Far be it for me to be politically correct, but I've heard different explanations about this. I've heard that the term "refugee" should be used for people that are fleeing to another country from political or religious purposes and that "evacuee" is more appopriate. I've also heard that "refugee" is simply a person taking refuge and that the literal meaning is appropriate. I've consulted Tom Petty on the situation, but he has yet to get back to me... Of course, there's always the term "displaced American"....
Hiya!! 1st to respond!!! LOL. Its all semantics to me... priority is to just help them people first ... then once everything is somewhat back to normal...then you can classify...if appropriate...
I was in the welfare office yesterday cleaning up a plumbing overload, and saw they had crossed out "refugee" on the aid forms and replaced it with "evacuee". Same through all the different forms on the wall. So...there you go. And don't flush baby wipes down the toilet.
I voted it doesn't matter. Mostly because if I were in that situation, it would be so far down on my list of things to be concerned about. I'd much rather have the media spending time and effort on telling people how to help than dissecting this kind of stuff. That said, I admit I probably don't have the perspective to fully appreciate the feeling of being abandoned by my country. So I guess that, while it doesn't matter to me, I could see how people would be bothered by it.
Jessie Jackson alledged that 'refugee' is a racist term. I wanted to slap him across the face. People seeking refuge from a devestated area harkens "refugee" to me. But maybe I'm missing something. Both should be appropriate. Or maybe I'll go with "displaced-citizens." Hopefully that's not an ethinic slur, too. Evan
It is evacuee dumbass... I keep hearing this and its crazy...its all media driven and demoralizing if you ask me...Carry on...
Instead of twisting a definition, lets review the definition of the terms and decide from there. ref·u·gee: One who flees in search of refuge, as in times of war, political oppression, or religious persecution. -fails definition an individual seeking refuge or asylum; especially : an individual who has left his or her native country and is unwilling or unable to return to it because of persecution or fear of persecution (as because of race, religion, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion) -fails definition an exile who flees for safety -fails definition e·vac·u·ee A person evacuated from a dangerous area. -passes definition a person who has been evacuated from a dangerous place-passes definition No need for a poll to decide this. Jesse Jackson is technically right, but his motives are wrong.
I think it is a sad commentary on our racially, economically, and politically divided country that we have found so much time to really debate this.
Evacuee makes it sound like what happened in New Orleans isn't really so bad. I can see the head of FEMA preferring this term. I can understand why people might be sensitive about being called a refugee, but it lends itself to the gravity of the situation. Evacuees are people who leave a building that's on fire; it's a mild term. The destruction of New Orleans isn't mild, and I think the vocabulary downplays it a bit.
a refugee is one one who seeks refuge.... an evacuee is one who evacuated... and a survivor is one who survived.... who cares what they are called ?? they are all the same. des it matter if they left new orleans and their house is still standing or they stayed in new orleans and they were rescued?
