America the Fearful? Spineless Yanks? That’s What Excluding Syrian Refugees Says About Us, So Own It

At latest count 24 states, including one with a democratic governor, have declared they will not host Syrian refugees. Why?  Because one of the terrorists who attacked this past weekend in Paris apparently posed as a Syrian refugee.  Am I the only one who just feels sickened at the lack of compassion and lack of spine that this movement betrays?  Is this really who America has become?

At most, there would be 10,000 and each and every one of them would be vetted thoroughly by Homeland Security, as has been the case with the two thousand or so that are already here. Most are families with children who have suffered immesurably as a result of the Syrian conflict — a conflict that is destroying these people’s lives.  So there is next to zero REAL THREAT.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations said Monday, “Defeating ISIS involves projecting American ideals to the world. Governors who reject those fleeing war and persecution abandon our ideals and instead project our fears to the world.”

But here we are: blind, foolish, cowering, cringing, cowardly fear.

In Paris, what are they doing?  They’re gong back to where it happened and defiantly sitting in outdoor cafes, and going about their business.

Meanwhile our states are closing their borders to the people who need America most.

I am saddened, disappointed, and if this doesn’t turn around, I will be ashamed.   This fearful, xenophobic, spineless America is not the country I love and which I served.    I can’t help but feel that the meanspirited and xenophobic debate that has been central to the Presidential campaign is partly to blame for this. But only partly.  A contributing factor.

Let’s do a checklist.

Compassion?  Nope.

Empathy? Nope.

Selfishness. Yep.

Xenophobia. Oh yeah.

Courage? Fuggetabout.

I’m pretty sure somebody here or on FB will come at me and blame it on Obama. Give me a break.  Even if you blame Obama for the Paris attacks, which is ridiculous but some one will do it — you can’t possibly, conceivably blame him for the mentality that led 24 governors (maybe more now) to do this.

America’s Finest Hour?

Yeah, right. Speak up, people.  Don’t let this define us.

And by the way — by doing this, we are telling ISIS:  You know what, you’re right. We are exactly who you think we are.

And this is NOT a partisan issue.  Witness the fact that although most of the governors are Republican, some are Democrats — and listen to what Shep Smith, a conservative commentator on Fox News, just wrote about this.

“Our shining city on a hill is vulnerable. We’ve always known that. If we change it to accommodate the savages, have they won? And what then would be left to protect? We profess to stand as an example for all the world. Our unique experiment in freedom, tolerance, openness, and equality is our gift to societies and peoples everywhere. Come, join us. Enjoy a chance at the American dream. Today, we mourn, but we cannot allow ourselves to become like those who want to destroy us. We cannot resort to the tactics of the barbarians. We must fight for what we believe in and who we are, guard our freedoms faithfully for the generations to follow. And we must not let the rhetoric of potential and political extremists among us lead us to self-destruction. When there’s panic, we show resolve. When there’s calm for extremism, we resist. We are America. We must lead.”