Lampedusa

Looks
Text and photos by Paolo Poce

I arrived at Lampedusa on March 23, the same day the ship San Marco would begin to carry the Tunisian migrants in Italian shelters, and I said, let's see where they lead, we can not leave them under these conditions. The reception center already burst and began to be born the first tents on the hill overlooking the pier. As the hours go, however, the situation worsened visibly. Barges on barges exhausted men poured as rags worn by the current.
The speculation of the worst policy increased in parallel, instead of seeking solutions to ease the tension that was being created on the island, there have been the worst jackals that relying on people's fears of increased fears hidden some kind of disaster could cut down on their lives with the arrival of the Tunisians. And so you drew the invasion, the tsunami, the biblical exodus, the arrival of predators on "our" shores, which would bring disaster and crime across Europe. Closed borders. Tent City restrictive. Forced repatriation. Detention centers. These are the only answers of the West, civil, modern. On the hill, on the pier, around the country there were only them, the Tunisians, even many, but certainly too many for the size of the island, forced to stay there because it made the pressure on Europe stronger, because " politically " it was convenient that would create a"Lampedusa alarm".

Cross their eyes, lost just landed, hopefully when they were told that they would be brought to Sicily or Apulia, questioning when they asked if it would be simple to run away from the tent to reach siblings, friends, relatives or simply to continue to pursue the dream of living in an extensive television or the Web, which offers a completely different picture from what could be perceived from Milan or Rome or anyone who does not live those moments.

Many did not understand what was said, the cultural mediators were very few and the police did not speak even a little 'in French. Were spread on 'island rumors that terrified everyone, and they were looking for answers and reassurance from anyone who could give more information. And they did not understand why they were forced to live like this, how long had to endure and how it could end up.

In their eyes you could read the simplicity of their hopes, their fears for the future, the fatigue and weariness of life.
If all they could see what happened in those days, if everyone could look into the eyes of these "invaders," there would be less afraid, I am convinced.

And our eyes meet they would make us more human. And it happened, when many were trying to improve the accommodation of Lampedusa this shame, all Italian.

But the eyes and the look of these guys could become disillusioned and then harsh and violent if we continue to treat them in this way, but we should lower it and look for our lack of understanding, for our indifference, the cynicism of the institutions.