If you've kept up with my recent articles, you know that I made a rant about the "War on Christmas." Consider this a follow-up or its own entity, but it's time we sat down and talked about the Syrian refugees.
Unless you're entirely clueless, you know that there's a lot of controversy going on within our own country: letting in Syrian refugees. With an issue as serious as this, it's normal to hear many differing opinions. Everyone reading this either thinks we should or should not let the refugees come into our country for salvation. That's not what I'm going to talk about.
Remember all those hotheaded Christians who got pissed off because their cup didn't say, "Merry Christmas?" Remember how they were upset that Starbucks wasn't participating in the "Christmas spirit," and Christmas was ruined over a red cup? Yeah, I do, too. Well, from what I've seen, most of these people are the same ones who express that we shouldn't be letting in this poor, helpless, and defenseless group of people into our country.
The irony within that is, Christmas is supposed to be about giving. We are supposed to share with our friends and family as well as strangers. We are supposed to celebrate and give to one another. Giving into fear and degrading these people that are just like you and me is what's ruining the Christmas spirit, not Starbucks, not the "War on Christmas," and certainly not the refugees that will reside in our country in their time of need.
I am aware that Christmas isn't the only holiday that is celebrated during this time. However, it seems to me that the majority of people that are so vehemently against helping another group of people out celebrate Christmas.
This also brings to point the simple fact that the only way to get over our fears (even if they're as irrational as this one) is to confront them. The only way to do this is by letting these people into our country and, at the very least, giving them a chance of survival.
Of course, there are the people who instantly think that just because someone comes from the Middle East, they're automatically a member of ISIS. News flash: there are white, American members of ISIS already living in our country. You can let that argument go, now. I'd like to also make it clear that ISIS is not, nor will it ever be, an Islamic organization.
Another
common argument I hear is, "We already have enough homeless people! Think
of the homeless veterans! There are homeless children! Think about the children!" To that, I
say, "Remember back to about two weeks ago when you couldn't care less
about the homeless in our country? Remember when you never shared a Facebook
post about them until the Paris terrorist attack?"
The point I'm trying to make is, there's
always an excuse. The American people don't want to look intolerant, racist, or
xenophobic, so they bring up social justice issues that were otherwise
irrelevant to them even days ago. It's time to face your fears and let go of
your pre-conceived notions of these innocent people. It's time to start loving.
It's time to show the Syrian refugees what freedom America provides. It's time
to start participating in the Christmas spirit.
Oh, and one last thing: To all you middle-aged, upper-middle-class white folk, "Muslim" is not a race. A Muslim is an adherent to the Islam religion. What I'm saying is that I, a white, epitome-of-privilege teenager, could be a Muslim. Stop confusing religion with race. It's kind of like what Hitler did when he blamed an entire religion for Germany's faults and then set out to kill about six million of them. I'm looking at you, Mr. Trump.
Wake up. Start loving and stop hating. It's healthy.
