I posted an e-mail about Katrina to a particular e-mail list that I belong to, which is filled, predominantely with liberal minded people. I got some flack, mild, about my use of the word "refugee".
Well, I didn't know what else to call them. Evacuee, the word someone suggested would have been better, would have been fine if I had thought of it, and I've no real objection except it doesn't have the same sort of emotional pull that the word "refugee" has to me.
Refugee conjures up an image of someone who has had to flee with little or no possessions. It stirs up compassion and concern in me.
Someone posted a definition of the word from some dictionary, in which the implication was someone fleeing to another country.
So I did a dictionary search for the word, and found that its basic meaning was someone who flees. Then I googled it in case I was missing something that was going on in the USA and apparently I was. Because I found
this article, which discussed the reactions of many people to the world.
Apparently both Bush and Jesse Jackson are up in arms about it; Bush because he felt the word meant the victims of Katrina weren't as deserving of help, and Jesse Jackson because he saw it as a racist slur.
Other bloggers are talking about this (hey I had to find out).One blogger, Jen of Princesstoots , posted this letter, written by a woman named Miss Gordy, and I urge people to read it. It is an eyeopener.
It is, imho, the final word on the subject.
So, whatever word you use, as long as you are using it with love, what is most important is that these souls receive our prayers, and our support.
As Miss Gordy says:
On behalf of everyone affected by this storm, to the rest of our wonderful country, please stop laying blame and making issues where there are none just to have something to talk about. If you want to help, pray for us. Donate something. Smile at someone who is causing you more traffic than you are used to on your way to work tomorrow, because they don't know their way around your city.
Good advice in general, don't you think?
Posted by Rachel Ann at September 13, 2005 08:30 PM | TrackBack*smiles* I bookmarked your blog.
Posted by: Princesstoots at September 13, 2005 09:06 PMI could not possibly agree more with you and the lady you told us to read!! A voice of reason! Finally! But it is something most will never see, because it suits the purposes of some for their to be tensions between the races...I am sure you well understand!! Thanks for drawing my attention to that...I will be sure to share it!
Elizabeth
Refugee = Person seeking refuge. 'Nuff said.
Posted by: Jim at September 15, 2005 05:39 PM