Applauding Refugee Resiliance

As Boston sloughs winter, its streets fill with athletes logging the final miles for the spring running of the Boston Marathon. This year marks the 115^th annual race, which boasts a history much in line with the changing dynamic of life in the United States.

At the race’s inception, it was merely a local event, attracting a homogenous crowd of runners. Over the years, the race has grown in popularity and notoriety, becoming one of the worlds’ most recognized marathons. Owning a coveted race bib holds a great sense of accomplishment for runners from Boston to places as far reaching as Ethiopia or Mongolia. The field is composed of a hodge-podge of athletes from across the globe, a diverse event joining individuals from many nations with a single goal: to finish, and finish strong.

‘Marathon Monday’ is a celebration of human resiliency, the ability to rise, overcome physical limitations, and push oneself to new, physical (and mental) limits. The marathon is also a celebration of cultural diversity, during the event it does not matter what passport you hold, language you speak, where you were born—all that matters is how fast can you run?

For the world’s 25million refugees, everyday is ‘Marathon Monday,’ minus the crowds, the celebrations, or pomp and circumstance. Yet, the refugee experience is no less grueling, requiring more resiliency and dedication than shown by the fastest marathon runners.

Often, the cultural diversity attained through refugee resettlement is not openly celebrated. It still matters what passport they hold, language they speak, place they were born. Lost is the realization of, these things aside, all that truly matters is how much can we—all of us—do within our individual, contextual situations?

This display of the personal, human desire to overcome odds and accomplish great feats exists within each refugee. It, too, deserves celebration.

So, to the countless million refugees worldwide, today—and everyday—we applaud you.

Dani Grisby, MIRA Intern and marathoner, contributed to this post.