I was reading this morning a summary about how comedic commentators have been dealing with the terrorist attack in Paris. I really appreciated this comment by Seth Meyers, host of NBC’s “Late Night”:
“I realize there are other places where things like this happen all the time,” he said. “Beirut also had a terrible bombing by ISIS last week as well, and I certainly was guilty of not paying the same level of attention to that atrocity. And when you think about the place where these terrible things are happening the most right now, it would be Syria, a place where the people who live there, who are trying to live normal lives, are so desperate to leave. And for those refugees, whose lives are so difficult right now, I think one of the many, and there are so many sad things about what happened in Paris, but certainly one of them is how much harder life is going to be for those refugees because of this.”
Please, Americans, realize that the immigrants from Syria and other war-torn areas are coming into our country are FLEEING the terrorists that are taking over their country. They need a place to go to protect themselves and their children. They love their country and want to and will return when they can. They need refuge. Remember the words on the statue of liberty:
“Give me your tired your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe fee. The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send then, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me. I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
Dedicated on October 28, 1886, the Statue of Liberty was a gift to the United States from the people of France. Think of it. This is how France saw us. This is how we must see ourselves.
It is obvious that refugees, on entry to which ever place of safety they flee to, must in light of the Paris atrocities, be vetted at a higher level security than before.
That a terrorist could conceal themselves within a party of refugees today, is unlikely now that the security state has been raised so significantly. No one involved in the London bombings or 9/11, or indeed the Boston bombers, sneaked into the countries alongside refugees. I am sure the border security agencies of countries considered at risk from ISIS right now can cope with filtering the crazies from the genuinely desperate people seeking refuge. At least that is what they keep reassuring us of.
This is not a good time in Earth’s history, especially if you are trudging from country to country with your frightened family having lost everything in search of safety.
Let’s pray it stops very soon.
Thanks for the perspective, Colin. Yes, I think those screening the refugees are really working hard…and are way smarter than the fear-mongers. Meanwhile, at least here in the West, the refugees that are actually coming are said to be those who have been refugees for some time. I know this is true of our grandson-in-law’s parents who have been in Turkey (refugees from Syria) for two years and may be going to Australia soon. We are very hopeful for them.
Did |I hear correctly last night on the news; that one of the Paris attackers/bombers disguised themselves as one of the refugees to get into Paris? I wonder what steps will be taken against the innocent refugees because of that.
I didn’t hear that. But I don’t feel we can turn away thousands of suffering people because of this risk. Those doing the screening just have to be dilligent. Besides, terrorists are not always those who come from outside our borders. We have terrorists here in the US that were born and bred here. But when one of these does their evil deed, the race to which they belong is not attacked. We just have to be smart and pray. And I try not to let terrorists lead me to fear and hate.