One is Way Too Many

I will probably never know what it means to feel like a refugee. I’ve been blessed in a geographic sense and don't think anyone will be threatening my race, religion, nationality or political opinion any time soon. At least not enough to send me packing into another province or moving south into the United States - yes I think I’m here to stay.

Refugees are people that have been displaced in almost every sense of the word. They have usually left their homeland for another safer place. Think of the Hutus escaping from Rwanda, the Jews leaving Europe, the Syrians from Damascus heading for Beirut and maybe the men, women and children running from the fighting the central African Republic currently from the CAR for the DRC, Chad or Cameroon.

I have been outside of my country many times, but only for short periods of time. Not exactly a refugee, but sometimes feeling stranded nevertheless. What I am familiar with though is the sense of longing to be home. I look forward to getting back into my own bed, eating local food, drinking clean water and swatting at mosquitoes not because they might kill me but because they are annoying. Playing with my kids Victoria and Spencer. Spending quality time with Elizabeth and my family as a whole unit. You know the emotional ache I’m talking about. You’ve been away one day too long and start to feel homesick near the end of a trip and that sense of prevailing emptiness kicks in and sometimes even takes over. It’s a desire for resolution. It’s a recognition that we all belong. Somewhere.

This year’s theme for World Refugee Day 2014 is: "One family torn apart by war is too many". There are currently 10.4 million refugees according to the UNHCR. If one is too many what is it then, when the numbers are in the millions? Is it an outrage; another meaningless statistic; something else for us to ignore? The United Nation’s High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) tells me that refugees are spread around the globe, with almost half in Asia and approximately 28% in Africa. All refugees have 3 possible solutions to the way their stories may play out: repatriation, local integration or resettlement. The UNHCR was established in 1950 and since then have helped many people restart their lives. Over 7600 people work in 125 countries working alongside others.

I’ve met refugees from Cambodia, Rwanda, Burma and Vietnam. I have no idea truly how they feel, but do understand that sense of homelessness however insignificant it might be comparatively. It’s a way I think we can all relate to others who are without a home, state or place r to return to.

Canada is without a doubt proud of its stance on assisting refugees, but right now seems to be having some trouble responding to criticisms surrounding Syrians making their way to Canada. "There are 1,150 Syrian refugees in Canada," said Chris Alexander in the House of Commons recently and apparently the government has sponsored another 200. Our immigration minister maintains that Canada is at the "forefront of the effort to resettle Syrians.” It seems that there is a lack of clarity with regard to how things are unfolding here at home as the rubber now meets the road for our progressive refugee policy. Canada has often been recognized for its leadership in offering safe haven to those who need protection and yet the Syrian Canadian Council insists that none of the 1,350 refugees are in Canada yet and the UNHCR has asked Canada to accept more men, women and children who have displaced by the civil war.

Not really sure where things will land with regard to the current conflict around Alexander and his department, but what I do know is that most of us have no idea what it means to walk a mile or two in someone else’s shoes.