Another human rights issue has become a political battleground, but what should we really do?
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I have to admit that when I first heard eight governors refused to accept Syrian refugees here in the United States, I was horrified. It sounded so cold, especially after seeing images of young families with small children walking across the European terrain.
I couldn’t imagine being a foreigner in a strange country with my two daughters at that age, unable to feed them. I witnessed outright cruelty from heartless human beings. One camerawoman even tripped a father carrying his young child as they ran from police, looking for safety. Who does that?
And then Paris was attacked.
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More innocent lives were taken by more heartless people, but this time with guns, bombs and an evil ideology. It appears that one of the attackers was a Syrian refugee, or least posing as one with a fake ID and going by the name “Ahmad Almohammad.” This was a game-changer for first eight, and now 31 U.S. governors who have made it clear that Syrian refugees are not welcome in their states. Presidential hopeful, Donald Trump, called the refugees a “Trojan Horse.”
Even as a passionate liberal I agree that we can’t be stupid when it comes to national security. I certainly don’t want to put my own family in unnecessary danger.
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I get it. Even as a passionate liberal I agree that we can’t be stupid when it comes to national security. I certainly don’t want to put my own family in unnecessary danger. So while it may seem cold to keep the Syrian refugees out of the country, perhaps it is in the best interest of the nation.
After all, life is hard enough, right? School shootings, mall shootings, rogue cops overusing their authority and weapons. Where do we draw the line when it comes to violence? Where do we draw the line when it comes to the risk of violence?
The Paris attacks have made me ask myself what I truly value. What message do I want my own children to take away from all of this? What kind of world do I want to leave them with? When I break down the troubles in the Middle East to every day life, I find a lot more life lessons than just the battle between good and evil.
I spent the first half of my life living in fear. I voted for what I was against rather than what I was for. I lived in fear that “those people” would have rights undermining our country, or “they” would behave in a way that would eat at the moral fabric of society. I believed that there was a God just waiting to destroy us because we let people do what I considered immoral acts. By thinking about people as “others,” I disconnected my humanity from theirs.
I don’t want to be remembered for what I was against, but what I was for. The reality is that risking loving other people is always uncertain.
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I’m done with that part of my life. I don’t want to be remembered for what I was against, but what I was for. The reality is that risking loving other people is always uncertain. Whether it’s a lover or a refugee, there is no guarantee that they will love us back. There is no guarantee that the person we love isn’t a dangerous killer. The nightly news in almost every town bears that out. Whatever you missed on the evening news you are sure to catch on Dateline. Love can be dangerous, risky and outright irresponsible.
We have lured ourselves into a false sense of security. We sleep at night believing that terrorist attacks happen “over there.” The Paris attacks hit more closely to home because we can identify with another first world nation doing first world things. But like control, security is an illusion.
Every time we get out of bed, we put ourselves at risk. Every time my daughters go to school I have no more of a guarantee they will come home than the parents did at Columbine, or Sandy Hook. In some sense, I’ve determined that it’s worth risking their lives for them to get an education. The reality is that we choose to take risks to have any quality of life.
When I gave up my life of fear, and stopped fighting against things, I chose to live in uncertainty. I risked being rejected. I risked being humiliated. I risked going unloved. In some places, I’ve risked my very life. I value humanity, kindness and compassion over fear. In spite of how I sometimes feel, I choose to love and I choose to identify with other human beings as my equals, regardless of social class, race, economic status, nationality or religion. We may not share the same ideologies or beliefs, but we share the same need for love, connection and validation.
No doubt there is a possible threat that by allowing Syrian refugees into our country, we are bringing in criminals and terrorists. So do we turn our backs on thousands of children and families because of what could possibly happen? This has always been a threat and yet we are a nation of immigrants and refugees.
This time – like African Americans and civil rights, women and voting rights, LGBT people and marriage rights – Syrian PEOPLE are fodder for discussion and political volleyballs.
