No more Syrian refugees in America, eh?

[ddstory.livejournal.com]

Interesting analysis of the reasons for America's shameful reaction to the refugee crisis.

Basically, it identifies 5 reasons that America has refused to lend a hand in this problem. Governors pandering to their constituents for the sake of keeping their position; presidential candidates pandering to the fears of the base for the sake of being elected; Congress being, well, Congress; the American public itself, being consumed by the above-mentioned fears; and other countries willingly taking the hit, which gives America a lot of leeway to escape responsibility. Never mind that the refugees turn out to be an asset rather than a burden to economies, as the case with Turkey has shown (whether they're being treated as cheap labor, or slaves, is another issue - but aren't many illegal immigrants in the US in that situation already?)

Here's a map of the states that oppose new Syrian refugees:

While I understand that the first duty of any government is the safety and protection of its citizens, and while it's true that you can ask a number of questions about the character of refugees seeking asylum in the US: are they Syrian, if they are Syrian, are they young men, and if so, why are they not willing to stay and fight, and die if necessary to secure their values in their homeland, at the end of the day, the US has to show some leadership and accept Syrian refugees. After all, America has always been proud of its heritage as a beacon of light to those fleeing persecution, as many of its ancestors did. If what you see now in that portion of the world does not constitute persecution, then what does? No sane person can dispute that ISIS is a brutal, heartless regime, killing women and children, and enslaving others.

Is it possible, or even likely, that some will take advantage of the plight of "true" refugees to migrate for economic opportunities - it's not only likely, but almost a certainty. Still, it is not in the American character to deny refuge to those who truly are fleeing persecution because others may only be seeking a better quality of life. Is it possible that some of those who are seeking entry may in fact be terrorists - again, it's probably a certainty. Should the US refuse them entry because it may put its safety at a slightly greater risk - I think that is a great example of cowardice.

Of course any country accepting refugees should do its best to screen out anyone seeking asylum for economic reasons, or for a better quality of life, and anyone they we can attach a real risk to, and welcome a reasonable amount of those who truly need protection. Isn't this what America has been preaching to the rest of the world, including bad evil selfish Europe? OK America, do show us the way, why don't you?

Comments

[airiefairie.livejournal.com]

Rejecting Syrian refugees will not make America safer. Most terrorists have other ways of getting in. Furthermore, in many cases they do not even need to get in, since they have been inside all the time, because they are home-bred. radicalised, and recruited.

[dexeron.livejournal.com]

White, ostensibly "Protestant," extremists have killed far more Americans than Muslims or refugees ever did. But, of course, we do not see any mass sentiment to deport or restrict white Protestants.

There is, of course, a racist and xenophobic aspect to all of this, even if those rejecting refugees cannot recognize it in themselves or in the narratives they are being told ("it's not about race, it's about security" they will say, and perhaps even believe.) Meanwhile, the Salafi-Takfiri murderers laugh as we live down to the propaganda picture they've painted of us and do their work for them.

[airiefairie.livejournal.com]

It is like a self-fulfilling prophesy.

[underlankers.livejournal.com]

I thought John Bel Edwards changed his mind on that? O.o

Well, no he didn't. Pity. I was hoping that a Democrat would be more reasonable than Jindal.

[luzribeiro.livejournal.com]

Shameful. But then again, it's America.

[luvdovz.livejournal.com]

No surprise there.