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So, Let's Talk About Refugees and Hypocrisy

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funeralxempire
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28 Feb 2022, 4:01 pm



I was sure I wasn't the only one to notice how refugees from some parts of the world are discussed compared to refugees from other parts of the world are discussed. It's disappointing to see how much more enthusiasm exists for helping people fleeing violence in one part of the world vs. others.

To be fair, that lack of empathy is also applied to black and Asian people fleeing Ukraine:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-60555650
https://www.rfi.fr/en/international/202 ... and-border
https://www.france24.com/en/europe/2022 ... and-border

Quote:
“They stopped us at the border and told us that Blacks were not allowed. But we could see White people going through,” said Moustapha Bagui Sylla, a student from Guinea. He said he fled his university residence in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, as soon as the bombing began.

Like thousands of Ukrainian civilians scrambling for the border, the young Guinean said he walked for hours in freezing temperatures heading for the Polish frontier village of Medyka – only to be ordered to turn back.


Quote:
Osemen, from Nigeria, told the BBC he had tried to get on a train in Lviv to take him to the Polish border but was told only Ukrainians would be allowed on board.

Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari said there were about 4,000 Nigerians in Ukraine, mostly students.

He said one group had repeatedly been refused entry to Poland so they travelled back into Ukraine to head for Hungary instead.

"All who flee a conflict situation have the same right to safe passage under the UN Convention, and the colour of their passport or their skin should make no difference," Mr Buhari said in a tweet.


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magz
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28 Feb 2022, 4:11 pm

I'm out of nasty words for it.
Every abuse on Polish Border Guard's side will be used against us.
They should have known it.

I'm hoping this medial slap in the wrist will make them behave.


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funeralxempire
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28 Feb 2022, 4:19 pm

magz wrote:
I'm out of nasty words for it.
Every abuse on Polish Border Guard's side will be used against us.
They should have known it.

I'm hoping this medial slap in the wrist will make them behave.


Me too, people are sometimes on their best behaviour when they know they're being watched and when they know their actions won't be supported or defended.

I don't believe it's fair to judge any country on how it's border guards act since it seems to be a job that's likely to attract people who are xenophobic and want to power trip no matter where you go, but they've gotta know how many eyes will be on them and how it'll look to many of those eyes.


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magz
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28 Feb 2022, 4:25 pm

Unfortunately, they have been pretty abusive towards non-Europeans during recent push on Belarussian border - and they got away with it because the world wasn't watching the way it's watching now.

Well, I hope it ends with changes for the better in that regard. We're pretty dynamic nation so I believe our border guard is capable of improvements.


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DW_a_mom
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28 Feb 2022, 7:49 pm

Ouch.

But, yes, there is a lot of racism in this part of the world, even if people want to pretend there isn't.


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