Since we're talking about turning away people based on their race and religion...

[951-Riverside]

because of the actions of a few criminals who happen to be of similar race and claim to be a part of that religion.

Lets talk about a segment that makes up 13.2% of American population but were responsible for 52.5% of all homicides between 1980 and 2008, would we ever consider subjecting them through intense screenings and denying them access to housing, jobs, neighborhoods, etc based on the actions of a few criminals within their population?

No, absolutely not because that would be WRONG to group them together and punish them for the actions of a few.

So why are people within our own party okay with ostracizing, discriminating against and segregating Syrians and Iraqis?

These people rarely commit crimes, they work hard, they strive to be self sufficient and they work to law enforcement root out radicals in their midst which is why the FBI is constantly foiling potential plots.

What if we denied Iranians fleeing decades ago, Beverly hills would look vastly different. It probably wouldn't be the most luxurious cities in the country.

Name one middle eastern crime filled ghetto in the US.

The truth is you're likely to be shot by a White, Black or Hispanic male way way way way before you're ever going to be attacked by someone from the middle east. I guarantee you this weekend we'll see hundreds shot and wounded due to gun violence around the country and ZERO of those will be at the hand of those "scaaaaarrrry" people from the middle east.

By the way, we've had 11,740 deaths[/link] so far due to gun violence but we're afraid of a few Syrians going nuts?





Shame on everyone who voted to deny families like this safe haven in this country

I hope President Obama vetoes the hell out of these upcoming kneejerk racist bills.

[PatrickforO]

1. Me too.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

2. A terrorist group of a certain ethnicity based on a Middle East religion.....

[JDPriestly]

3. People are worried that members of ISIS will infiltrate the refugee groups.

I think that problem can be remedied if the refugees are carefully interviewed and if groups in the US adopt them.

I am also concerned about the fact that we have religious tolerance in our country and that the Syrians have been very intolerant of their Israeli neighbors. We need to explain to them how vital religious tolerance will be for them as they live in the US and how important it is to extend it fully and graciously to others. I know this is a problem in many other countries. I remember one day in another country in which grade school children who were Catholic yelled out as they were going to a school that was mixed Protestants and Catholics, "All the Protestant girls are whores." May be true if you take Catholic doctrine very literally, but I doubt that very many Catholic priests think that. My point is that religious intolerance is prevalent all over the world. We work at making it rare.

Beverly Hills was luxurious before Middle Easterners moved in in very large numbers. I say that as an Angeleno. This is not an important point, but I just thought I would correct the historical record. I'm sure you did not mean to suggest that the influx of Middle Easterners (many of whom are Jewish) suddenly enriched Beverly Hills. Beverly Hills is a legend of wealth -- maybe not always and everywhere as wealthy as its reputation suggests.

Anyway, no matter who the refugees are, the adjustment to a new culture is difficult. One of the great difficulties of being a refugee is that the skills and recognition you enjoyed in your homeland do not always follow you. This is very true for, for example, lawyers, whose job involves language and learning and knowing local law. They may find themselves working as janitors. That can be depressing. Same is true for doctors. They will have to face rigorous tests in this country. I do not know what being a refugee and immigrant will mean for Syrians who earned their living as farmers. But they will not be able to buy land right away.

So being an immigrant and especially being a refugee is almost always a miserable condition especially for those who are older. The young will do fine.

And the Syrians were not welcoming to the Jews when they moved to Israel. No one in the Middle East really was. Yet the Syrians will be welcomed here. Strange world. But as I said being an exile, a refugee, an immigrant is never easy. Not for anyone. Not even for those who do well financially.

[JustAnotherGen]

4. The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth

[Quantess]

5. Middle eastern is a race, now?

Ah yes, the middle eastern race. I see.

You make a lot of good points otherwise, but the imagined "race" thing gets on my nerves.

[mfcorey1]

6. Cubans are allowed to enter just by the wet foot policy. How much vetting is

done there? Will that policy be eliminated Illeana Ross Lehtinen Ted Cruz? Then they are immediately given benefits. Things should be equal for all.

[Waiting For Everyman]

7. Refugees from groups that have vowed to murder us are different.

Did the Jews do that? No! Did the Irish do that? No! Did the Mexicans do that? No! And I could on and on.

See the difference? Yes, it's different. That means, not the same. Never been before. I don't know why that's such a tough concept. Seems pretty elementary to me, and pretty obvious.

A majority of Americans are against it, for good reason. Another simple concept, some cannot grasp.

[951-Riverside]

9. Do you realize that over 11,000 people have DIED this year so far due to gun violence...

and you're scared over the thought of a few refugees going on rampages?

There were 293 mass shootings this year alone mostly by people already here and were born here but you're scared of refugees from the middle east?

According to the FBI there are 33,000 different street gangs, with 1.4 million members who are "criminally active" in the US and who are responsible for 48% of violent crime in most areas, and up to 90% in others, yet you rather let thousands of men, women and children from Syria continue to face war, starvation, filthy living conditions because you're afraid that a few criminals in their midst?

I honestly do not get this train of thought especially from progressives.

A majority of Americans are against it

There was a time when a majority of Americans supported slavery, didn't want women to vote, were against interracial marriages, supported segregation, were against gays getting married (actually, that probably still a majority) but just because the "majority" supports something doesn't give them the right to violate the rights of a minority.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

12. Then the "majority of Americans" are bigots.

Remember WWII when the Japanese were the Bogeymen?

How about the drunken, illiterate, idol worshiping, Irish?

The opium smoking Chinese who were stealing jobs from good Americans?

The Mexicans who "want their country back" and don't speak English?

The Germans who loved the Kaiser?

etc, etc, etc.

[Arugula Latte]

13. I guess we should deport all white guys with guns,

as they are a clear and present danger.

[Bluenorthwest]

8. Know your history, it is a bit self serving to pretend that only now the US immigration policy

has bigoted aspects. Have you heard of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882? The The 1907 Immigration Act? Or the 1924 Immigration Act, which established quotas? How about the HIV travel ban the US had in place for 22 years until Obama?

This country has many past actions you seem to be unaware of.

[951-Riverside]

10. Whats your point here?

Are you saying that its okay to let these people continue facing war and starvation because ...America did worse things in the past?

:shrugs:

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

11. Americans are superb at making bogeymen out of people who aren't like them.

Or, perceived as not like them.