Exit West
Exit West by Mohsin Hamid was an interesting read. The story covers the journey of Saeed and Nadia as they flee their home country (never named) and travel to Greece, England, and finally California. Along the way, they meet unnamed characters that are helpful, such as a girl in Greece who helps them get to England. They travel by way of magic doors that instantly take them from one place to another.
While the concept isn't entirely new (Chronicles of Narnia, anyone?) Hamid includes something that is very modern and relevant: refugees. While Nadia and Saeed didn't have the easiest time--especially shortly after arriving in London--they weren't tear-gassed like migrants on the US-Mexico border.
It took time for Nadia and Saeed (along with their fellow door migrants) to get help from the natives, instead of being attacked. And that is exactly what needs to happen with the Honduran caravan. We need to help them. They're seeking asylum, which is a human right.
While the concept isn't entirely new (Chronicles of Narnia, anyone?) Hamid includes something that is very modern and relevant: refugees. While Nadia and Saeed didn't have the easiest time--especially shortly after arriving in London--they weren't tear-gassed like migrants on the US-Mexico border.
It took time for Nadia and Saeed (along with their fellow door migrants) to get help from the natives, instead of being attacked. And that is exactly what needs to happen with the Honduran caravan. We need to help them. They're seeking asylum, which is a human right.
I wish magical doors were real. I agree that we need to help the migrants in the Honduran caravan, they deserve the right to seek asylum.
ReplyDeleteIt's scary the lack of value some people see in human rights. I wonder where the basic respect for human life comes into play for the policy makers of this country? Does it stop with outsiders? Or is there a possibility that maybe they don't have any respect for human rights whatsoever? It's disgusting to see humans exercising their basic rights and being attacked for doing so. I think any rational person who was in the shoes of a migrant would do exactly what they're trying to do.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Cynthia - those Honduran's need a magic door.
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