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It is the refugees caught in the crosshairs of fear. This time – like African Americans and civil rights, women and voting rights, LGBT people and marriage rights – Syrian PEOPLE are fodder for discussion and political volleyballs. People’s lives hang in the balance while they are denied the right to food, clothing, shelter, jobs and education. Ironically, it is the denial of those very basic rights that cause groups like ISIS to rise up in the first place. We can only be devalued, denigrated and disenfranchised for so long before we fight back like animals that gnawed our way to freedom from our cages.
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So while the politicians and media outlets use this tragedy to draw political lines in the sand, boost ratings and further divide American ideologies, we have to ask ourselves what drives our personal values. What is important to us and how do we want to live our lives?
Can we turn away from the men, women and children who need a place to stay for fear that someone among them is evil? Do we lock ourselves away from communicating with anyone else who has different ideology or theology than we do? Can we just lull ourselves to sleep falsely thinking that if we keep these people out then we’re safe from all harm?
It’s not realistic. It’s not life. And it’s certainly not human.
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Photo – Flickr/ European Commission DG ECHO
Additional note … It’s my understanding that our liberal nation to the north is adjusting their policy to only allow women, children and families. My reference to Boston was that which addressed he claims that “Muslim” attacks are far and few. One of the many things that bother me here is that without allowing some educated opposing views on this site, there is no “conversation.” There are assumptions being made that the majority of men are liberal leaning much less men and women for that matter who sit center on some of these issues. Accordingly, the site is in fact… Read more »
Yes Tom, I too am weary of the linguistic tyranny of the left. They would hate it if it were done to them but take moralistic high ground when they do it. Now remember the argument. Boston was of Islamic leanings but they were not refugees but immigrants we let in. Their parents were fine but these two dolts got carried away with themselves. Our vetting process sucks which is one of the main issues of my argument for no refugees. Sorry it seems cold but bottom line is I believe we’re letting in the Trojan horse. That and that… Read more »
I’m disappointed … I’d provided a list of attacks in the US and the higher powers have chosen not to allow it as I am sure this will also be removed.
Sorry folks but what really bugs me about liberals is their refusal to allow information that may discredit their beliefs. There was mention “There is not one single recorded incident of terrorism on American soil by a single citizen of Arab/Islamic background.” but how soon we forget Boston ….
Don’t begin to debate the idea of bringing tens of thousands of refugees from a third world country rampant with terroristic ideologies if you have no idea the complexity of the the security risks of such an action. I love helping people in need but I don’t like the idea of putting American lives at risk by not having a thorough and fool proof plan for vetting foreigners. Period. No lack of empathy. I’m not being non Christian. I’m being smart in an unsafe world that is constantly thwarting terrorism at every twist and turn. Carry on.
Thank you. Simply that. Thank you. And to all on the left and the right a happy and safe thanksgiving. We have much to be so.
And btw. Disagree to your hearts content. Its the only way we will discuss this to a solution. Unless of course you do not wish a solution agreeable to the vast majority.
Come back Jules and Ibrahim If you have nothing but heartstrings and liberal emotion, then say so. That’s not bad in itself but disingenuous to call another position out as islamophobic or racist. I’m tired of the tyranny of the left when one disagrees. Your logic is false and small. It is not inclusive by Amy stretch and I think you know it too. I can be persuaded but not like this. Would it kill you to agree with points made, not just by me but others ? Based on results I can say yes. I see your position as… Read more »
There is not one single recorded incident of terrorism on American soil by a single citizen of Arab/Islamic background. yep. august 5,1945, bunch of Japanese folks are sitting around arguing over either pending invasion by the Allies, or if a really big bomb is going to be dropped. The argument is put forth, and agreed on by committee that never never ever in history has a bomb like that ever been made, much less dropped. Fool you are to worry about it. Build a snipers nest in your backyard so when the allies come you can defend your homes. That… Read more »
Not yet Jules. As they say in financial markets the past yields are not a guarantee of future results. Do you not think there are cells already here? That would be a truly foolish expectation.
YES!!
But, we need to make sure they are really refugees and not economic migrants..Like Tom mentioned above, most of these Syrian refugees are young men leaving their country.
