Wading through the Refugee debate
This has taken me a few days and many edits and I’ve really debated even posting it. I mostly want to avoid the irrational, closed minded, and partisan social media debate that I find pointless. Just like you, I’ve seen a lot of points of view in my news feeds lately. Some of it has been pretty pathetic and I’ve resisted the urge to comment because…well it’s the type of thing that’s just not worth getting involved in. However, I’ve reached the point where the upside of organizing my thoughts and putting them out there outweighs the risk of getting sucked into a ridiculous social media battle.
My intention is not to argue one political party’s policies against another’s; the system is so broken in my opinion. I’ve tried my best to avoid hyperbole and generalization and simply say what what’s on my mind and sharing some of things I’ve read. I’m not a political expert or journalist (not even a very good writer) but I hope if you take the time to read this it will at least make you think. Fair warning this is long, but like I mentioned I’ve thought a lot about this.
For the record, I’m a person that has soured on our political process and really avoided it all together until recently. It’s probably part of the reason I’m writing this. I’m an Independent and consider myself a left-of-center moderate (meaning I’m more on the liberal side of most issues, but not all). To give you an idea I’m pro-choice, support marriage equality, pro national healthcare, support ending the war on drugs but want drug testing for welfare recipients (excluding marijuana), I support individual rights, flat tax and the 2nd amendment. I try to look at things objectively, basing my view on a variety of sources and looking at both sides of the issue. I’m an analytical person and prefer data over rhetoric. I don’t follow one side or the other and I don’t think the big issues are black and white or have easy answers. I think most people (regardless of background or faith) are reasonable and just seek to be happy and provide for their family, but the outlandishly outspoken and the radical get all the ratings. The growing partisanship in the USA has me very concerned. We’ve lost our ability to discuss and rationalize and legitimately debate issues; we certainly don’t listen or consider opposing opinions. We are red states and blue states rather than a red, white and blue nation. There’s nothing I hate more than any phrase like “I want my America back” or “restoring our values”, it’s just BS.
The heightened levels of fear-mongering rhetoric being spilled on the airways and online has reached a point of absurdity. I hear more about who’s to blame, who is taking advantage, and most of all who and what to be afraid of, than anything of real substance or problem solving. I hear a lot of false bravado, hot-button buzz words meant to anger and insight and not a lot of rational and logical solutions. Political leaders are more interested in stirring the pot and getting us to fight with each other (over social issues in particular) to distract us from the corruption that’s going on behind the scenes in DC.
So with that said here’s the real point of this…
There are a few reason I think we should not block refuges from entering the US. First and foremost for the individual rights of US Citizens. Second, is to stop making decisions based on fear and start acting like the luminaries of freedom and bravery we profess to be. Three, to start taking responsibility for the decades of botched policy and actions in the middle east and start taking a new path to peace.
In 2014 and 2013 the US has allowed almost 70,000 refugees a year to enter the country and over 19,000 of those were from Iraq. (Before you start cursing Obama the total numbers are similar to pre 9/11 and less than the yearly average of the Clinton, Bush and Reagan eras) What I haven’t been able to figure out is what makes the current population of Syrian refugees any more or less dangerous than the nearly 40,000 Iraqi’s already here? The Cato Institute has said Syrian Refugees Don’t Pose a Serious Security Threat. (If you are not familiar with the CATO institute read their about us page, they’re basically Libertarians and far from Liberal). And by at least one experienced opinion we have the most rigorous immigration process in the world and it’s much harder to enter versus the visa process. (John Oliver had a great segment last night. There’s some NSFW parts of this and it’s pretty funny but around the 4:30 mark he also explains the depth of the process https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQnjEK4bV5QSo). So why now is this system so all of the sudden flawed? Why are we more afraid of Syrian’s than Iraqi’s? ISIS has strongholds and influence in both countries. Is it just our heightened sense of awareness given recent events? Are we once again being frenzied by a group of political leaders, playing to party extremes and more interested in their poll numbers than objectively speaking about the issues.
Here’s where individual rights come in. If a US Citizen has the means and desire to welcome a (legally processed) refugee into their home then they should have the right to do so. I don’t believe I, or anyone else (including a state Governor) , has the right (or power) to tell them they cannot. Just as simply as they cannot tell me what religion to practice, who I can love and if I can own a gun (if obtained legally). And you might argue it’s an issue of public safety; that you have a right to protect your neighborhood, city, state etc. Then consider that is the same argument anti-gun proponents argue. “The refugee process is flawed, I don’t trust the government to properly screen refugees.” Just replace the word refugee with gun owner. As stated previously I support gun ownership and even concealed carry permits. So in my mind, if the anti-gun argument is flawed and if I’m being true to my beliefs then the anti-refugee argument is equally flawed. Perhaps that’s an oversimplification but if your issue is safety then I think you need to be consistent and not pick and choose where you apply it. The guy down the street with the semi-auto is just as dangerous (if not statistically more so) than a refugee.
Terrorist could absolutely utilize the refugee intake to enter this country, let’s not take it for granted, but we can no longer sacrifice freedom and our beliefs in exchange for security. We did it after 9/11 with the Patriot act and look at the slippery slope that has caused. Again, to use the 2nd amendment. I don’t think we should make wide sweeping changes to gun laws because a small minority would perpetrate violence and so I would not deny thousands the opportunity to enjoy freedom because a smaller minority would take advantage.
