When a Battle becomes War

Ensuing are my reflections about we have learned on immigration and what is happening behind the scenes. And allow me to give my personal definitions which connotes a misleading political War against a good social Battle.

My last week highlight days full of admiration and packs of information as we roamed around the Empire State and the Big Apple as part of Internship program to talk about the global migration. I wish we could have stayed longer and discuss more! I am beyond grateful and of saying thanks to Almighty God and to the people He used to make this possible. I am deeply honored and humbled at the same time.

For our first two days, we had our conversations about global migration and listen to some of the immigrants, refugee helpers and people of the ministry to the UN talking about what is the state of the global phenomenon and how could we deal to such issue as members of the faith community. Full of information, including biblical perspectives were unveiled. I am way interested about it since it aligns to my major, and overwhelmingly surprised that I am finally here in the UN! Few years ago, we were just watching over the internet for updates, talking about these issues over our handbooks, and I can’t believe I am now on a window beside the “Government’s Village” and understand what is happening – hearing all the information first-hand!

Immigration historical timeline was presented, biblical analysis were discussed, true stories were heard, and we had all the fun through the collaborative learning. It furtherly went to a hype and say it all that these things are “Real” as we had a chance to visit the Tenements and MOCA Museums and finally the United Nations per se. The feeling of being on these premises is totally different and defying!

But alongside the wonders and excitement I share, are realities painfully exposed. As to what have caused some people to do these conditions are more than their preferences. They were forced and have no choices! All of them affected yearns for peace and safety, belongingness, security and stability – a life that is moving forward. On one hand, this is what happens when governments of our own do not BATTLE for the people’s welfare, instead doing an unbearable WAR.

More than the act of sending people to other places, are acts of forced migration leaving used –to-be places empty handed – believing that these places are not working for a true future for humanity. My heart is so much touched as to what is happening to Syrian War and all of the other state for the same circumstances where people are forced to leave. I believe that our states of our own work for what interests their citizens (battle), and not to leave them because if internal conflict people can’t control (war).

We heard about people enslaved, like the story of the African people in chains captivated by people coming not from their own place. But our modern times do otherwise. People of their own become internally displaced. Let me delve deeper to what the word War is defined here. It is a fight for rights, governments struggle for power – a mindset of superiority over states, a selfish ambition of political and resource interests and people are persecuted. And more than a state versus state clash, states obviously have political internal problems and becomes their priority.  Battle, on the other hand, is a good fight of security, a journey towards long-lasting peace, a friendly competition towards our citizens for personal economic and social stability – that is earning on trades (economy) and living community-relevant (social). When the former over takes the latter, it’s the people who are being victimized.

Through these internal conflicts we cannot bear, nothing is more just on doing justice to our friends in need. Let us be one of the few who transit these refugees, welcome them into places of solace, treat them not with deprivation but with justice, and share with them a community that ignites people from rough journeys. As a faith community, let us continue to welcome people in our homes, and treat them with the love we do in our own families. Let us love them like the foreigners in Egypt (Lev. 19:33-34).

May our battle will always help the sojourners, strangers and the homeless. May we fight a good fight of combating justice by feeding the hungry, clothing the naked and healing the sick. And may we not join a war of imperil that were only for inequalities and greed. 

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Kevin John Maddela
EYA Intern Summer 2017

Blog #5