"Give me your tired, your poor, [y]our huddled masses yearning to breathe free, [t]he wretched refuse of your teeming shore” (Lazarus). This epitaph, which comes from the poem “The New Colossus," is inscribed on one of America’s most valuable symbols: The Statue of Liberty. The Statue of Liberty is the perfect embodiment of the values that America prides itself on most, namely the belief in freedom for all. Since this nation’s humble beginnings, American citizens have done everything in their power to live according to the virtues that they value so deeply; however, America’s response to recent events, specifically its hesitance to take in refugees from humanitarian crises, has reflected a disregard for these virtues that were once so beloved.
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In fact, David Miliband, author of the article “Humanitarian Revolution: The Refugee Crisis Needs Better Aid, Not Just More Aid,” claims that "over 60 million people... are now fleeing for their lives” and that “[o]ne in every 122 people on the planet is fleeing conflict” (Miliband). With such a large quantity of people being forced to flee from their homes, there is no denying that something needs to be done in order to improve the situation for these individuals. One explanation for the extensive amounts of people fleeing their homelands is because few countries have done anything to intervene. Maybe this lack of action is motivated by fear of a security threat, or perhaps it is simply because the world is becoming apathetic. Either way, it is imperative for nations to set aside their fears and selfish ambitions in order improve the current situation for the refugees. Unfortunately, it seems as though many countries are incapable of doing such things for the sake of refugees, especially for those from the Middle East. E. Tendayi Achiume, an author from the Minnesota Law Review Foundation, wrote that “[o]nly a small number of European countries have shown willingness to grant Syrian refugees asylum and countries at Europe’s frontier with the Middle East have actively taken measures to repel Syrian refugees" (Achiume). Although the capable countries in this example are unwilling to offer a home to the refugees seeking asylum, America does not need to follow the same path. America has always been a pioneer among nations, and has served as a model to many. As a model nation to many countries around the world, America should offer a home to refugees from humanitarian crises in order to encourage other nations to do the
In fact, David Miliband, author of the article “Humanitarian Revolution: The Refugee Crisis Needs Better Aid, Not Just More Aid,” claims that "over 60 million people... are now fleeing for their lives” and that “[o]ne in every 122 people on the planet is fleeing conflict” (Miliband). With such a large quantity of people being forced to flee from their homes, there is no denying that something needs to be done in order to improve the situation for these individuals. One explanation for the extensive amounts of people fleeing their homelands is because few countries have done anything to intervene. Maybe this lack of action is motivated by fear of a security threat, or perhaps it is simply because the world is becoming apathetic. Either way, it is imperative for nations to set aside their fears and selfish ambitions in order improve the current situation for the refugees. Unfortunately, it seems as though many countries are incapable of doing such things for the sake of refugees, especially for those from the Middle East. E. Tendayi Achiume, an author from the Minnesota Law Review Foundation, wrote that “[o]nly a small number of European countries have shown willingness to grant Syrian refugees asylum and countries at Europe’s frontier with the Middle East have actively taken measures to repel Syrian refugees" (Achiume). Although the capable countries in this example are unwilling to offer a home to the refugees seeking asylum, America does not need to follow the same path. America has always been a pioneer among nations, and has served as a model to many. As a model nation to many countries around the world, America should offer a home to refugees from humanitarian crises in order to encourage other nations to do the