Chapters 18-22: Family Discussion Reflection

Research

Jordan Opens Camp for Syrian Refugees talked about how Syrian civil war victims are increasingly moving to refugee camps for safety.  A new camp set up by the United Nations in Zaatari has accommodated 100,000 refugees so far.  It is estimated that it could take two months before a third camp can be opened, as the U.N. works to build roads and drill wells in the area.  This article connects to The Grapes of Wrath because just as the Joads and millions of other families moved to government camps during the Dust Bowl, Syrian refugees are seeking economic opportunities in their own camps.

Alpert, Emily. "Jordan Opens Second Camp for Syrian Refugees." Los Angeles Times. N.p., 10 Apr. 2013.

Web. 18 Dec. 2013. <http://articles.latimes.com/2013/apr/10/world/la-fg-wn-jordan-second-

camp-syrian-refugees-20130410>.

Philosophical Questions

      1.       At what point would it be worth leaving your home to go to a refugee camp?

      2.       Which is the biggest priority: creating refugee camps or fixing the unstable government?

      3.       Do we have an obligation to help refugees?

Reflection

The most memorable part of my conversation with my mom was when she talked about what conditions would call for migration to a refugee camp.  She mentioned natural disasters, such as earthquakes and floods, as well extreme violence, poverty, or simply absence of opportunities.  Something that surprised me in our conversation was when she said that it is more important to create refugee camps than to try and fix the government.  She argued that it takes a very long time to restore a government to a reasonable stage and that while this happens, refugee camps provide a quick, secure way to temporarily solve the problem.  This was something I has never considered, because I had always looked at long term, general solutions.  One way I could improve my questions for next discussion would be to connect them to another subject.  If my questions asked how the given topic relates to another, it might stimulate diversified answers.