The Syrian civil war has brought destruction and heartbreak to the country. It has left hundreds of thousands dead, and countless others as refugees seeking safety.
In our government, there seems to be no clear reaction on what to do about the situation. Some liberals suggest we bring in these refugees. The sight that America has a moral as well as international obligation to help these people. Right leaning conservatives tend to argue that we should use military force to secure a safe area in Syria to establish a refugee camp. This stance stems from the belief that by bringing in refugees, many who. Happen to be Muslim, we would be endangering you. The people with this stance say that by letting these Muslim-Syrian refugees in to America we are opening a door to suspected terrorist.
I have no stance on this issue based on political or party ideology I have a stance on this issue as a Christian humanitarian. As Christians, we are called to care for the poor and needy amount us, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Regardless of religious beliefs, these are men women and children made In the image of Christ. They are in need of help, they are our neighbors, and we are called to love them. However, those opposed would say can’t we love and care for them by doing it on their own land. We could just set up a camp for them in Syria. Yes, we absolutely could form an international coalition and set up refugee centers. However, let’s not forget the reason why we have this problem…there is a civil war in Syria causing mass amounts of death and destruction. Syria is an unsafe location. And to those saying we could use militant force to secure a location, I respond by saying we would be better off going and fighting/ending the civil war for them. Because at least then we could ensure safe, capitalistic, democratic land for the refugees.
Additionally, 1. Humanitarianism is a moral of kindness, benevolence, and sympathy extended to all human beings. Humanitarianism has been an evolving concept historically but universality is a common theme in its evolution. Kindness and sympathy extended to all human beings, that seems to resemble very clearly the calling we have as Christians.
People will spend hours quarreling about what plan of action to take to help the refugees. I’ve thought long and hard on where I stand and what I believe we should do. On a personal, national, and international scale I believe it is a right thing to do. Please note I said A RIGHT THING TO DO, not THE( the singular right thing to do). I believe we should take in refugees along side every other sovereign country, as well as establish refugee camps in Syria and other surrounding countries. The refugee crisis is a problem far too big for any one country to try and handle.
In my social circle, I know many will oppose bring refugees to the U.S. Out of fear of potentially bringing in unintended terrorist. To those people I respond with the following: I know as a Christian I will be persecuted for my beliefs, the actions I take, decisions I make, and the love I show others. So if by letting Syrians in and blessing them with the love, freedom, and safety I as an American have been blessed with, a terrorist kills me in a suicide attack I will die knowing that I gave my life trying to show the love of God to my neighbor. No questions asked…I am willing to die showing the love of God to others whether in a direct or indirect way.
