Many of the presidential candidates especially on the right, have stopped trying to convince us all that immigrants, legal or not in some cases, should be sent back to Mexico. They have instead turned their attention to the Syrian refugees who are fleeing their home countries to find safe havens in other countries including the U.S.
I understand that people are scared.
I understand that people don't like change and things are changing.
I understand that we are suspicious of what we do not know and that we have a tendency to over react in times of fear with shameful consequences; http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/11/18/roanoke-mayor-syrian-refugees/76016936/
You don't have to go back to far to find evidence of this. A lot of the same voices you are hearing now are the same voices who declared that we would all die of Ebola if we didn't seal the boarders and stop all entry from Africa.
This is one of those times and we can either do the right thing or we can give in to fear. If we choose to do the latter we alone will have to live with and pass on to our children and their children what we do now.
As I write this 31 Governors have vowed to not accept refugees from Syria in their states and want to stop any from entering the country at all...unless perhaps they are Christen.
Someone asked how would you prove you are a Christen and Jeb Bush tried to explain; http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/jeb-bush-would-back-refugees-who-prove-theyre-Christian
Now the house has just passed a bill with conditions that make it nearly impossible for refugees from Syria or Iraq to enter the U.S. even though we already have a very stringent entrance policy in place that has been working fine.
Right now it takes those who wish to come to the U.S. 18-24 months of extensive screening prior to receiving refugee status.
There is even talk now by some of the Republican candidates of a mandatory registry for all Muslims... http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/19/politics/donald-trump-barack-obama-threat-to-country/index.html is this a path we really want to go down?
The fact is, you have a much greater risk of being killed while at school or at a theater or the mall
by a white Christian male than by a Muslim terrorist. http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/6/19/1394617/-NY-Times-Right-Wing-Terrorists-kill-more-people-in-US-than-Muslim-extremists
In these difficult times when it is easy to do what our fear tells us to do, we should never forget;
First they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me...
and there was no one left to speak for me.
- Martin Niemoeller -
The attacks in Paris were horrific and tragic.
But in the end what we decide to do now will tell future generations who we were and what we stood for as a nation and as a world...
Keeping in mind that we are a nation of the descendant's of immigrants, let us choose wisely.
Listen, reflect, repeat.
Listen reflect, repeat...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8loNpZkAP6M
Have a wonderful weekend!
Noodle and crew
Depending on humans to act wisely if iffy sometimes Noodle. Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteWisdom and humans don't often go along together... Purrs
ReplyDeleteLove the pic, Noodles.
ReplyDeleteThose same lawmakers who are yelling the loudest now are the ones that said “For shame” when POTUS originally only wanted to allow 1000 refugees in. #hypocrits.
Is it a risk? Of course, but there are terrorists—evil humans—in every country of every nationality. Jihardist John was British. Do we block Brits from entering the US too?
Nice picture Noodle, I am far from American politics, ours is already complicated :) !
ReplyDeleteVery nice selfie. You always make me think with your posts. I never thought of the fact that my chances are more likely of being killed by a white male then a Muslim. I do wish we would stop taking any more people into our country- it is over crowded already and so many Americans are in need.
ReplyDeleteWise words, Noodle. Happy Sunday.
ReplyDeleteHave a blest day Noodle.
ReplyDeleteLuv ya'
Dezi and Lexi
That's kind of what my peeps say, too. Why just the other day, Peep #1 said she was much more likely to be killed by a drunk driver or in a home invasion or really, just crossing the street than by a refugee. Yup, just the other day. I heard her saying it, and everything.
ReplyDeletePurrs,
Seville
noodle
ReplyDeleteindeed....
N letz think fora wee minit....what wooda happened like a bazillion yeerz ago, if all de Native American Tribes said.....no, you can not settle here....go back from where you came ~~~~~~
♥♥♥