Sunday, September 04, 2005

Vocabulary Lesson

I was taught, if you don’t know the meaning of a word, look it up. Apparently, many journalists today have misplaced their dictionaries.

Refugee:

  1. One who flees in search of refuge, as in times of war, political oppression, or religious persecution.
  2. An individual seeking refuge or asylum; especially: an individual who has left his or her native country and is unwilling or unable to return to it because of persecution or fear of persecution (as because of race, religion, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion).
  3. An exile who flees for safety

Exile:

  1. Enforced removal from one's native country.
  2. Self-imposed absence from one's country.
  3. The condition or a period of living away from one's native country.
  4. One who lives away from one's native country, whether because of expulsion or voluntary absence.

The victims of hurricane Katrina are not refugees. They are not exiles. They are American citizens who have suffered from and will continue to suffer from the greatest natural disaster in this country’s history. Many, if not most, have lost their homes, possessions, and jobs. Too many have lost loved ones. They may be homeless. They may be evacuees. They have not left their country. They are not refugees. They are survivors and fellow citizens who need our help.

Please donate whatever you can. American Red Cross

No comments: