2. “I am not a number, I am a human being”

It was 4 am in the morning, the flashing lights and siren of the police car cut through the night’s darkness. It was followed by a large bus, the doors opened and, one by one, the faces of several young boys, an adult and a young girl appeared. The ten of them were from Eritrea. Their faces showed tiredness, and suspicion. 

The uniformed policemen created an atmosphere of tension.  The cultural mediator that accompanied them on the bus introduced them (they had already taken another 20 refugees in two other refugee centers) and speaking to them in Arabic he explained that they would be staying with us and he would be in contact them.

 
Once the police were gone, they began to relax somewhat, they looked in the mirror almost as if they

 were coming to the realization that they were alive, they splashed cool water on their faces, after days of only being able to use seawater. They took deep breaths as if they were just comprehending the terrific dangers they had survived during these past weeks.

One of them looked at his wrist and seeing the identification bracelet, ripped it off and threw it away. A simple gesture, but of great significance, and in the same way two others did the same. This young man who fled Eritrea in order to escape from a authoritarian government, and had risked his life for liberty, was breaking his chains.

Some hours later, I came back to pick up that bracelet, which had the number: 4123 written on it. The other two bracelets had broken right at the number. I remembered Psalm 8 that talks of the miracles of God’s creation and speaking of man says: “You have crowned him with glory and honor.” The actions of those young men has remained etched on my heart, it was is if they has said the same thing: “I am not a number, I am a human being.”

Help us, Lord, to recognized the dignity that you have given to each human being. Give us the strength  so that, together, we can break asunder all types of chains that wish to strip us of that dignity.

• To know a little more about the reality of Eritrea

To pray with Psalm 8 offering it for all the people that find themselves left in conditions without dignity. 

What do you think about this experience? Share your comments.

(The original was published in spanish 1st of july 2014)