Response to VR

The biggest “wow” moment for me was in the video “Syrians Trapped by War” when Mashallah was telling her story of her experiences with the war and her emotions at the time. Her story alone would have been compelling and probably still would have been my “wow” moment but seeing it in VR only amplified my experience and made it all the more moving. Being able to get a good sense of the world that she lives in and imagining how different her setting and home would have been if not for the war was really moving. I think that VR is the best way to see these stories about refugees because no one can know how it feels to be in their shoes unless they are in the same situation. No one that’s not a refugee could ever comprehend having to pick up everything and leave their home but VR allows you to come as close as possible to putting you in their shoes. By being able to turn around and visualize more of the world refugees live in, the viewer can get a full sense of the weight of their stories because they can see the sadness, and the struggle, and the perseverance of everyone in the area and not just the speaker.

My experiences with the VR

While watching the Virtual Reality videos of the refugees, I was really impacted. Unlike watching a movie, having the video be in virtual reality, I was able to get the feeling of being there with them. Having that experience, although I still am not able to feel empathy towards them because I have never experienced the things they have, I was able to feel a sense of compassion that allowed me to connect to their stories. Although I have never had to deal with adversity like the kids in the video, the video had me connecting to there stories on a level more than I would have thought. Having family members around the world, and knowing that they are going through things, that aren't as drastic, it allows me to connect more on an emotional level because of my relationship with my family. Also having seen what my family lives in compared to what I saw in the video, it made me appreciate the things I have and the people in my life because the video brought to light how things can be taken from you out of nowhere and you can't do anything to change that.

Paradoxical Refugee Paradise

The numbers of refugees are constantly growing and have been since this decade began. With almost 70 million forcibly displaced people around the world the number is only growing. Where does this line in the sand have to be drawn on how many refugees are allowed inside countries like the U.S and U.K? Although Trump suggests the number should be extremely low, many disagree. While I hope that Trump will continue to let people in who are seeking better lives for their people, I also agree that every single person from every war stricken country can not be let into the United States. There is a fine line between overpopulation and refusal to allow those seeking refuge asylum. President Trump has already reduced the number of those that could seek refuge into the United States to 45,000 in 2018, and has now recently capped the number at 30,000, an astoundingly low number. These people that are coming from nothing, from absolute sheer horror of the lives they once lived, need a place to go. Trump's rash unconceivable actions should not be upheld and should continue to be berated until this policy changes.

Virtual Reality is Reality

During my virtual reality experience, I chose to watch “Crossing the Line: Untold Stories of Refugees Stuck At The Border”. This video personally touched me because it included a story about refugees from Honduras. Over the last four years of my life, I’ve traveled to Honduras on a mission trip where we volunteer at a variety of orphanages and build relationships with the kids. Because I have this tie to Honduras, I felt a personal connection to these refugees because I have seen and heard about the poverty and injustice of their country.

The most striking aspect is how unwilling the United States is to welcome in the refugees who are coming from nothing, with hopes of a better life. Through my mission trip program, some children from the orphanages, once they turn 18, are given the opportunity to come to the United States and stay with a volunteer family while they attend college. I’ve always felt that this was an amazing opportunity that anyone should be able to receive, so I’m deeply saddened when I see that these refugees will not even be given citizenship, let alone an education and the means to excel in the country.