Lenny Curry on Syrian Refugees

[Cheshire Cat]

Following the brutal terrorist attack in France, several Republican Governors and some Republican Mayors took a very strong stance against allowing Syrian refugees into the states or cities they represent.  Florida Governor Rick Scott and Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry were both quite assertive in their demands that Syrian refugees not be allowed into our state or city with Scott flat out declaring that he would not let them into the state at all.  Of course neither man apparently understood that Syrians are already in our state and city with Jacksonville itself hosting a sizable Syrian community. The 5th Largest Syrian population in American.  Neither man apparently understood or understands that they have no legal ground to stand on while attempting to block these refugees.  But when has legality mattered to Rick Scott and when did it stop mattering to Lenny Curry?  The mandate to allow refuges into our country is ages old, a federal mandate.  However there is a greater mandate, a moral mandate that demands thinking and compassionate people help those in mortal danger who are fleeing countries embroiled in destructive and devastating violence.  To my view this is not only a test of leadership but a test of morality that these men have failed.  It is also a test of the law and legal action. Both Scott and Curry are rejecting what federal law has mandated.  Their stance is not only sad but it is a sign of weakness in leadership, not strength.  Scott, Curry and those in elected office turning their backs on the Syrian refugees are doing exactly what ISIS/ISIL wants them to do which is cower in fear of the Syrian refugees and the threats of these terrorists.  These men have been played by the terrorists.  Their depth as leaders appears shallow in the face of terrorism and shown that they can be readily outsmarted and manipulated using fear or threats of violence.  France itself that was the most recent recipient of mass terrorist has done the right thing.  They have not stopped Syrian refugees from coming into their country but have doubled down on their attempts to help then.

Here we are a military city, strong on military pride and the terrorists of ISIS/ISIL have already made our mayor cower in the fear of "what if" instead of facing down these murderous bullies and saying "We do not fear you and we will embrace those you are attempting to destroy and give them sanctuary".   That is true fearlessness and strength. 

New Colossus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!

Lenny Curry and Rick Scott you job is not to dim the glow of the beacon offered by the Statue of Liberty in presence and sonnet.  Your job is to support the heart of this fearless nation and city, not cower and turn you back on the many because you fear people simply because of their country of origin or their religion.  This is not what America is.


http://www.firstcoastnews.com/story/news/local/2015/11/17/curry-asks-florida-reps-to-prevent-syrian-refugees-coming-to-america/75946310/

http://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/news/local/jacksonville-mayor-supports-halting-syrian-refugee/npPzp/

[mtraininjax]

This is not what America is.

There are 2 Americas in my lifetime, Pre-9/11 and Post 9/11. We will never be able to go back to Pre-9/11 so I am willing to give up some civil liberties for more security.

What good is liberty when you are dead from a terrorist?

[Adam White]

Is this about civil liberties? Sounds more like it's a knee-jerk reaction fueled by racism.

The USA is (in part) responsible for IS in the first place. It needs to pony up and take its share of refugees. Americans need to turn off the television and stop being a bunch of fucking crybabies. Just like ebola didn't get you, Syrian refugees aren't going to get you.

[TheCat]

well, then you should move. Except, some of the safest countries are usually the one with the broadest sense of civil liberties. the countries with the least amount of civil liberties...


Removing your rights does not make you safe, ever. It takes your safety away.

[TheCat]

Is this about civil liberties? Sounds more like it's a knee-jerk reaction fueled by racism.

The USA is (in part) responsible for IS in the first place. It needs to pony up and take its share of refugees. Americans need to turn off the television and stop being a bunch of fucking crybabies. Just like ebola didn't get you, Syrian refugees aren't going to get you.

I don't think it's fueled by racism. It's fueled by election year fear-mongering, which Curry is well-acquainted with.

Tacachale, please see my article "The Curry Campaign is Fear Mongering" .

Beware of people who thrive on violence.

[The_Choose_1]

This is not what America is.

There are 2 Americas in my lifetime, Pre-9/11 and Post 9/11. We will never be able to go back to Pre-9/11 so I am willing to give up some civil liberties for more security.

What good is liberty when you are dead from a terrorist?

Mtraininjax Bullshit! Never freely give up your civil liberties for false security. The odds are better that you will die in a car wreck then die by the hands of a terrorist.

