We can all be refugees

The United Nations' definition of refugee:  A refugee is a person who owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country.

We can all be refugees.  It doesn't matter how much money you have, or how educated you are, or if you've ever committed a crime, or if you're a good person, etc.  It's tough to imagine from a US mindset, because we believe in our judicial system, the government's power to protect us, and our freedom.  But, a group could come to power and seek to eradicate all opposition.  Those who oppose are forced to agree, die or flee.

Or someone could pick a spouse that their family doesn't agree with.  The family threatens, and takes, violent action against the couple.

Someone could change religions, and their previous religion could persecute them.

Someone could live a lifestyle that their family, community, state and government don't agree with, and the individual's rights are no longer protected.

Someone could have harsh opinions about the government, or those in power, and be persecuted for them.

In each of the situations the person is forced to flee and go to a different country.  But what if you have to go to Mexico, but you don't speak Spanish?  You might go to Canada and be able to speak English, but you don't have a work permit and local law doesn't allow you to work without a permit.  Not to mention you would be competing will all the other people who fled for what small jobs you could find.  On top of all of this, if you had kids, how would you provide for them?  How would you feed them?  Local schools in the country you fled probably will not allow non-citizen children to attend their schools.  Where do you sleep?  What do you eat?  How do you earn money?  Where do you hope to move after?  How do you start your life again?

This the situation of most refugees.

We can all be refugees.  It's tough to comprehend for those of us fortunate enough to be born in a country that protects our rights and freedoms, but it's true.