Through My Eyes

What has happened to humanity? Paris is a sad reminder how a segment of the globe has absolutely nothing to lose and is prepared to give up and destroy the most precious gifts of all: LIFE.

In 1981, my family too had chosen the migrant route. In the dead of night, and with just one suitcase, we ran from a changing regime in our country. We too did not have any passports or any idea where we were heading. All we knew is that the future in our country was uncertain and my parents wanted a better life for us, their children. Isn't that what every parent wants?

Well, I guess that is the debate. We see the new migrants arriving in Europe and we mainly see young men, strong and in the prime of their lives, yes occasionally we see the children and our hearts break but mainly it's the images of men marching through Europe. For most it is a scary sight.

When we reached the refugee camp in Austria we too were terrified. At the time we were fresh out of the Iron Curtain. None of us had done much travel outside the Eastern Block, we were not permitted to travel to the West and we were not very familiar with other cultures and customs and so, to our surprise, the migrants from Africa and the Middle East were kept in a separate enclosure, away from the European migrants.

I remember looking through the barbed wire fence to their section and seeing people who had given up on hope, people who had resigned their hopes and lived a sad, isolated existence. They were not friendly or kind and most people were scared of them.

We only spent a couple of days in the Refugee Camp in Traiskirchen, soon we were sent to a tiny village in Edlitz and spent the most amazing time with the Phfirer family. The kindness and compassion we were shown by the Austrian community is indescribable. They took us in as family and nurtured us with love and respect. We never felt like refugees.

In Edlitz we shared the Phfirer's gueshouse with other families from Poland and Hungary. Everyone was kind and grateful. Everyone was looking out for each other. We were on our best behaviour; there was never any pleasantries or violence.

In 1980's over a million Poles left Poland permanently. Through various refugee camps we spread around the globe searching for a better life. For everybody, it was a journey into the unknown, for us it was a journey of endless possibilities.

I cannot imagine what life is like for the migrants arriving in Europe today. It is a different set of rules and a whole new game. As the winter spreads its freeze over the landscape, the people of Africa and the Middle East have got to prepare for the fight of their life, a fight for survival.

Over 6000 migrants land in Europe each and every day. They arrive on the shores of hostility. They are met by people whose generosity and kindness has been exhausted, and so they start the great trek to reach prosperity under a dark cloud of Islamification and Terror. Their struggle is compounded by prejudice and fear.

There is not one day that I am not thankful, and as much as I recognise my good fortune and my new found home, I cannot help but feel the pain of all those who set out on the migrant path in search of a better life.

Now, I believe, is a great time to pray for peace, as dark clouds hang over Europe and all those that live there.