To be a citizen in a place is to be legally accepted as belonging, and to have the rights, priviledges, and protections that naturally follow. It also means that one has the duty to contribute and participate for the betterment and good of this place.

The definition of citizenship for refugees in Greece is difficult to define as there are so many and they are arriving from so many different lands. They've left their homes where they'd been citizens and come to a place where they are not. Entering the country, most cannot speak Greek which immediately impedes their abitlity to acclimate and contribute as a true citizen might. This is why, as the video suggested, it is so important to provide assistance and education to these refugees so that they will be able to feel an allegience and a belonging in their new "home". I felt bad for the one young man who said the "white Greeks" laughed at him when he attended their school, and he ultimately had to attend the multicultural school instead. Yet I also see benefits in his attending the multicultural school. At least there the Greeks are trying to provide an education in the mother tongues of these refugees as well as teaching the Greek alphabet. For to truly feel a sense of belonging in a place you must be able to communicate, even if only to obtain basic needs. By learning the language, the refugees are one step closer to truly forming a sense of belonging in their new home. Unfortunately, this is only happening on the mainland of Greece. The islands still hold many refugees who are not being provided this opportunity as of yet.

This is similar to the refugees in the United States, as there are many who cannot speak English, and while many are attending school, they are doing poorly. I think the need for an education that is multilingual is a step toward forming a bridge that will eventually help them better acclimate to life in this country and become a productive citizen. When one feels as though they belong, are provided education, and are represented in the political realm, they are well on their way to becoming productive citizens. 

I commend the Greeks for taking in so many refugees and respect their committment to providing as many resources toward assisting them as they have, but also understand how difficult this kindness has become for them. Given their own financial crisis, assistance from other sources must also be made available to continue to assist the refugees there. The same can be said for the United States in that there are areas that are welcoming refugees, as in the "sanctuary cities" that have been talked about in the news lately. Even so, I do agree with the article that stated we must be a bit selective in whom we give admission, so as to have those who are able to contribute to our country in both their skill set and educational level as well as to our tax base to provide needed services such as social security and medicare and not simply strap it even further.

Perhaps the term global citizenship is the definition that citizenship in our current world needs to adopt and practice.