I must admit, this discussion feels somewhat surreal and difficult to understand. I don’t know why this is a conversation that we are having. But we are, so here we go.
Your arguments against welcoming Syrian refugees tend to fall into three categories, none of which make dispassionate sense. But those aren’t your real reasons for wanting to keep refugees out, is it? I will address your real reason at the end, but first, your given reasons:
1. Taxes Will Increase, The Economy Will Suffer… We Can’t Afford It
Many folks with conservative ideologies pull out this old chestnut when it suits them. And yet nary a word is said against the massive military budget that is draining the life out of all the US. Not to mention that the GOP has cock-blocked almost any mention of budget reform in the House, virtually preventing any meaningful discussions of change to the budget.
But one thing is sure here: there is no evidence that Syrian refugees will actually cost us long-term (and don’t cost much short-term either). Immigrants have been shown to have a positive effect on the economy– opening businesses, creating jobs, and pumping more consumer money into the local economy. Any minor initial output in helping refugees to get settled will be dwarfed by the potentially huge positive effect of injecting new, soon-to-be Americans into the economy. Bafflingly, the unemployment rate is often thrown into the discussion of accepting refugees, yet the stats show that immigrants are far more likely to increase the number of jobs available, rather than to decrease it.
2. We Should Look After “Our Own” First
First of all, who are “our own?” Those who currently live in our city, state, country? Those with the same skin color, those with the same religious beliefs? I have heard each of these used in variously vague terms. “Why help Muslims, when there are Christians starving?” “Why help people from the other side of the world when there are people in our city who don’t have a home?”
It is a logical fallacy to say that we shouldn’t consider helping X because Y also need help. Wanting to help refugees does not prevent a person from also wanting to help with local needs. In fact, I will bet you that it will be the same people doing both. Charitability in one area does not negate charity in another area.
When we broaden that argument to a policy-level discussion, making that argument surely means that you are working hard to help those most in need on a local, state, and national level, right? You want to ensure funding for education, healthy eating, healthcare, and basic necessities for Americans in need in, right?
Or maybe not. Chances are, if you are making this argument, you are also against funding for schools, heathcare, and support programs for vulnerable people.
3. But… But… Terrorism! France! ISIS! Twin Towers!
Islamist terrorism is a devastating issue right now, and no one knows this more than the very people you are trying to close our doors to. They are many times more likely to be victims of ISIS than you are.
Extremism is our enemy. Fanaticism is our enemy. A terrorist cell that runs a country’s economy like organized crime is our enemy. I completely agree with you there.
But there is absolutely zero connection between that discussion and this one, except for the connection that ISIS has manufactured.
ISIS members are not stupid. They knew that attacking a western, predominantly white country would scare the bejeepers out of us, and they were counting on us not being able to distinguish a vaguely brown person fleeing for his life from a vaguely brown person who wants to terrorize a country. They want us to say, “To hell with them all!”
They want us to see the narrative as “West versus Middle East,” or “West versus Muslim.” They want us to see it as a crusade. They want us to hate them. And they are succeeding.
But none of these reasons is the real reason you don’t want refugees coming to the US.
Here’s the real reason you are opposed to accepting refugees:
You are scared.
You have no way of quantifying the actual threat the Syrian refugees bring, and you are constantly being fed tidbits about how scary they are. You are a victim of a political empire that runs entirely on fear. You hear the phrase, “Better safe than sorry” from politicians at all levels and from all over the US. You see photos on Facebook along with anecdotes about horrible things that Syrian refugees have done or want to do.
Those politicians are counting on your fear, because fear is the only thing they have. Facts and historical data are not on their side. Almost everything they say is incorrect from an objective standpoint, so they know they can’t earn your loyalty with logic. They know they must earn your loyalty from fear. They tell you that they are the only ones who will protect you, so you will cling to them for safety. They tell you that the enemy is out there, so you won’t see the enemy inside our walls– the enemy who tries to terrorize you at every turn.
Fear is your enemy. Anyone who wants to keep you in a perpetual state of fear is your enemy. Not refugees. Not Muslims.
The Syrian refugees are just people. They are people who need a place to sleep, food to eat, and some level of security. They are people who have been victimized, who no longer have a home, and who have likely lost family members and friends. They are fighting their own battles against fear. They need our help. And the Golden Rule dictates that we must give it to them.
