The issue is a genuine conflict for me. I actually do care about the people having their lives destroyed by this war. The few Syrian students I have had the opportunity to teach have left me quite predisposed to cheering for a successful Syria.
As a teacher, who was obsessed with always trying my best to keep ahead of what was happening nightly on the news, I studied up on anything I thought might become relevant, and thus, last year I happened up, viewed and then used PBS' amazing Children of Aleppo video with at least two of my classes. I personally watched it repeatedly before putting it on screen in front of the kids, researched the topic deeply to make sure that they were not massaging the story too much. We watched the video in class, discussed it, and seriously thought about the implications of what was so clearly shown on screen. We were horrified by what we saw.
We discussed the children shown in the video...we voiced our wish that we could have some of them in Apple Valley, in our classes, so we could care from them, and help them recover from the horrors they had been witness to. It was generally agreed that we, as a group, knew many people who would desire the opportunity to adopt those orphaned by this horrible war (we all know and admire several people who have adopted children from a whole variety of nations, from situations all too similar) We even talked about the difficulties of bringing them the U.S. because of the torturous nature of the adoption process. Agreed that there is no excuse for making amazing people suffer so much for the opportunity to share their lives with needy kids. We discussed what it would take to change the laws to make the system more efficient (as a teacher, I was long obsessed with teaching them that problem solving, not just complaining, was necessary in this world)... we scratched our heads at why that wasn't a priority for everyone in Washington D.C.
Didn't forget what was happening in Syria, but it was hard not to notice that the refugee effort was rapidly becoming a refugee problem. I am a believer in the "The Law of Unintended Consequence", naturally inclined to imagine worst case scenarios and then problem solve in an attempt to find a "better then worst" if not "fully successful" solutions. The more I have studied this issue, as things stand on November 21, 2016, the more I am forced to put forward the hypothesis that what has become a push for "faster, faster, faster", if adopted, is likely very likely to become a case of "What were you thinking?" later.
If we are going to bring refugees into the U.S., we have a responsibility to provide them the opportunity to succeed (not guarantee their success)...what do I mean by that? We cannot have them coming into the nation already saddled with suspicion of their motives and loyalty. We need to assure, to the best of our ability, that we are not bringing in, hidden among the sheep, any wolves.
If any members of the 10,000 are shown to be involved in terrorism against the U.S. it is going to be used by people more interested in narrative than truth, as evidence that all of them must be tainted. It would be unfair, but it would also be completely predictable.
My guess is that most of them desire entry to our nation for the same reasons I would want to come here if I was in their position: 1) To get away from a nation being destroyed by war 2 )To find out if the American Dream can still be obtained. 3) To have the opportunity to succeed. To be clear...if we could assure that those were their motivations, and if they are willing to keep up their house and yard, and help me keep people from dumping trash in the empty lots across from my house, then we have vacancies in my neighborhood and I would be willing to help them move in (you may think that is hyperbole, but I assure you that it is not, I value a good neighbor)
Now for the conflict...first, there was the comment from the FBI director
“We can only query against that which we have collected. And so if someone has never made a ripple in the pond in Syria in a way that would get their identity or their interest reflected in our database, we can query our database until the cows come home, but there will be nothing show up because we have no record of them”
He is on record, he said this...he said it well before November 13...he didn't say it off the cuff, and unless there is a very serious issue with the credibility of the FBI, he didn't say it from a position of being an uninformed yokel.
So, that should probably give us a little pause (to be clear, there is a difference between pause and stop)...
Today is November 21, 2015...just over a week ago the world witnessed the brutality of the ISIS attack on Paris. At least two of the attackers came through Greece, via Syria embedded or as part of the refugee movement. Does this fact suggest that everyone on the refugee program is a jihadist...ummmm, no...to suggest that anyone who thinks a pause is in order has to believe that way is a great example of reduction ad absurdum.
Many countries in Europe, which for decades have been held up as a great examples of tolerance and worthy for emulation, are reconsidering the pace and direction of their Syrian Refugee policy. We found out this week (because I have never seen it reported before this week in any of our media) that Europe is not, as has often been reported, admitting any refugee who has applied...quite the contrary.
The President, while abroad, decided that the best course of action against those asking if a pause might be warranted (which considering his FBI chief's statement, and the events of November 13, doesn't seem like a horrible idea) was to attack them and their motives...to take a verbal swing at them. In what History is likely to label the "3-year-old orphan" speech, he decided that leadership meant he needed to talk to them as if they were wayward children. Eight years ago dissent was the highest form of patriotism (it isn't)...now, it means you are fearful and evil. The White House, if they really believe that we should bring in the 10,000, needs to have a discussion with us, the citizens...a good first step would be asking the PBS channels around the country to play the "Children of Aleppo", it is can't miss material for anyone interested in really understanding...and it seems clear that most people really have no idea what is happening in Syria, nor, to be fair, should they be expected to.
The administration should have at their command all of the demographic information necessary to make a case for those who are seeking refuge in the U.S. from Syria. They know...or at least should know, exactly how many 3-year-old orphans are included in the 10,000...should have a plan to help each of them find a suitable home, loving parents...in short, give them a chance. Funny thing is though, I haven't seen any reporting that the White House has been consulting with congressional Democrats on a plan to streamline the adoption process (imagine how pleasantly I would be surprise if in fact they were doing exactly this). They should be making a case to us, rather than talking down to us. Too many "we have to pass it before we will know what is in it" moments have occurred. The White House, if they really wants this, needs to choose dialogue rather then a stern talking to.
How about a little equal time criticism?
The Republican candidates are just bumbling through this issue. Their staffing is in question if the responses we have heard thus far are the best that they can do.
If I were advising one of the GOP candidates (which I am not)...I would suggest that they needed to sit down for a few minutes , preferably more, with some people who know what they are talking about...watch the video, understand why people are fleeing Syria. and then, in private, not in front of a camera...think it through, work it out, and write out a proper response. develop a solid policy approach. Stop the ad libs. Come up with some viable solutions that do not completely exclude any Syrian from entry, nor leaves us completely exposed to the ravages of organizations like ISIS. In other words, lead, don't just react. (I would suggest the same to the Democratic Candidates, but the thought of CINC Clinton or CINC Sanders not a very solid one)
The U.S. does have a legacy of being the place where refugees have a chance...Ellis Island is a place of inspiration...but we need to remember that it was a filter, not an open invitation. A pause is needed in the process, thought is needed, not just overheated rhetoric.
