A Message to Those Who Want to Stop Immigration in the West: Remember Your History
Once upon a time, Western colonization was the nightmare that cast its shadow over large parts of the world, especially in Africa. For many years, European countries like Britain, France, Spain, and Portugal invaded lands, plundered resources, and enslaved people. This dark era left behind only destruction and poverty for the countries of the Global South, while the Western countries thrived at the expense of others' suffering.
In Africa, the continent was divided without any respect for the existing cultures and societies. Millions of people were enslaved and transported to distant lands to work on farms and in mines that fed European economies. The continent's natural resources—gold, diamonds, and fertile lands—were extracted and drained mercilessly.
Now, after decades of exploitation and looting, the West faces a new wave of immigration and treats it as a threat. Some claim that this immigration is putting pressure on their resources and harming their economy. But isn't it fair to ask: Don't they remember their history?
How can Western countries, which built their wealth on the backs of their colonies and exploited people, close their doors today to those seeking a better chance at life? These migrants, for the most part, are fleeing wars, poverty, and disasters that were directly or indirectly caused by the legacy of colonization.
Refusing immigration and denying these people the opportunity to live with dignity is not only inhumane but also blatant hypocrisy. The West, which took so much from the world in the past, now refuses to give back any of that historical debt.
We cannot separate the present from the past. Those who want to stop immigration today must remember that the wealth the West enjoys today came at the expense of the countries it colonized. It is the responsibility of the West to bear this historical responsibility—not only by acknowledging what happened but also by contributing to the rebuilding of those countries that were destroyed by colonization.
My message to those who want to stop immigration or treat immigrants with racism: These people are not fleeing their homelands because they want to; they are being forced to. They are trying to escape the poverty that resulted from the plundering of their countries’ resources and from conflicts that were ignited by borders drawn by colonial powers without thought.
If you truly want justice and equality, stop spreading hatred against immigrants. Instead of building walls, work on building bridges that restore hope to these people. Know that what they are asking for is nothing more than their right to a dignified life, compensating for centuries of injustice and exploitation.
Let us all remember that humanity is shared, and the history of oppression should lead us toward a more just and tolerant future
In Africa, the continent was divided without any respect for the existing cultures and societies. Millions of people were enslaved and transported to distant lands to work on farms and in mines that fed European economies. The continent's natural resources—gold, diamonds, and fertile lands—were extracted and drained mercilessly.
Now, after decades of exploitation and looting, the West faces a new wave of immigration and treats it as a threat. Some claim that this immigration is putting pressure on their resources and harming their economy. But isn't it fair to ask: Don't they remember their history?
How can Western countries, which built their wealth on the backs of their colonies and exploited people, close their doors today to those seeking a better chance at life? These migrants, for the most part, are fleeing wars, poverty, and disasters that were directly or indirectly caused by the legacy of colonization.
Refusing immigration and denying these people the opportunity to live with dignity is not only inhumane but also blatant hypocrisy. The West, which took so much from the world in the past, now refuses to give back any of that historical debt.
We cannot separate the present from the past. Those who want to stop immigration today must remember that the wealth the West enjoys today came at the expense of the countries it colonized. It is the responsibility of the West to bear this historical responsibility—not only by acknowledging what happened but also by contributing to the rebuilding of those countries that were destroyed by colonization.
My message to those who want to stop immigration or treat immigrants with racism: These people are not fleeing their homelands because they want to; they are being forced to. They are trying to escape the poverty that resulted from the plundering of their countries’ resources and from conflicts that were ignited by borders drawn by colonial powers without thought.
If you truly want justice and equality, stop spreading hatred against immigrants. Instead of building walls, work on building bridges that restore hope to these people. Know that what they are asking for is nothing more than their right to a dignified life, compensating for centuries of injustice and exploitation.
Let us all remember that humanity is shared, and the history of oppression should lead us toward a more just and tolerant future
