Perhaps the best reason for running for US Congress was given by Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, the first refugee ever elected to Congress; “I did not expect to come to the United States and go to school with kids who were worried about food as much as I was worried about it in a refugee camp.” Unfortunately, that is the state of the economy for many people in developed countries as well as the developing ones. Which portrays the confusing state of our world. What makes it even more perplexing is the fact that so many politicians seem to be totally disconnected from this reality and cannot even relate to it. This Escherian duality and parallel and disjointed veracity feeds the fires of discontent and restlessness.
M.C. Escher was an artist and philosopher who marveled at the possibilities of the duality of the world, and of life itself. He believed that there is an opposite to everything and every situation. That while one person may live in total chaos and gloom another can live in the same world and under the same situation and circumstances but be totally content and happy. So it is that people are often caught in the ironic situation of being represented by those who cannot fathom their predicament or understand it. Whether it’s the inability to find food, medicine, proper healthcare, or shelter - no matter the place - the end result is suffering. Yet, through the use of the internet, one can see the availability of all that is out of reach. Making the job of the healthcare providers evermore difficult is the fact that even when medical care is available, it is often too costly for many. Which brings us back to the confusing state of today's politics. The new elections in America and around the world (like Brazil) are giving new hope to people on one side of the spectrum, while making the other side upset, adding to the polarization. But the true reason is that with so much conflicting information, most people don't even understand the issues and are just taking sides. If we are to truly appreciate the predicament of people in the many camps around the world, we must first be aware of it in our own society. Then perhaps we can understand the plight of others. And here is where refugees, like Ilhan Omar can teach us a lot!
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