P. A. Chacko
On this day, Holy Father Pope Francis gives the world the theme for 2023: ‘Free to choose whether to migrate or to stay.’
Many migrate due to various reasons: poverty caused by inclement weather, enviromental or ecological disaster, by neglect of governments or by economic colonialism. The spread of business industries causing people to be displaced and flee for refuge. Land grab by illegal means throws their owners into no man’s land. Cruel and authoritarian goverments pursuing the policy of ethic cleansing, religious fundamentalists persecuting minority communities, wars making people flee from their bombed shelters or homes, and so on.
The Pope reminds us of the Holy Family’s flight to Egypt to escape King Herod’s wanton killings and cruel rule. The Family had little choice.
The Bible describes also the slavery of Israelites in Egypt under cruel Pharaohs. Through their leader Moses God was said to intervene and free them. They wandered around looking for land. Finally, they settled in Canaan, chasing out the Canaanites. The Israelites justified their occupation as God’s wish.
Today their progeny, the Israelite nation, a one-time wandering refugee community, is at war with the Palestinians who settled in southern Canaan as their homeland.
The Israel- Palestinian conflict and Israel’s wanting to wipe out the Palestinians are considered by many as a blot on the conscience of humanity, a question mark about the efficacy of UN’s peace negotiations.
More than 135 United Nations member countries recognize Palestine as an independent state, but Israel and some other countries, including the United States, think otherwise.
The Jews who enjoyed riding on the wings of God’s mercy, when they were a wandering nation-less group in the Arab desert, need to understand that God is a God of fair deal and that they too should deal with others justly.
The Pope calls on all people, all nations, national and world organizations “to make every effort to halt the arms race, economic colonialism, the plundering of other people’s resources and the devastation of our common home.”
Migrants and and refugees do not choose their plight as godsend. Rather, they are victims of a cruel world set up.
Men and women of conscience should wake up and call into question this cruelty to humanity.
