One more "refugee" article
I think this one is the best-balanced and researched one I've seen so far. I cite the exceptional bits:
Victims of what? A look at terms (St. Petersbug Times, 9-6-05)
At the advocacy group Human Rights Watch, officials agreed the term "refugee" wouldn't apply to hurricane victims under international law, because they are not fleeing persecution in another country. But they also were alarmed to note that some Americans saw the term itself as an insult.
"It's troubling that people see refugee status as being a second-class status, because it shouldn't be," said Iain Levine, program director at Human Rights Watch, which highlights human rights abuses worldwide. "If ever there was a reason to treat people well, surely it's because they're fleeing their homeland on the worry of being persecuted."
Victims of what? A look at terms (St. Petersbug Times, 9-6-05)
At the advocacy group Human Rights Watch, officials agreed the term "refugee" wouldn't apply to hurricane victims under international law, because they are not fleeing persecution in another country. But they also were alarmed to note that some Americans saw the term itself as an insult.
"It's troubling that people see refugee status as being a second-class status, because it shouldn't be," said Iain Levine, program director at Human Rights Watch, which highlights human rights abuses worldwide. "If ever there was a reason to treat people well, surely it's because they're fleeing their homeland on the worry of being persecuted."