When I was younger, I visited the National Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., and was just in complete shock that the United States did not intervene in such a tragic affair. My mother assured me that now with technology and communication the way it was, that the United States would never just watch, and offer a helping hand too late, as other people were suffering.
Now, we are doing the exact opposite. As many fears circulate the hot button topic of Syrian Refugees and their admittance to the United States, I would like to provide you with the positive side of this topic. As you continue reading, I ask you keep one question in your mind, “How bad would it have to get, for you and your family to run, walk, or swim away from the country you call home?”
These images of horror and death we see in the media paint the harsh reality that these innocent people are living in every day. These harsh realities are only photos and stories for us and are incredibly hard to imagine happening to us. A memorable story in the news recently was of Omran, a young boy, bloodied and battered by the civil war within his country. His family survived, but his neighborhood, blasted to rubble. By allowing refugees to seek safety, we are welcoming men, women and children; children who have seen too much tragedy and death at such a tender age.
Life is a basic human right, and these lives will be protected if America becomes more like our Northern Neighbor, welcoming Syrians in, with open arms.
I know what you’re all thinking, “How can we let potential terrorists into our country?” Thousands of refugees have been interviewed, and admitted into our country, and not one has been arrested under terrorism charges. Where we focus on the foreign aspect of this controversial topic, we neglect the fact that radicalization is also happening within the borders of the United States.
By preventing refugees from entering our country, we essentially are helping terrorist groups such as ISIS regain members. Approximately 15,000 ISIS fighters were killed in Russian Airstrikes. With these dwindling numbers on the Islamic State’s side, ISIS will work diligently to regain a following by implementing harsh propaganda into the lives of the desperate. With potential members already outside the borders of Syria, ISIS will ultimately have a more strenuous path in front of them, in order to strengthen their regime.
This is not just another Liberal testimony for peace and change, but a testimony for human rights. How can we just watch as people are committing crimes against humanity to a peaceful population?
Now, reconsider the first question and put yourselves in the shoes of the weak, educate yourself before making assumptions, and feel empathy for those suffering in front of our eyes.