Also, I am deeply bothered by many of the wealthy Gulf nations not taking in their socalled ‘brothers.’
But, to answer your question I say Yes. We need to get over the Islamaphobia here in America. There is not one single recorded incident of terrorism on American soil by a single citizen of Arab/Islamic background.
“here is not one single recorded incident of terrorism on American soil by a single citizen of Arab/Islamic background.” September 11, 2001. Even if you want to make the claim that it happened in the air, which is disingenuous because it didn’t stay there, we could point out that it wasn’t the first time the Twin Towers were targeted. “On February 26, 1993, terrorists parked a rental van in a garage underneath the World Trade Center’s twin towers and lit the fuses on a massive homemade bomb stuffed inside. Six people died and more than 1,000 were injured in the… Read more »
Of course it’s closet racism to you. That’s because I don’t agree with you. Its normal that people use each other for their own ends so don’t think I think Muslims are any better or worse than anyone else. The difference is religion in this case. Religion is who they are. Americans are not defined by Christianity and most can get along with the other versions of it. I’m Catholic married to a Lutheran. No sweat. We tolerate different religion beliefs here. In the middle east they have been killing each other for thousands of years over Shiite or Sunni… Read more »
I don’t think the USA is a safe place for Muslim refugees. With the number of murders and assaults against Muslims and refugees in the USA today, I think a safer place should be considered. The media fanned hatred of Muslims and people of color in general makes women and children victims far more often than men. Until hate speech is criminalized in the USA, I believe Syrian refugees will face threats to their personal safety in the USA.
56 murders of Muslims since 2003 …
In Chicago In the first half of 2015, 216 people have been reported murdered.
Too many issues in this Tim. First is that we have serious money issues here and don’t take care of our own problems. Safety and proper getting is really not possible. These people want out of a shithole and I get that but that is their home and they need to fight for it. We need to squeeze ISIS and obliterate it without mercy. Then rebuild with them their own area. Look at the history of Muslim immigrants. They don’t want to assimilate really. They’ve already shown that. So we face two issues. Terrorist safety is probably the leader of… Read more »
Do you actually KNOW any Muslims that have refused to assimilate? Or is this rhetoric based on driving through an area where you saw immigrants living? Sounds like a bit of “closet racism” to me. I’m an American who grew up with a German math teacher who never became fluent in English and Polish-American immigrants who never had non-Polish origin friends. In Europe and the US, it is important that people of non-European origin assimilate because of the still ominipresent ideas of white-supremacy. You think they are using you in the long run………….flip your script and ask a Native-American or… Read more »
Did someone say assimilate?
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2010/10/29/shock-radical-muslim-cleric-describes-islam-for-cnn/
I’m not sure if I posted this and it was removed but I’ll try again. This was an interview done by CNN, you know, the liberal media?
And if it was bounced because it came through The Blaze, here is a direct link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWDB-e9q2H8
And pretty much Tom are my points summarized. And I never even saw this piece.
It’s not that we don’t want to take in refugees, it’s a matter of properly vetting them to the point that we can be assured they are no risk. It’s that simple.
Would you allow someone to be in your home, with your children and not have all the information you need so as to assure that your kids are safe? People go to great lengths to investigate day care centers yet you’re willing to allow people here without assurances.
Women and children … how many women in these ordeals have been suicide bombers?
http://clashdaily.com/2015/11/look-at-what-this-muslim-kid-is-holding-would-you-want-him-staying-at-your-house/?utm_source=referral&utm_medium=facebook.com&utm_campaign=lasmpfb
My question for those who want a vetting process that ensures NO risk, what EXACTLY would such a process look like? IMO, there is no way to ensure 100% safety. Imagine if there was the sudden decision that no more guns would be sold without a process that the buyer can be determined to pose 0% threat to society. Or LEO are 100% abuse-issues free? Or even better, politicians are 0% corrupt! Long story short, this is no way to determine that NONE of the refugees pose any threat. Hell, we can’t even determine OUR citizens to be NO threat.… Read more »
It’s interesting that you show women and children in your picture when the wide majority of these refugees are men. Just an observation.
I Think your right