Through working with NICE, I have learned a few very valuable lessons. First, I have been re-affirmed in my stance for immigrants. I have worked with immigrants in the past and have always been an advocate. This was, however, my first time working with refugees. These people escaped situations that we can only imagine – we never have experienced ourselves. They come from a background that allows them to truly appreciate the world we live in – the world that we so carelessly take for granted. Working with NICE, and I would argue any volunteer organization that works closely with those in need, helps us to understand what we have and why we should give thanks regularly for the life we’ve been given.
Another aspect that working closely with NICE has re-affirmed within me is the fact that immigrants and refugees are people too. Unfortunately, we live in a society that is currently amidst a heated debate over whether we should allow these people into our country or not. Honestly, sometimes I want to scream. The fact that some, not all, Americans think this way just absolutely infuriates me! The lack of humanity in some of the people arguing against helping immigrants completely baffles me. They truly don’t see these people as human beings. They see them as a threat or just a statistic.I wish these people arguing against refugees could see what we have seen – even if it’s just a fraction. If they did, they would completely change their tune. They would realize how ignorant they sound – how bigoted they sound. I still can’t believe that in 2015, this type of dialogue is happening. Just the other day, Donald Trump, the LEADING GOP candidate, made a statement about how we should block all Muslims from entering this country! Seriously, how can someone in 2015 make that statement – and even more infuriating is the fact that people support him.
Now, I know this portion of the portfolio is supposed to be about us reflecting on the experience of this course, which, to some degree, I am. But, I just wanted to speak on a current issue that, through working with NICE, has completely educated me to the point where I can eloquently and respectfully have a conversation with someone and enlighten them – not just on facts that I have read on the internet, but statistics and real-life experiences that I have learned about by working with refugees – the people everyone is so scared of right now. I think the fact that we went through this class when we did prepared us to be absolutely authoritative when it comes to this topic. Thank you Dr. Overall!