Six Nine Ten governors have declared NO SYRIANS ALLOWED. Not because they are tending to their own needy and are thus unable provide food, clothing, or shelter for them. Or that their states are strained for space for even their own citizens. But because the refugees are Syrian and brown and how can they possibly know if any of them are terrorists?? You may have already read their remarks explaining why they steadfastly refuse to help victims of war, but if not I want you to read them all now:
Robert Bentley, Alabama: Stated he would “not place Alabamians at even the slightest possible risk of an attack on our people. Please continue to join me in praying for those who have suffered loss and those who will never allow freedom to fade at the hands of the terrorists.
Greg Abbot, Texas: Said to President Obama: “Neither you nor any federal official can guarantee that Syrian refugees will not be part of any terroristic activity. As such, opening our door to them irresponsibly exposes our fellow Americans to unacceptable peril.”
Mike Pence, Indiana: “[Indiana] has a long tradition of opening our arms and homes from around the world but, as governor, my first responsibility is to ensure the safety and security of all Hoosiers. Unless and until the state of Indiana receives assurances that proper security measures are in place, this policy will remain in full force and effect.”
Bobby Jindal, Louisiana: “I just signed an executive order instructing state agencies to take all available steps to stop the relocation of Syrian refugees to LA.”
Rick Snyder, Michigan: “Michigan is a welcoming state and we are proud of our rich history of immigration, but our first priority is protecting the safety of our residents.”
Asa Hutchinson, Arkansas: “This is not the right strategy for the United States to become a permanent place for relocation.”
Charlie Baker, Massachusetts: “No, I’m not interested in accepting refugees from Syria…My view on this is the safety and security of the people of the Commonwealth of Mass[achusetts] is my highest priority.”
Pence and Snyder seem to be suffering from some sort of multiple personality disorder. Both of their statements reduce to “We’re proud of our history of welcoming those in need.” followed by “We aren’t welcoming those in need.” Up until Monday, Michigan was actively working to attract Syrian refugees but Snyder shut that right down.
Governor Abbot feels it is irresponsible to open our doors to Syrian refugees because President Obama is not clairvoyant and is unable to foresee future terrorist acts on US soil and who will be committing them. Pop quiz. Name the ethnicities and religions of the perpetrators who committed the overwhelming majority of the terrorist acts on US soil in the last decade?
Baker seems to not have closed the door entirely. But he’s a Republican, so he has to at least appear to have shut the door and hope no one notices he left it unlocked.
Then there’s Bobby Jindal.
But my favorite quote comes from Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson. “This is not the right strategy for the United States to become a permanent place for relocation.” That’s right. The US is NOT a place for permanent relocation. I apologize for using the following cliché: Someone really should have let the Native Americans know.
I understand the concern of allowing wave upon wave of refugees into any nation without a plan for how to house, feed, and care for them but the alternative here is to condemn them to death by leaving them stuck in the middle of a war-zone, one side of which who uses the slaughter of innocent men, women, and children as a measure of success. Possessing the means and ability to help people and refusing not to out of fear isn’t American. It’s cowardice.
It’s not just politicians either. On social media there’s relentless fear mongering regarding Paris, terrorists, and refugees. Blaming Muslim President Obama for aiding the terrorists and criticizing those visibly standing in solidarity with the French simultaneously welcoming refugees as if one precludes the other. Whining that we need a REAL leader to stand up for the American people. Perhaps most insultingly, demanding we keep all Syrian refugees out while at the same time expressing sympathetic and empathetic tendencies to all those whose lives have been destroyed by terrorism. There are no prefixes needed there. Endorsing genocide and xenophobia is just pathetic. Neither are traits that should be found in a leader.
As I was about to hit publish on this post, I read an article that says Ted Cruz is calling for admission of Christian refugees only into the US. No Muslims allowed. I literally can’t even.
I am not afraid to care too much. All humans should be humanitarians. All of us should strive to face the challenges we see our neighbors facing and give them a hand when they trip or fall along the way. We live in a big world, with billions of people, we’re separated by oceans, by valleys, by mountains, but what separates us from each other the most are our own prejudices and fears. How sad that it is not the tens of thousands of miles from coast to coast [that separate us] but rather our own ignorance and selfishness. -Christy Mannering
For all the disagreements I’ve had with President Obama over the last 7 years, I can say he is a leader and an adult and acting like both:
“We also have to remember that many of these refugees are the victims of terrorism themselves. That’s why they’re fleeing. Slamming the door in their faces would be a betrayal of our values. Our nations can welcome refugees who are desperately seeking safety and ensure our own security. We can and must do both.”
“We don’t have religious tests to our compassion.” – President Barack Obama.