So, what has changed in the year since Alan Kurdi’s lifeless body was removed from a Turkish beach? A three year old victim of the crisis in Syria which has so far claimed half a million lives, representing some 12% of the entire population. What did we do? Our politicians decided, in their infinite lack of wisdom that 3000 unaccompanied child refugees, like Alan Kurdi, were not welcome here. In fact, both main political parties have acted as if nothing was happening at all. Talk about a civilised society. It doesn’t feel like one.
I honestly thought the sight of a dead three year old would be a game-changer. I know enough people who were able to use their imagination and, in their mind’s eye for one fleeting moment, look upon Alan as being their own child. After all, he had no say in his birth, no influence over the religion chosen for him by his family (like children all over the world), no say in where he lived and, worst of all, where he died.
Our response? The repulsive sight of Nigel Farage’s gurning face in front of a poster of desperate refugees, the likes of Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Michael Gove and – surprise, surprise! – Iain Duncan Smith showing their compassion by voting against taking any of these children in to our country, effectively spitting in the faces of desperate refugee children. To be fair to Duncan Smith, and I hate to be fair to Duncan Smith, he at least is consistent in his uncaring attitude to the most vulnerable people in society, having attacked the sick and disabled ever since he entered government. (He is a devout bible basher. I so wish there was a hell for him to go to.)
I don’t know if you have ever heard of Kindertransport but in World War Two, young children were brought to Britain from Nazi-controlled Europe. Our fathers and grandfathers thought nothing of it. Can it be that a generation or two on we have completely lost our compassion and humanity? I am not so sure about that.
What are we so scared of? The colour of refugees or perhaps the religion? In this day and age? Really? I am afraid that even in these so called enlightened times there remains a little concern about both, particularly the latter. I am no admirer of any religion, least of all islam, but look, we are talking about children here, not psychopathic islamist terrorists. By developing a more inclusive and open society underpinned by secularism, we can work towards dealing with our differences in a sensible, peaceful manner. We do not have to wait to do this: we can start today.
Alan Kurdi would be four years old today but in the year that has passed since his unnecessary death, much of the world has learned nothing and quite possibly forgotten a lot of things too, like compassion and humanity. Did he really die for nothing?
