Accepting Quote by Martin Schulz
“We all have to accept accusations that we ignored the refugee crisis for far too long. The first time that I referred to the Mediterranean Sea as Europe's cemetery was in October 2013, when hundreds of people drowned off Lampedusa. Italians, Maltese, Greeks and Spaniards have been pleading for help for years. But nobody cared.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: European Parliament Address, 2015
Neglect of the refugee crisis caused suffering; acknowledging past failures is essential for humane policy.
In simple terms: Ignoring refugees caused suffering; admit past failures.
Key Takeaway
Advocate compassionate refugee policies.
Themes
human rights
political responsibility
migration
Mood
urgent
empathetic
Type
political
humanitarian
When to use this quote
- government decisions
- NGO advocacy
- public awareness campaigns
Key Concepts
ethics
policy analysis
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies better respond?
- What lessons can prevent future neglect?
A Different Perspective
Political will often stalls action.
![“Disengagement is a response to certain demographic realities, .. Within a few years, due to the higher Arab birth rate, Jews will become a minority in the area between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. I don't want [Israel] to be South Africa because we don't believe in apartheid. We…” quote by Ehud Olmert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c3e/ehud-olmert-2898_apartheid_disengagement-is-a-response-to-certain-d_646752.jpg)
![“[God] dispenses his goodness not with an eyedropper but a fire hydrant. Your heart is a Dixie cup, and his grace is the Mediterranean Sea. You simply can’t contain it all. So let it bubble over. Spill out. Pour forth. ‘Freely you have received, freely give’ (Matt. 10:8 NIV).” quote by Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8c0/max-lucado-190_grace_god-dispenses-his-goodness-not-with-an-e_1103588.jpg)