[The_Choose_1]

I look at this photo of Rick Scott and Curry and I see a puppet master holding the strings of the puppet mayor. Jesus Christ if we don't let some of these women & children Refugees into America. Did anyone see the FRONTLINE story of ISIS in Afghanistan http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/isis-in-afghanistan/

[fsquid]

These Governors know they can't legally prevent them but it does make for good sound bites in a presidential election cycle.

[Cheshire Cat]

Frances response.

http://thinkprogress.org/world/2015/11/18/3723440/france-refugees/

In a speech to mayors from around France, Hollande said France would welcome 30,000 refugees over the next two years. That's even more than the 24,000 he committed to accepting in September.
Hollande said that he would invest about $53.3 million to develop housing for refugees.
He added that that refugees will undergo thorough security checks before entering the country before addressing calls from the country's largest opposition parties, the ultra-right Front National.
Acknowledging fears among many in France after 129 were killed in gun and bomb attacks on Friday, Hollande said, "[It is] our duty to protect our people

[Cheshire Cat]

This is not what America is.

There are 2 Americas in my lifetime, Pre-9/11 and Post 9/11. We will never be able to go back to Pre-9/11 so I am willing to give up some civil liberties for more security.

What good is liberty when you are dead from a terrorist?

My so dramatic.  A person has a better chance of winning the Mega Pot lottery or getting hit by lightening than being killed by a terrorist.  Your chances of dying are much greater if you smoke, drive, do drugs, drink or own a gun than dying at the hands of a terrorist.  If you fear death at the hands of a Syrian immigrant you have successfully had your mind messed over by ISIS/ISIL and groups like them those whose sole intent is to instill fear across the world. Personally I would never let the fear of terrorism make me fearful of my life or other people including those of middle eastern roots.  Currently there are over 67,000 Syrians in America and they have been migrating here since the late 1800's. 

[Cheshire Cat]

One of the things I have to say to the officials men and few women that are terrified by the idea of Syrian refugees finding sanctuary here is this.  If you grown adults are afraid of ISIS/ISIL why the hell would you leave children to face them down when they can be made safe? Why have them and their families suffer these horrors and death as opposed to making them safe?  That is the height of cowardice and it turns my stomach and hurts my heart.  Suffer the little children.  The very idea is unholy.  On this issue my feelings are very passionate as is my judgment of the cowards refusing them and their families sanctuary.

[Tacachale]

This is very disappointing, and pathetic. These people are dying out there due to conflicts we're actively involved in. It's echoes of the voyage of the St. Louis and our refusal to take in Jewish refugees fleeing the Nazis in the leadup to World War II. We learned the hard way how bad a mistake that was.

[Cheshire Cat]

This is very disappointing, and pathetic. These people are dying out there due to conflicts we're actively involved in. It's echoes of the voyage of the St. Louis and our refusal to take in Jewish refugees fleeing the Nazis in the leadup to World War II. We learned the hard way how bad a mistake that was.

Exactly.  These officials are shaming America.  What the hell happened to "America home of the free and the Brave?'  There is nothing brave about buckling under fear.  Not a damn thing.  I am not being dramatic, I am rather furious at the cowardice being displayed. 

[Cheshire Cat]

Now take a look at the process for Syrian refugees and you will see that it is strict, lengthy and as secure a process we can implement. 

1. Refugees are screened by several different agencies.

Their first point of a refugee's contact is with the U.N. High Commission for Refugees. The UNHCR refers people to countries based on whether they have any family members there and where resettlement makes the most sense, say U.S. officials. If that's the U.S., then refugees are vetted by the National Counterterrorism Center, the FBI's Terrorist Screening Center, and the Departments of State, Defense and Homeland Security. Fingerprints are taken, biographical information is collected. They are then each individually interviewed by U.S. officials trained to verify that they're bona fide refugees.

Refugees from Syria are then subject to additional screening that looks at where they came from and what caused them to flee their home, stories that are checked out. All of this occurs before a refugee is allowed to set foot in the country.

To read about the entire process, click this link:

http://www.npr.org/2015/11/17/456395388/paris-attacks-ignite-debate-over-u-s-refugee-policy

[coredumped]

If we didn't want to take Syrian refugees, maybe we shouldn't bomb the shit out of their country. (Sorry Dems, this one's on the blood-hungry Obama).
There's no end in site to these wars folks, gonna be another 15 years....

As for the other comment I'll just quote Benjamin Franklin:
Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.