Confusing refugees with terrorists is morally unacceptable and, as a matter of strategy, misguided

[bigtree]

Peter Bouckaert ‏@bouckap 13m13 minutes ago
'Confusing refugees with terrorists is morally unacceptable and, as a matter of strategy, misguided.'

Battening down the hatches is often an impulsive and politically expedient response to terrorism attacks. Predictably, the harrowing scenes of carnage in Paris on Friday are fueling calls to shut down borders and halt the resettlement of Syrian refugees in Western nations.

Senator Marco Rubio, a leading Republican presidential candidate, said the United States should stop taking in Syrian refugees. Jeb Bush, another Republican candidate, suggested, idiotically, that it might be O.K. to admit only Christians. Several governors announced that their states would not accept Syrian refugees. Republicans on Capitol Hill are expected this week to push for legislation that would block President Obama’s initiative to admit 10,000 Syrian refugees next year.

In Europe, officials from Poland’s new conservative government used the attacks as a pretext to reject the European Union’s plan to distribute refugees more equitably among member states. Even before the attacks, several governments in Europe were taking steps to tighten borders and divert the flow of refugees elsewhere.

These responses are wrong. Confusing refugees with terrorists is morally unacceptable and, as a matter of strategy, misguided. Stemming the exodus of refugees from Syria must be an important part of any comprehensive plan to end the Syrian war. Building new barriers to keep them out with the absurd argument that Muslims are inherently dangerous could provide propaganda benefits to the Islamic State. The group, also known as ISIS, has drawn recruits around the globe by offering a cause and a home to Muslims who feel marginalized and scorned.

Mr. Obama hit just the right note at the Group of 20 summit meeting in Antalya, Turkey, on Monday. “Many of these refugees are the victims of terrorism themselves, that’s what they’re fleeing,” he said. “Slamming the door in their faces would be a betrayal of our values. Our nations can welcome refugees who are desperately seeking safety and ensure our own security. We can and must do both.”


read: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/17/opinion/after-paris-attacks-vilifying-refugees.html?smprod=nytcore-iphone&smid=nytcore-iphone-share&_r=0

[LettuceSea]

1. Jeb!'s response was hilariously pathetic

By far the worst out of all.

So he's concerned about the Islamic refugees being infiltrated, but not the Christian refugees?

Pandering fail, Jeb!

[Glassunion]

2. But fear, and safety, and shit!

Some think that the government's job is to keep us completely safe in our day to day lives. For one, that is not true, and second it is an impossible task.

[bigtree]

3. kick

[whatthehey]

4. We need to say the same thing to different absolutists with slightly varying stress

To RW absolutists: There will be a VANISHINGLY SMALL percentage of refugees who want to do anything to harm their new home.

To LW absolutists: There WILL be a vanishingly small percentage of refugees who want to do anything to harm their new home.