states of Mombasa, Zanzibar and Malindi. It also led to the birth of the rich culture of Swahili. The intermarriage of Africans and Arabs along the E.African, Indian Ocean coasts led to the Swahili culture and language, beautifully shaping East Africa's history in a positive light.

This is not the first time Africans welcomed persecuted refugees. In the Seventh century, King Negus of Abyssinia gave protection to the persecuted Muslim minorities. When the King died, in return, prophet Mohammad prayed for him a special prayer known as Swalatul Janaza, hence creating peace, love and harmony among societies of different religions and races. Therefore, from these historical facts, it clear as crystal that embracing refugees could bring about more good than harm, often in the long run.

To sum up, while I understand immaturity could be a reason for blaming others, we still have to promote global citizenship, where we have no country to fight for, where our country is the earth, where we are all equal citizens protecting and living harmoniously with the environment, where we are all one human race thinking beyond virtual boundaries, where doctors, engineers, thinkers, scholars, and teachers are highly praised and celebrated more than armed forces day.

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The views and thoughts expressed in this article are my own and do not necessarily reflect any other organization be it political or religious. Since I am still a student, I am open to any other thought and with time could change my views.