Reaction of the video Well-founded Fear Documentary - Essay Example

Anthropology, Essay Topic: Reaction of the video "Well-founded Fear Documentary" “Well-founded Fear Documentary,” throws light on the tortuous experiences of the asylum seekers. For the asylum seeker, it is the situation of life or death and he/she is at the mercy of the decision makers, who have to weigh the pros and cons of a variety of cross-interests, to the extent that often they sidetrack the main issue that they are dealing with a human being in a perilous situation. From the technical aspects, Camerini and Robertson, who screened the film at six INS offices, have done a perfect job.

An arduous responsibility has been represented faithfully and respectfully. Those working in the offices are in a high-stress environment. The impact of the documentary created ripples in the mindset of the administrators of asylum issues and some of them ordered its compulsory viewing for their staff members. I think that it is a good administrative move towards experiencing the harsh realities the asylum seekers have to face. Legal and Advocacy Communities have found this documentary invaluable for furthering their cause and they have incorporated viewing of the movie into their programs of in-service trainings.

The political and ethical issues raised in the film are highly relevant. Immigration advocates have found this an invaluable asset to advances their cause. This documentary has been a hit also with the general audiences. It has made a deep impact in over a million households in America and educated them in detail about the complicated asylum and refugee issues. The real-life stories provide a human face on abstract issues. Viewers experience the inner compulsions to express opinions. In brief, this documentary has ushered in a mini social revolution and initiated a conversation and a national debate.

Thanks to the technological innovations, the message of this documentary has reached all over the world and has created a long-term impact on the market-driven society. Scorning refugees from other countries and sending them back, is as good as awarding them with death sentence in some cases. Politics devoid of compassion is an unethical policy. In some countries asylum seekers are detained in awful conditions. Each asylum seeker wishes to live peacefully and he is seeking asylum due to adverse conditions in his place of birth.

The documentary vividly describes why it is necessary to give people a fair go and permit them to seek refugee status and support human rights. Asylum seeking process should not be a war of persecution. As members of the global community, the immigration authorities have a responsibility towards asylum seekers and they must contribute to the well-being of the individual in distress. Each one, irrespective of creed or religion, has the right to live free from persecution. “Well-founded Fear Documentary” cites cases wherein such people were not given that chance.

The plight of the asylum seekers in America can be judged from the fact that on an average, the percentage of those who are admitted as refugees is 0.5. Legally, any foreign citizen who is able to enter America is eligible to apply for refugee protection in the form of political asylum. All such cases for asylum are taken care of by the Immigration and Naturalization Service. (INS)American ideals about human rights are put to test in the real-life scenario behind the doors of the asylum office.

The authorities face the tough task of unearthing the truth about the status of the asylum seeker. Those who come into the scene are the asylum seekers, translators, lawyers, legitimate refugees looking forward for protection and the process of confidential interviews goes on unabated. The documentary has taken up the broad conglomeration of asylum seekers from countries like China, France, Russia, Romania, Nigeria, and the challenge before the administrators to determine the validity of the claims.

In fine, the documentary is educative, explosive and provides rare hindsight on the subject of asylum and the current scenario on the subject.