Thread by @Memzers

To the People of East Wall, Dublin
With respect

I came to Ireland during the so called Celtic Tiger. I am a migrant worker. I have seen unimaginable monies made by a minority elite while during the richest times of this country many ordinary decent people barely got by. /1

I have seen homes sold for such amounts that many hard working folks couldn’t even dream of buying one. Those lucky enough to get a mortgage were signing away their lives and those who couldn’t were crippled by rents. /2

In the 21st century in one of the richest countries in the world homelessness had begun to emerge.

It was beyond heart breaking to see Rachel Peavoy, of 224 Shangan Road, Ballymun, Dublin 9, was found dead in her perilously cold flat on January 11, 2010. /3

Celtic Tiger had made the landlords a bigger landlord, the rich richer but the children of this nation were going to school with empty bellies. /4

This nation had suffered oppression, millions of deaths during famine and forced displacement where mother died never to see their sons and daughters that went abroad to escape poverty, hunger and death. /5

The children of this wonderfully resistant nation were labelled as drunks, trouble makers and even sub human in places where they went.

All they wanted was to build a life, work hard and live in dignity.
/6

But the richest of the modern day Irish rich wasn’t going to build an Ireland for all. The 1916 Proclamation that said “cherishing all the children of the nation equally and oblivious of the differences carefully fostered” was not going to be the case for children of today… /7

… never mind the children fleeing wars.

Men dressed in priest uniforms were to abuse children of this nation, a wound that bleeds till this day. /8

But, the hearth of the Irish nation was always big and beating always for the underdogs. Wherever that underdog might be. This nation was an underdog itself but one that fought and worked hard. /9

This nation was able to build homes in tens of thousands. But those at the top, the born bread white Irish elite had other plans for those Irish at the bottom. Long before the first refugees arrived.
/10

Banking crisis bailed out the bankers, housing crisis looks after the landlords. Those who run our society heartlessly walked passed those sleeping on pavements while they hoarded land and left 166000 homes vacant. /11

Migrants came to this country not to suck the social welfare dry but to work hard, live in dignity and give a change to their children.

The Irish history mirrors the refugees of today. /12

No one leaves home unless
home is the mouth of a shark
you only run for the border
when you see the whole city running as well

The wonderful words of Warsan Shire. /13

There never was a difference between a Nigerian or Syrian mother and an Irish mother. Worried about their babies. Not knowing where the next food will come.
/14

I lived in Germany as a migrant. Turkish, Polish and Irish men worked in all sorts of jobs together. Some are jobs that no one would like to do. Given the chance, these men, would shift mountains to earn a decent wage and look after their families. /15

Money earned in a foreign land would feed the children at home.

Hardship is the history of this nation. But so is decency and a big hearth in this heartless world.
/16

Millions of refugees became victims of wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa etc. Palestinians lost their land, couldn’t grow potato anymore, fishing in their waters was a death penalty. /17

Men, who were ordinary farmers, builders, doctors, you name it, men who went on about their lives, suddenly felt the bombs dropping on their families. Their children were starving to death, their wives being raped.
/18

“home was now the mouth of a shark”. Life was collapsing all around them. Millions were dying. Journeys of hope, forced displacements are not easy or simple. What may not have killed your children may kill them on the roads to an unknown. /19

Men, in desperation left homes, but not just men, women, mothers and children. Men, who had no plans or even knew about where Dublin was, frontiered the search for a safe life. With the hope to see their youngsters again, as a proud father that can provide life.
/20

Millions didn’t go further than the first safe place. The closer it is where you are a refugee,the stronger is your hope of return.The less alien you are.Poorest countries are having more than 70% of all refugees globally. And some,black,white,brown,young-old came to Ireland. /21

Not to take the disused office buildings in East Wall. Not to end up on the floors of a place that cannot be a home to anyone. But to live.

The Irish landlords are evicting Irish tenants. The Irish rulers don’t care about their own kind. /22

Refugees flee bombs, the Irish stuck in a viscous cycle.

When in despair all we need sometimes is a hand or a shoulder. No matter what colour the hand is. A white hand pulling a black one from the shark’s mouth or vice versa. /23

When in despair, all w need sometimes is our brothers and sisters, no matter where they came from.

There are those who want us to fear each other, rather than wrapping out arms around each other and say who is it that makes our lives so miserable. /24

Even if all black-men refugees were sent back, there wouldn’t be homes for Irish families. You wouldn’t wish it on your enemy, where the refugees are staying.

They didn’t come here to cause trouble and endanger anyone. They came to live and build lives for their loved ones. /25

Like many millions of Irish. Like those who escaped famine, mourning their deaths and the loved ones left behind, but still getting up every morning and staying alive.
/26

No anger, no disappointment with the housing crisis and those making it worse will be sorted by looking at those in need, and shouting “Get them out”. /27

I hope we can all look at our fellow human beings as our brothers abs sisters. Together we can ask the hard question such as why we must compete for a warm house or wait on hospital queues for many hours.
/28

I hope together we can build homes and house all. Not one child, women and men left behind.

Together, without the hate and fear injected in our hearts by those who really don’t care about the homeless, I hope we can chant
/29

Homes for all. Homes for all.
One race, human race…

Because #IrelandisFull Full of love and empty homes /30