Since reading more about the process by which refugees arrive in the US I've grown less concerned. The process is arduous and random. Refugees do not pick their destinations, which alone would make it a poor choice for someone intending to get here.
I've been thinking of the history of my family. My heritage leads back to Europe; I'm a mutt made up of English, Welsh, German and Dutch lineages as best I can tell. While not knowing the specific stories of why they immigrated here, it would seem reasonable to believe that in some way they had hoped for a better life for themselves and their families. Unless you are a few percent of our population that can claim Native American Indian heritage you too are the offspring of immigrants. My ancestors and likely yours as well joined in the adventure we now call (used to call?) the American Dream. The Dream was rather simple really. It was to seek a better life, where prosperity while not at all guaranteed was within the realm of the possible. The new America was seen as a place where hard work and diligence would be rewarded with a solid roof over your head and food on your plate.
This Dream remained, and I would say still remains for a great many today. Many immigrants from Europe arrived to Ellis Island in the New York Bay. The Statue of Liberty, a gift from France, welcomed many a stranger to our shores. While Ellis Island is now defunct, the Statue still bears her flame beckoning those that need a home, or dare I say.. a refuge.
The world has become a smaller place now though, and the realities of acts of terror reach into our homes nearly instantly as cameras broadcast at near the speed of light. We are all too aware of the danger lurking in this dark world. It's natural to be cautious of those we don't know and don't understand - those different from ourselves. This has been the human condition for as long as man has compared himself to another. We separate ourselves into groups that are most like ourselves. It's a comfortable collective that way. In our own gangs our ideas are generally the same and accepted, we are accepted and we don't have to defend what we believe to each other. The world outside our insulated cohorts is contrasted strongly with different looks, ideas and beliefs. We venture out only to have to defend concepts and understandings. We find we all don't agree with each other.
Further, we have self-created boundaries and at some point a leader places a flag over the territory. The island then governs itself as deemed fit. The adjoining islands of nation states do likewise. That is until resources and greed intermingle. Throw in differing ideals and conflicts arise to become wars, holy and otherwise. Civilians are caught in this struggle. It's my belief that most people are victims in these conflicts. Most people I know simply want to live peacefully, raise families and enjoy their friends. Refugees fleeing desolate battlefields and roaming extremists .. which is any armed force with which you disagree simply want food and shelter, and medical care. They want peace, just like us.
Tonight I sat down to paint. The chaos of my life recently left me not wanting to paint. So tonight was to be a warm up of sorts. I didn't have much on my mind, but the thoughts above came out.
A quick sketch and sloppy, loose painting created this image. You may not recognize Ellis Island, and the Eiffel isn't particularly very good, but I like it. The USA is supposed to be the bright light, the North Star if you will. It seems the latest events have brought Syria, the US and France together in some twist of fate. The Syrian flags have green, black and white with stars in either green or red depending which side the proverbial political isle you belong. France, like the US flies red, white and blue. I haven't gotten in the habit of titling my works, but here's a first. I'm calling this "Flags, Blood and Humanity"
My prayer tonight is for peace and love. Guess I should be in a beauty pageant. (Hope you get the reference.)
Blessings,
Brian
No comments:
Post a Comment