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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/03/refugee-horrors-cry-out-for-humanity-and-leadership
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| Refugee horrors cry out for humanity and leadership | Refugee horrors cry out for humanity and leadership |
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| It is not easy to look in the mirror and value your reflection if you are not absolutely horrified by the images of a dead, innocent Syrian boy face down on a beach (The shocking cruel reality of Europe’s refugee crisis, 3 September). That boy was someone’s son, someone’s grandson – he was one of us. To state that we should all be ashamed to bear witness is an understatement. To state that we have every right to expect our leaders to stand up and lead, to show leadership, statesmanship even, is almost trite now. The image crystallises the time we live in. Rather a dead child than the humanity and leadership required to afford people, just like us, a home. Today, I am ashamed to be British.Thomas BennettBirmingham | It is not easy to look in the mirror and value your reflection if you are not absolutely horrified by the images of a dead, innocent Syrian boy face down on a beach (The shocking cruel reality of Europe’s refugee crisis, 3 September). That boy was someone’s son, someone’s grandson – he was one of us. To state that we should all be ashamed to bear witness is an understatement. To state that we have every right to expect our leaders to stand up and lead, to show leadership, statesmanship even, is almost trite now. The image crystallises the time we live in. Rather a dead child than the humanity and leadership required to afford people, just like us, a home. Today, I am ashamed to be British.Thomas BennettBirmingham |
| • I was shocked and dismayed to see the images of a dead refugee child published on your website today. John Berger wrote about the depoliticising effect of publishing graphic images of war and violence, arguing that they had two effects: either to heighten the reader’s sense of impotence and futility in the face of unimaginable tragedy; or to prompt an act of individual penance, such as donating to a charity. “The picture becomes evidence of the general human condition. It accuses everybody and nobody.” | • I was shocked and dismayed to see the images of a dead refugee child published on your website today. John Berger wrote about the depoliticising effect of publishing graphic images of war and violence, arguing that they had two effects: either to heighten the reader’s sense of impotence and futility in the face of unimaginable tragedy; or to prompt an act of individual penance, such as donating to a charity. “The picture becomes evidence of the general human condition. It accuses everybody and nobody.” |
| In the case of the refugees struggling to reach Europe, publishing graphic photos of deaths by drowning distracts us from the terrible origins of the conflicts in Syria and Afghanistan (for which the UK shares responsibility) and normalises their dangerous journeys in boats across the Mediterranean. Were it not for the inhumane asylum policies of the UK and other European countries, they could instead claim asylum in or near their countries of origin and travel here safely by plane.Josephine GrahlLondon | In the case of the refugees struggling to reach Europe, publishing graphic photos of deaths by drowning distracts us from the terrible origins of the conflicts in Syria and Afghanistan (for which the UK shares responsibility) and normalises their dangerous journeys in boats across the Mediterranean. Were it not for the inhumane asylum policies of the UK and other European countries, they could instead claim asylum in or near their countries of origin and travel here safely by plane.Josephine GrahlLondon |
| • Just what has happened to this country’s compassion and humanity? Are people so really in hock to Tory and Ukip values or reading the Telegraph, Mail, Express, Sun etc that they have completely lost their sense of perspective? The little boy washed up on the shore was from Kobani, the border town in northern Syria caught up in trying to escape Isis. Just what were he and he his family supposed to do? Come on people, rise up against this iniquity – we are all Syrians now!John StrongmanManchester | |
| • You quote the prime minister (Cameron: we can’t take any more people fleeing from war, 3 September) as claiming: “We have taken ‘a number’ of genuine asylum seekers” (or displaced people as a less judgmental world once termed them), yet when comparing our government’s response to the Syrian crisis to that of Germany’s, a stark contrast is revealed. The “number” referred to is 216 over the past year, compared to between 800,000 and 1 million for Germany. Britain’s quota would fill just three doubledecker buses whereas Germany’s would fill Wembley stadium 10 times over.Austen LynchGarstang, Lancashire | • You quote the prime minister (Cameron: we can’t take any more people fleeing from war, 3 September) as claiming: “We have taken ‘a number’ of genuine asylum seekers” (or displaced people as a less judgmental world once termed them), yet when comparing our government’s response to the Syrian crisis to that of Germany’s, a stark contrast is revealed. The “number” referred to is 216 over the past year, compared to between 800,000 and 1 million for Germany. Britain’s quota would fill just three doubledecker buses whereas Germany’s would fill Wembley stadium 10 times over.Austen LynchGarstang, Lancashire |
| • I agree with David Cameron that “to bring peace and stability” to Syria and other beleaguered regions would, eventually, solve the refugee crisis. So how, exactly, is refusing to offer succour to any more refugees going to contribute to this end? Both are allowed.Tim LargeReading | • I agree with David Cameron that “to bring peace and stability” to Syria and other beleaguered regions would, eventually, solve the refugee crisis. So how, exactly, is refusing to offer succour to any more refugees going to contribute to this end? Both are allowed.Tim LargeReading |
| • Those countries taking the lowest number of refugees must be named and shamed every day until they change their policies.Peter HughesBurnham, Buckinghamshire | • Those countries taking the lowest number of refugees must be named and shamed every day until they change their policies.Peter HughesBurnham, Buckinghamshire |
| • I remember, when I was a little boy, giving my favourite toy to an appeal for Hungarian refugee children who had fled from the Russian reaction to the uprising. It makes me so sad to see the headline: Hungarian TV ‘told not to broadcast images of refugee children’ (theguardian.com, 1 September). I wonder what our reaction would be to the victims of the Nazis if they were refugees now? Would we say they were someone else’s responsibility and turn them away? As we do to those fleeing Syria and Eritrea.Martin CooperBromley, Kent | • I remember, when I was a little boy, giving my favourite toy to an appeal for Hungarian refugee children who had fled from the Russian reaction to the uprising. It makes me so sad to see the headline: Hungarian TV ‘told not to broadcast images of refugee children’ (theguardian.com, 1 September). I wonder what our reaction would be to the victims of the Nazis if they were refugees now? Would we say they were someone else’s responsibility and turn them away? As we do to those fleeing Syria and Eritrea.Martin CooperBromley, Kent |
| • While Mr Cameron may indeed have something to answer for, let’s not forget the main causes of this crisis. I refer not only to the barrel-bomber Assad, but also to his supporters, the Russian and Chinese governments. I believe the Chinese leader is due in London soon for a state visit. Maybe he should be shown the picture displayed so prominently on Thursday’s front pages.Michael WhartonDarsham, Suffolk | |
| • In your editorial on the refugee crisis (Merkel has given a lead that the whole of Europe must follow, 2 September) you state that “hundreds of thousands are fleeing war zones and persecution”. Unless action is taken now to stem climate change, this refugee crisis will seem small beer, as many millions of people leave their homelands to seek safe havens across the world. The reaction in parts of Europe to the present crisis presages the next, and likely last, war. My children and yours will bear witness.Bob NicholsonFrodsham, Cheshire | • In your editorial on the refugee crisis (Merkel has given a lead that the whole of Europe must follow, 2 September) you state that “hundreds of thousands are fleeing war zones and persecution”. Unless action is taken now to stem climate change, this refugee crisis will seem small beer, as many millions of people leave their homelands to seek safe havens across the world. The reaction in parts of Europe to the present crisis presages the next, and likely last, war. My children and yours will bear witness.Bob NicholsonFrodsham, Cheshire |