This is never an easy topic. How do we balance our need to provide security for our families, friends, and loved ones, with our need to help those less fortunate than ourselves? My Facebook feed, and the news, are hugely polarized over this topic. People are being very vocal in both directions. Pro refuge people are drawing parallels between this and the pilgrims escaping religious persecution to come to this continent, to tavern keepers turning away a pregnant traveler in Jerusalem. Non-refuge supporters are drawing parallels to the Boston Marathon bombers and of course, the Paris attacks.
I think we can all agree, we would like to help others, when ever we can. We would gladly feed, cloth and shelter people fleeing war, famine, disease.
I think we can all agree, we would do anything to prevent terrorists from entering our borders and getting close to our loved ones, placing our loved ones in grave danger.
Where is the line?
What level of risk are we willing to accept in order to help others? We cannot ignore the fact that it is likely that ISIS and others will insert zealots into the refugees in order to get them into the US. Our Intelligence professionals are warning us of their inability to vet the refugees. Safety is an illusion. Our borders are a sieve. Our intelligence community and and judicial system are wholly unequipped to handle terrorists in the rare instance we catch one of these bad guys.
What level of suffering are we willing to turn away in order to feel safe? If the people fleeing were your mom, or grandmother, or child, wouldn’t you want the US to make a home for them? Doesn’t your own belief system, including the religion of many of you, promote charity and helping the down trodden?
Also, could the money be better spent on our own homeless and veterans?
I have no answer to this moral quandary. I know I don’t like either option.
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