Who are we as a country? I think we are the land of the Free and the Home of the Brave and the Statue of Liberty stands proudly on our shores. She is a beacon not a defender. She carries the torch and not a sword. But right now the country where these attacks ACTUALLY OCCURRED (and with the most just cause to deny refugees) is showing us what freedom and bravery (and compassion, and rational decision making) really look like. They get it, they understand that if ISIS can separate peaceful Muslims from the ideals of the west it feeds their evil agenda and they can become stronger. It’s the grey zone as they call it. The more Muslims feel unsafe in the US and other free countries the more will run to ISIS; or at least that’s their hope.
The USA that I believe we are, loves and defends the weak and oppressed despite the potential danger and does so, not just for our citizens, but to spread the idea of freedom itself throughout the world. That we accept the risk and do things anyway because they are just and right. We believe freedom is not for the few, but a right afforded to all of humanity. Is it only our soldiers that we ask to have bravery or is it up to all of us? I can’t honestly say I would personally have a refugee stay in my home. I think it might be more likely if my kids were grown and out of the house. Candidly, that’s a personal struggle. How can I write this and say these things and not be willing to do the very things I’m talking about. Maybe it makes me hypocritical, I don’t know. I would welcome a refugee into my neighborhood, even right next store. Living in Orlando you can’t avoid diversity and in my neighborhood you’ll find Muslims, Indian, Black White and Latino.
We ARE doing exactly what ISIS wants us to do; they are targeting our fears and betting our exclusion will lead to further hatred of democracy. That as we react in haste and prejudgment, our actions will further their agenda. Their hope is we will start tracking Muslims in databases, start treating them as second class citizens, increase the distrust, isolate them and drive them to lash out with violence.
Do we really think terrorists, intent on coming here and doing harm, will be deterred by blocking refugees? Maybe in the short-term (if you consider 18–24 months short — by most accounts the visa processes is much shorter and less cumbersome) Maybe this is just a throw away, a method they will gladly give up for what is to be gained. What about the bigger picture? What’s the price to be paid down the road by not helping? It’s been proven these terrorist were EU nationals and not refugees. ISIS’s use of social media is widely documented and they understand how to extend their influence beyond direct contact. They are basically a huge PR machine, propping themselves up to be larger than they actually are. Their hope is to extend their reach through influence. They are a modern enemy and we need a new approach.
We are the top of the list when it comes to freedom and if they know they can manipulate us (even when they don’t strike here) there’s hope for their cause. If we block those that would come here peacefully how do we ever expect to see change in the rest of world? Will they stop hating us because we stand up on our walls, bang on our chest and call ourselves the greatest country in the world? Or should they experience it for themselves, be welcomed and spread the word. We need to become our own PR machine, posting pictures on social media of us welcoming refuges into our homes like this senator. Of course there’s risk in allowing refugees into the US, but for me the bigger risk is continuing to lose our identity and no longer setting the example of freedom and acceptance in the world.
At the very least, we are somewhat responsible for the situation in Syria and throughout the middle east. For decades the middle east has been our political and military chess board, supporting this radical leader, then that radical leader to gain influence in the region. And we’ve failed time and time again, often siding with the very group we were fighting the last time. It has contributed to the destabilization in the region and only increased the risk of our security. It’s time to change our approach in the middle east, it’s done nothing but make this situation worse by creating more safe havens for radicals, cost us billions and even more harmful, created a population of under-cared for veterans here at home.
I still don’t know if we should keep troops in the middle or east or pull out and let countries like Saudi Arabia step up. I do know if we stay we need to rethink our approach and it’s time to either guarantee spending for veteran’s services or bring our troops home and use that war money to care for their wounds (physical and especially mental), help them transition back to civilian life with education and jobs to prevent them from ending up homeless. We can rebuild our crumbling infrastructure, start paying down the debt, help all the homeless and poor and Yes take care of political refugees. You want to fix the veteran problem let’s start by not having so many veterans.
I didn’t grow up in a military family and not many of my friends are veterans. Both my Grandfathers were in the military during WWII and my Grandmother’s brother was an Airforce pilot for many years, that’s about as close as I get. So I won’t pretend to know what it’s like to have a spouse or parent in active duty, how they live and what they go through. And I certainly won’t speak for how they feel. That said, I find it disrespectful to use our soldiers as props for social media bigotry and hate. I’ve seen social media posts saying we shouldn’t take refugees because our veterans need help. Using the treatment of our veterans as a reason why we should deny refugee support I find extremely distasteful. One is not a reason for the other; we CAN and SHOULD do both. We cannot disregard these people because our political leaders have chosen to wage false wars while defense contractors and lobbyist get rich.
And more to the point it’s not why our soldiers fight. Don’t they do it to preserve our freedom and to keep the USA as the predominant symbol for democracy in the world. I believe that, but what good does it do if we don’t share it; if we say it’s only for those of us privileged enough to already be here. If we want to hear peaceful Muslims speak out against radicals why not allow them to experience the freest of the free. Why not give them the platform and more importantly the experience to speak out? Their culture is vastly different from ours, particularly their treatment of women. I ask again, how do we expect it change if we stay separate. Religions and cultures will only evolve is they are paired together and generations grow together. If left in isolation the only thing these refugees will ever see is the hate and evil of radical Islam. For me, that presents a far greater danger than anything else.
Bravery stands in front of flag and defends, bravery doesn’t stand behind a wall waving the flag and say just for us and not for you.
If you’ve taken the time to read this, thank you. I welcome your comments, even if you disagree. I only ask the keep your comment rational and productive.