Yesterday, Governor Pence of Indiana suspended resettlement of Syrian refugees in Indiana. This, according to Pence, was in response to the terrorist attacks in Paris by ISIS, and the potential link between a refugee and the attacks. That's pretty much the extent of the information upon which Governor Pence relied upon. Obviously, any one paying attention to the news knows that Pence was not alone; many, many Governors all stated that they would not accept Syrian refugees, due to "safety concerns."
Let's put aside the legality of whether Governors can say that a refugee allowed lawful status by the United States government can be denied access to live and reside in an individual state based on their national origin (hint: they can't). Let's just talk about the decision and what it says about us. How can the decisions these governors are attempting to make be considered anything but one made from fear (and, most likely, politics). I am not saying that security and safety of residents of the United States isn't important. But these governors, by attempting to take action they clearly can't, are trying to score cheap political points that continues to send a message about fear - how we should fear certain people, based on who they are, what they believe, where they are from. And because they will get much support in certain circles for this attempted decision, it is obvious that a significant portion of the people in America agree with this sentiment.
And what does that say about us, as a country? Before this story, the U.S. was agreeing to only accept 10,000 Syrian refugees, a paltry amount, particularly considering the numbers accepted by certain countries in Europe, but more because of the situation these refugees are leaving behind - the very terror of ISIS. There was a chance to show America as the "shining city upon a hill" that permeates our mythology of ourselves; to fulfill that sense of moral purpose.
Instead, it seems we have given in to fear in this situation. I have a saying - never buy from the man who is selling you fear. Its like a personal mantra of sorts for me, a reminder not to make decisions based on fear, whether those decisions be a course of action, or a particular belief. And yet, this is what we have collectively done - given in to fear. Fear of pain and suffering, sure, at some level; but a much more primal fear, a fear of other, a fear of those different than us. And fear simply cannot lead to any sense of understanding; of peace; of justice.
In all, this collective fear has allowed us to forget or ignore one of the things that, I think, has always made America so great. That mythological melting pot - people coming to this country from all over to pursue dreams and experience freedom and make a better life. The collective fear has resulted in us casting a shadow on the beacon that is the Statue of Liberty, and its message to all newcomers to our nation:
Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me:
I lift my lamp beside the golden door.
What an opportunity that was lost because we succumbed to fear.
"Misunderstanding arising from ignorance breeds fear, and fear remains the greatest enemy of peace." - Lester B. Pearson
"Neither a man nor a crowd nor a nation can be trusted to act humanely or to think sanely under the influence of a great fear." - Bertrand Russell
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