Is this the defining moment for this century?

Flash back to the middle of the last century. Thousands of people fleeing a terror regime in Germany and across mainland Europe. Undergoing unimaginable hardships to reach peace and security in the USA and England.

The people who were fleeing proved their grit, endurance and ingenuity by the very act of fleeing. Once there, they proved their loyalty as well to their new countries. For the countries that took them in, specially the USA and UK, they proved the catalyst for breakthroughs in science, excellence in the arts and a new vigor to social and cultural dynamics.

So much so that English became the language of new ideas, the language of science and communication replacing German and French.

Today it is the same situation again. The terror is centered in the Middle East and the immigrants are Asian but it’s the same terror. A terror of religion and race. The routes and methods taken by the fleeing populace as arduous as before.

A refugee is a person who is outside their home country
because they have suffered (or feared)
persecution on account of race, religion, nationality,
or political opinion;
because they are a member of a persecuted social class of persons;
or because they are fleeing a war.

But the wheel has indeed turned.

While the countries that benefited from last century’s exodus close their borders and try every  method, diplomatic or otherwise, to keep the present immigrants out. Germany welcomes these refugees. Angela Merkel standing up for them, silencing the few odd groups of her own countrymen who protest against her stance. “Being the country to which so many want to migrate should be a source of pride” she says.

“There can be no tolerance of those who question the dignity of other people,” she said, standing in front of placards accusing her of being the people’s traitor.

How will this present situation play out? Going by historic examples it will definitely have a positive result for Germany. Making it richer in every aspect.

Needless to say this lady has proven to be a hero.

 

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