Refugee Ban and the Holocaust

Human rights are defined as rights which are justified to belong to

each person. The term had become coined in the aftermath of World War II.
First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt became a huge advocate for the coinage of this
term. She even sought for the United Nations Council to create a Universal
Declaration of Human Rights (http://www.humanrights.com/what-are-human-
rights/international-human-rights-law/) . This document specifically outlines
what rights are fit into this terminology. It is the most universal document
which outlines these rights in the world. And, countries worldwide have
incorporated each of the 30 rights outlined into their governmental
constitutions. Additionally, this council supports, advocates and fights for
these rights. And, although this council continues to fight on behalf of these
rights worldwide, there have always been and unfortunately always will be
violations to these rights. This is due to the difficulties in enforcing these
rights worldwide. But, the most important thing for each person is to stay
informed; staying informed and educating ourselves to try ensure these
events dont repeat themselves and prevent them from happening.

Going off of the idea of educating in order to prevent recurrences, is

the main idea taught in tandem with the Holocaust. A period of time where a
group of people were targeted. They were not only targeted, but oppressed
and killed. Due to their minority status as Jewish people. Politicians began
isolating this group, using them as scapegoats. They were used as an excuse
for the economic crisis plaguing Europe, in particular Germany. These
politicians were able to rally their citizens around these ideas and slowly
these ideas quickly escalated beyond comprehension. Hundreds of
thousands of homosexuals were killed. Hundreds of thousands of disabled
people were murdered. Hundreds of thousands of gypsies were executed. 6
million Jews were slaughtered. And the list goes on.

But, not only were millions of minorities killed, but many were left with
no home to turn to. Villages and homes were demolished across the
continent of Europe. Both structurally and emotionally. People no longer had
families or friends to go back to. Throughout the war and afterwards,
hundreds of thousands needed places of refuge
(https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005139) . Just as
people are in need of places of refuge today. People across the globe are
seeking places to turn for a better life. 59.5 million people around the globe
are either displaced or seeking places of refuge. Look at Syria for instance.
Around 7.6 million people have been displaced and another 3.8 have fled the
country. Most of these people running from Syria are women and children
(http://syrianrefugees.eu) . Not terrorists. They are escaping because the
entire country is in shambles. Constant conflict is waging throughout: The
Taliban terrorist group, ISIS, anti-government rebels, and government forces
are all battling one another. To make matters worse, governments outside of
Syria are involving themselves in the war as well. As a result, there are
casualties on all sides, including a few hundred thousand civilians. Chemical
warfare, rape, murder, and torture are plaguing the country along with a
multitude of other acts of violence. People are living in extremely
impoverished communities. Their access to water and food sources,
education, healthcare, shelter and almost everything else they need to
survive is constantly declining. The situation continues to worsen for all ides
involved.

And, now America is turning its back on the few refugees we were
going to allow into this country. Due to an executive order which was signed
by President Trump. But, what is most upsetting is when this executive order
was signed. He signed this agreement on the same weekend of Holocaust
Remembrance Day. A day which is not only for grieving the atrocities of the
events which occurred around the world at the time, but also to remind us to
never again allow such events to happen in history. Yet, here we are in
America allowing our president to discriminate. Allowing him to start
targeting groups, similarly to the beginning of the events in Germany. He is
isolating a group of minorities and denying them their rights. Meanwhile, he
has been quoted that if these were Christian refugees he would allow them
into the united states. He is isolating this group of people, from countries
dominated by Islam. He is identifying them all as terrorists. Giving them a
name which signifies his belief that they do not belong.
We as a nation cannot allow these acts to go unnoticed. We need to speak up
and organize. As we are beginning to do throughout the country. For not only
refugees or immigrants, but LGBTQs, women and all minority groups. We
need to keep moving forward, not backwards. And, we need to make sure
these acts unify us as civilians instead of dividing us. Because we can
accomplish far more together than apart. And, together we are a stronger
force against the oppressor.