In the advent of war: Steem and refugees

"It is time to go."

I once wrote a post questioning at what point would someone leave their home, their business, their family in order to escape a terrible situation. Why did so many Jews stay so long in Nazi Germany, why didn't they leave when they had a chance? It is something no one need or should ever experience yet, due to the greed and cruelty of humanity, war is an inevitability and, as difficult as the choice is, the consequences must be lived with, or died with.

The thing that stops people leaving sooner is their attachment to what the have and what they will lose if they flee. People have lives they have built, friends and family but, it is also all of the material items collected and, all of the hard work invested. How can one just give it up?

This is something I have thought about a great deal considering the childhood my father had needing to run and hide from the Japanese in Malaysia, watching the various refugee crises over the years and experiencing a little directly as those fleeing and seeking shelter appeared in Europe.

People commented about the burden they would put on the economy, turned away from gates, beaten, locked out, downcast. It is a complicated issue because of culture but, compassion tells me it is simple. Foresight tells me I must be prepared.

The world is becoming more geopolitically volatile and the economies more prone to collapse through various complexities. In many respects, one drives the other and when one breaks the other follows and violence begins. I am not planning on making the mistakes of the past and as hard as it would be, I would leave.

But, with what?

This is something that people rarely if ever have considered with Steem and the Steem community that backs it. When shit hits the fan in one location, a group of Steemians can not only drop what they have and run, there will be others that can support them. Not just by changing a profile picture in 'solidarity' but directly along their journey, their escape route, with the financial aid they require. Lives are likely to be saved this way, just has they are being supported in some of the poorest nations already.

Immediate and instant access to a network of people globally who can transfer funds in 3 seconds, upvote posts for continued support and do what they can to offer or find shelter is a resource worth more than gold. Much more as, it doesn't need to be carried, just a private key and an internet connection will be do.

Yet, there are other factors that will follow than the immediate needs of a refugee and that is the ongoing needs of an immigrant, one who is potentially unwanted. For those who have developed a network, built a following, worked toward their investment and powered up some; the business continues.

Decentralization shines brightly when a business can become borderless and is no longer tied to any particular currency, it can purchase all. And when that business has a clientele, a community already willing to travel with it, there is a chance that one can survive, one can get access to food, shelter or maybe even bribe a border guard if necessary.

From an arrival country perspective, the refugee that can carry wealth with them to help carry their way is one that is valuable and, in the long-term , one that is likely to have more success integrating into the society. The other thing is that the wealth is residual and can keep coming which makes theft of it less of a problem as from a country perspective, it is an immediate tax payer.

My goal is to prepare now for the coming future and give my family the best opportunity and at the moment, I see that as being through Steem. The chance to live a better life, do more of the work I want, enjoy a little more space and stop having the debt collector letters drop trough the mailbox. To live off Steem or have a significant revenue stream for us and to help others is the focus.

But, if that worst case scenario happens, being decentralized, having stake, a wallet that transfers anywhere in the world and a community network at my back, I do not have to rely on the graces of a government to the same degree, I do not have say and hope with fingers crossed, I can be a first mover and perhaps, even help others too.

I hope that it is never needed for anyone but, I feel that the time is coming that the relevancy and personal importance of having a wallet that travels is going to become an all too common reality for far too many people. It is something for me to think about and gives me a contingency that many don't have but I wish they did. Our ability to move economically freely takes a great deal of power away from those who would abuse our inability to transfer wealth.

Perhaps if those who died in death camps had the same opportunity to diversify their wealth and carry more, easily, less would have lost their lives to tyrants and dictators and more would have been able to teach the importance of learning about freedom.

My father was a little boy but, my Grandfather was postmaster of the post office and part of a network to help escaped POWs get out of Malaysia while it was occupied. Their neighbors were caught and beheaded in the town square after being discovered. The entire family. It didn't stop my Grandfather doing what he did.

You never know when your life may be in the hands of a strangers willingness to risk what they have for you. Even though they never would meet, my grandfather understood what it is to be part of a community and taught it to my father. Responsibility.

One day, my life may be in your hands or yours in mine. I hope not yet, the possibility exists.

"It is time to stay."

Taraz
[ a Steemit original ]