My family isn’t in a position to take in any Syrian refugees.
Not that we’ve been asked.
Months ago, President Obama simply announced that “we” would take 10,000 refugees. After last Friday’s terrorist attack in Paris, and upon evidence that one of the perpetrators came into Europe with other refugees, 31 governors declared that their states will not accept Syrian refugees.
But note: this country doesn’t belong to Obama; those states don’t belong to those governors.
Back in September, I floated a different approach. “If I were president, I’d push for Congress to pass legislation specifically authorizing the acceptance of as many Syrian refugees as [Americans] stepped forward to sponsor.…”
“Sponsors could be individuals, families, churches, glee clubs, what-have-you, and would agree to cover costs for the Syrian person or family for one year or two or three,” I proposed. “But no welfare, no food stamps, no government housing.…”
Granted, my suggestion came before the latest terrorism. It was aimed not at security concerns but at sparing taxpayers. Why shouldn’t voluntary generosity dictate the extent of “our” generosity?
But come to think of it, my plan offers greater security, too. Why? It involves the personal faces of citizens, not merely a faceless bureaucracy. No matter how much vetting the government does, an ongoing link to an actual American provides another check.
There’s a legitimate debate about security vs. compassion. Millions are in need, displaced by terror — from both Daesh (ISIS) and the Assad regime. The Niskanen Center’s David Bier notes the resistance to accepting Jewish refugees prior to and during World War II, out of fear some might be spies. Christians may find Matthew 25:44 – 45 compelling.
On the other hand, there is undeniable risk. GOP presidential aspirants have called taking Syrian refugees “insane” and “looney.” Speaker Paul Ryan argues for a “better safe than sorry” pause.
Me? I support accepting the risk … but only if committed individual citizens step forward.
Not by any politician’s decree.
This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.
Artwork based on original photo by Phil Warren on Flickr (endorsement of this message is not implied):
6 replies on “Security vs. Compassion?”
The great majority (some 74%) of these “refugees” appear to be able-bodied young men. You have to ask why they didn’t stay and fight/strive make their own homeland a better place, instead of coming here to make our country a worse one.
Perhaps, but which side would they fight for? Daesh (ISIS) or Assad?
And if they have a family facing bombs and death in Syria, do they send their wife and children alone across thousands of dangerous miles?
I don’t want to judge them too harshly until I’ve walked a mile across their desert.
ISIS, Paris, and the refugee crises are intentionally created by the NWO. Here’s a break in the fraud media reports: http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=b6c_1447660445
Mr Jacob: I depend on you for common sense but, this time, you’ve “jumped the shark”. Private individuals who are motivated by human concerns would be the very people terrorist operatives would try to get close to and hide behind. What you propose is abject foolishness.
The refugees would still be “vetted” by the government in the way they are now, but would have an added connection to a person or group of people or a church, etc. I can’t see how that would be any less effective than the current policy.
.… Christians may find Matthew 25:44 – 45 compelling .…
We may, indeed and I’d hazard most of us do.
But governments may not. At least, not American governments.
B R A.: