I too have helped turtles cross the road. I care about animals and people. I am empathetic and compassionate. I hate the mess that has been made of this planet. Have you ever helped a turtle cross the road only for the turtle to become confused and try to go back out onto the road. I have, it is frustrating. Oh, your picture is of a tortoise. I have tried to save them too. Sometimes it works, I think, you can’t know what happens after you leave.
I have seen the pictures of the drown migrants, I did not cry when I saw them they did not move me to tears. It is not like I don’t care but I don’t have a closeness to them to move me to tears. About 60 million people die every year and a quarter of them are under 50 years old. Many died more horrible and painful deaths that those in the photos. From your story “The UN estimated in 2016 that 400-thousand people had been killed so far in the Syrian Civil War.” You mentioned all the suffering that causes people to migrate. I feel more compassion for those that stay at home and try to make a life instead of making a foolish trip to some golden promise land.
In the cases you mentioned once in Turkey or Mexico, why go farther, they had gotten to safety why risk more. I do think we should accept refugees and asylum seekers but only those from the most desperate of circumstances not every persecuted person on the planet.
What makes the people who make it to our border more worthy than others? Shouldn’t we seek out those in greatest need instead of waiting for them to come to us. Those that come to us have at least the resources and strength to make the trip so in a way that should disqualify them, their need is not great enough.
Be glad you still have tears to shed for migrants, the ravages of the world destroying itself has consumed all my tears.
One of the other responses said “We will save our compassion for our families, our tribes, our society.” They may be right maybe I am saving my compassion for my friends and family, they may be all I can save, the future looks bleak.
TEK
