The United States of America in 2015

November 18, 2015 

 

Who are we and who do we want to be?

Wouldn’t our Founding Fathers be proud of us today!

In nearly 100 years (since the Nazis attempted to exterminate all Jewish people), ISIS, aka ISIL, has presented themselves as the most vicious and inhuman group of people that has gathered together for the sole purpose of exterminating anyone who doesn’t see the world the way they see the world. If you don’t agree with what they say, you should be exterminated! No questions asked. No opportunity to present another point of view.

In areas where ISIS has established a presence, people who don’t see things the way ISIS does are fleeing by the thousands to avoid being exterminated. They are seeking places that value human life and accept differences of opinion. The United States once would have been considered an ideal place for these refugees to find the comfort and safety they so desperately seek. What has happened to us that brought us to the point where we would refuse to offer such humanitarian assistance?

Many have given their lives to
give us what we have.

The arguments being presented use the scenario of a terrorist, or small number of terrorists, blending in with refugee populations in order to infiltrate western countries that they wouldn’t otherwise be able to enter. If we were to accept 100,000 refugees from Syria into the United States, that would provide comfort and safety to 100,000 human beings, human beings like Americans once were.

To the point being made by the fear mongers, what if a few of those 100,000 turned out to be terrorists masquerading as refugees? First, they are not entering the United States with the materials they need to carry out terrorist attacks. Once here, they have to acquire the things they need. They have to do this while remaining undiscovered for many months, or even years. Are we really going to tell 99,900 plus innocent people that their lives are not worth the lives of 100-200 American lives that MAY be lost IF the terrorists are successful in navigating through all the security procedures that are in place? Is that the message we want to send to ISIS and the rest of the world, that a few American lives are more valuable than tens of thousands of non-American lives?

We didn't always cower
in the face of danger.

What is the risk for us to offer a helping hand? We can show the world that we still have some humanity left in us and change the perception we have been giving off for many years that we are selfish, dictatorial, and self-centered, OR we can enhance that growing perception and show the world that we only care about ourselves and those who need us most are on their own.

How would you feel if you were taken hostage and our police opted not to help you because they felt it was too dangerous for them to do so? How would you feel if our military personnel decided to stop defending our values and way of life because it was too dangerous for them to do so? How can we be leaders of freedom and democracy when we cower in the face of potential danger where taking action could save many more lives than the number of lives that would be put in increased danger (and, in the long term, less danger)?

Is this okay, as long as it is happening to others and not us?

ISIS will not rest until either they are all exterminated or we are all exterminated! For myself, I choose to avoid extermination, even if it leads to my own death! Of course, I have been in the Military and understand the value of such sacrifice.