Working with NICE has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my collegiate career. To see someone passionate about a cause is inspiring, to see a group of people passionate about a cause is awe-inspiring, and to see a group of people dedicate their careers and their livelihood to that cause is truly extraordinary. The sheer impact NICE has on the lives of refugees is just that - “extraordinary.”
Our current refugee crisis is not one based in politics, socio-economics, or militarical concern. No, the refugee crisis is an empathy crisis. To govern our borders with a sense of false-bravado and patriotic decree as if our adolescent democracy is some pre-Pangaea aristocracy is simply foolish. In what is our collective perspective based? Our borders, all borders, are simply man-made constructs perpetuated by centuries-old synthetic paradigms. So, in what do we base the right to even declare borders, let alone defend them in the name of freedom? Do we define these, too, as innate or inalienable?
Perhaps if we were to allow ourselves, for just an instant, to see beyond our star-spangled filter we could recognize that we are not simply citizens of the United States, but citizens of the world. Perhaps if we dedicated our time, and our efforts, to not just benefit, but elevate our fellow global citizens there would be such little disparity in echelon that the grass would no longer appear to be greener on the other side, but rather just as green.
Sure, it may be difficult at times. The simple debaucheries that are so pervasive in our nature poise the biggest threat to this idealistic, utopian system. But, if everyone did things for the benefits of others, rather than for the benefit of themselves, would not horrifically selfish acts such as terrorism stand in such stark contrast to the every day life that they would be so anomalous as to discourage one from partaking? Would the communal enticement gangs and terrorist organizations use to lure their members be so tantalizing if a global community existed in its stead? I would think not.
My perspective, my passion, my empathy, is due large in part to my time spent at NICE, as well as through the assignments done as a part of the service-learning component of this class. I have volunteered, I have spoken to refugees, I have seen the children of those impacted, I have helped to buy groceries and set up apartments for those coming here, I have helped to better the lives of my fellow global citizens. And it didn’t take me more than 8 hours. I have written grants, and profiles, not solely for collegiate evaluation, but to help an understaffed non-profit desperately trying to help others with what they have. What a remarkable world we would have if every collegiate institution said, “Let’s do work to not only better ourselves, but to better others.”
Wouldn’t that be extraordinary?