Colonisation started by people “crossing the seas’. Mercy and empathy were given to seafarers/explorers who desperately needed help after long periods navigating the seas. Seafarers who were stranded thousand of miles away from their home. And strangers welcomed them, nurtured them and treated them with dignity. The rest as they say is history.
Present time; The Rwandan Policy
People are still crossing the seas, yet when they land in distant shores, people are not so welcoming. Why? Afraid of karmic cycle? Insecurity?Self-protection? Just don’t care? Are these people really are a threat to the Nation’s economic security and society’s safety? Are we afraid of our own shadows?
Does it concern you that the majority of them are males? Would you actually send your sister, daughter, mother to take the perilous journey? Economic migrant? Look around you? Can you see and identify economic migrants? Am I an economic migrant to you? Do you see me as a threat? Why not? Because I am a woman?
Who are these illegal migrants? They are people who are; tenacious, resilient, diligent, resourceful, determined, focused, passionate, ambitious, logistical, problem -solver, risk taker, planner and strategic.
To go through a lonely, oppressive, precarious journey; one must have these attributes and a mindset for success. Qualities that are promising. All it need is nurture and opportunity to unleash its full potential.
But first is to give mercy and empathy. To nurture, to support and to understand. A chance to settle to a new environment and to give balance and hope.
The challenge is; are we magnanimous enough to be welcoming? To accept that we need them too? Be proud enough that UK was their chosen country for settlement.
Are we a nation that see peoples potential and quality? Are we a country proud to facilitate someone’s dream and hope, fulfilled? Are we a nation that can embrace positivity and a more encompassing outlook? A nation who can show mercy and empathy to someone who is looking for Hope, is a nation of strength and light. Perhaps these economic migrants, illegal migrants, seafarers one day can be generous and kind too, to their society who accepted them with open arms. A loyal person to the goodness amongst us.
‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me’ Matthew 25:40-41
Iris for Hope
Magdarae's narrative 