Portfolio #9: Writing Project- REFUGEES

We Refugees | By Benjamin Zephaniah

Speaking for myself, the poem we refugees makes reference when someone has to run away because in his/her country they are at risk. People are so blind that we cannot see that we live in a beautiful world. Unfortunately, it does not matter since there are a lot of vulnerable people who are not being protected. There are many reasons why a person decides to flee, such as the suffering of human rights violations or persecution, sexual or gender orientation, violence, war, poverty, hunger, natural disasters, etc. Refugees can be anyone as a woman, a man or a child in every part of the world. It is so cruel that their freedom, feelings, religion, culture or thoughts are not respected in their country because of some bad leaders´ propper political or economical interests. The following line states "Nobody is safe, All it takes is a mad leader". This aspect of the poem reflects the role of the local government that can not protect them from dangers. For that reason, a person starts thinking of escaping to another country. Moreover, those people had not an alternative and they decided to live in another country, without the guarantee to find that safe place where he or she could feel free, work, study, live, join a family, etc. Most people in the world have had the hard reality of leaving the place where they grew up. The following line states: "We can all be refugees, nobody is safe". That is why, as an Argentinian citizen, I feel that a part of me is a refugee because my great grandfather escaped from Italy because of the war. The poem generates me a context that gives me a window into the speaker's suffering and hope. It is easy to read the sorrow in this line “I am told I have no country now, I am told I am a lie”. On the one hand, these journeys can also be full of danger, uncertainty and fear. On the other hand, all start with the hope for a better future for everyone.

Refugees| by Brian Bilston

The poem concerns the thoughts of many people who consider that receiving refugees is a problem for society. This belief shows the lack of empathy for those who were forced to leave their country because of hostile reasons. Unfortunately, it is common to hear comments regarding these ideas nowadays, for instance, “We should make them go back to where they came from, they cannot, share our food, share our homes, share our countries” are some of the lines stated in the poem. Moreover, most racist people not only think that the government must not protect foreigners but also they expect them to obligate refugees to return to their countries. Consequently, as readers, we consider the poem as an initial point to make people reflect on how destructive they could be while spreading hate through their speech or opinions related to Refugees.

If we take a look at the poem from bottom to up we can realize that it has a different meaning. It all depends on the direction that you read it. In this case, if readers start from the bottom to up, they will find a positive and marvellous message about fraternity and hope. In this way the poem allows us to reflect on the suffering of a refugee and it creates a context which contributes to raising awareness. Besides, it changes the view about the pain and effort made by a refugee while trying to find a secure place. The poem invites us to place ourselves into the refugees´ to see and feel the sorrow and desperation they suffer in order to have a second chance, for instance, “We need to see them for who they really are, Should life have dealt a different hand, These haggard faces could belong to you or me” is one of the phrases stated in the poem that makes reference to people’s tolerance. That is why we consider “Refugees” as an influential piece of writing to show the warm side of society. Moreover, it shares the view that even though we all come from different places and experiences, we are equals. Consequently, we can build a place to live in peace and safety together where it does not matter the religion, political beliefs, economic issues or cultural differences since we are part of a unique world.

Macarena Carrizo, Luz Fernandez and Eliana González.

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Study Notes.                            

 By Macarena Carrizo, Luz Fernandez and Eliana González.

According to the general project, I start thinking about the significance of recognizing and understanding what happens around us. That is why the poems make me travel to those unsafe places where human rights are vulnerable and how necessary is to spread the terrible conditions that refugees have to pass. The poems provide me with the conceptualizations of some ideas. First, the experience of human life around the world and throughout history. Second, it opens and exposes me to understand how complex we are, as humans, and the consequences it implies. Besides, it will help me to open my mind, set a clear and objective point of view and start developing my ideas in my essay. Speaking for myself, writing is not as simple as it seems. Everybody can write but there are few people who can transport you to that specific place and feeling that expose me to those settings of reflection.

This task makes me reflect on the power of words since they are a bridge to transport us to different places, feelings and situations. Moreover, I always value how important is a text that transmits to the reader a message and it allows me to see and feel the positive or negative facets of humans being throughout ideas, events, memories and stories.