By land or sea
They come
In seeking
The "Promise Land".
Like the Jews
Being led
By Aaron.
Heading north
And west
At great peril
And cost.
In money
And lives lost.
Only
To find
A desolate land
Filled with hate
And fear.
As spools
After spools
Of razor wire
Is strung
Across the land.
Bringing back
Darker memories
Of a deadlier time.
When
An "iron curtain" draped
Across Europe.
In turning
A relative "peaceful" continent
Into an armed camp
With twitchy fingers
On triggers.
As the dead bodies
Wash ashore
In the Mediterranean
And Aegean Seas.
Therisa © 2016
Author's notes:
As a Canadian, from the safe haven, of my apartment, living afar, from the
developing situation, in Europe, it's so easy, for me, to critique, the
actions of the various European nations have taken, in regards, to the flood of
African and Asian immigrants and refugees, over the past 5 years. Especially,
after extreme violence that has gripped France, Belgium and to, a lesser
degree, Germany, over the past year.
As Politicians and right wing extremists have been quick, to blame IS and
thus, by extension, the growing Muslim population, who are, the grandchildren
and great grandchildren, of migrant workers and refugees, who fled
colonial wars, during the 1960s. Have grown frustrated, with the current
political and economic system that offers no hope of improvement, by turning to
alternative solutions, like extreme Islamic beliefs. This political backlash is
fuelling, the growing feeling of xenophobia and isolationism, among these
"native" populations.
I realize, there are no quick solutions, this growing unrest, but it's time,
for politicians to act, and take decisive action, for the current system has
shown itself, to be flawed, and in serious need of overhaul, if
Europe wants to avoid the racial riots, like the United States did, during
the 1960s. A plan, which meet the needs, of each individual country and
not patchwork affair, which only covers up, the gaping holes of European
society. Important ideas that have worked, in Canada, but doesn't take into
account, the historical problems of decolonialization and dealing with a
multicultural society of today.
