Lenny Curry on Syrian Refugees

[Sentient]

I'm not defending Obama, but get real. It's got GHW Bush and GW Bush written all over it, too. It's not a one-party issue.

You can put Iraq on Bush, we expect that from him, he's a republican. But Obama has wanted his own war for several years. He ran on "hope" and "change" and other nonsense. Shame on us for believing him. He's got so much blood on his hands I don't see how anyone can stand behind him anymore.

So he got us in to this mess and now what? Like I said, there's no end in sight.

He didn't get anyone into anything. He continued where the other guy(s) left off. We wouldn't be in Iraq without either Bush. We wouldn't have created the conditions in Iraq that led to the rise of IS. Obama can be faulted to a point, but to say he got the US into this mess is disingenuous.

He can be faulted for mishandling the U.S. response in the region with a halfassed approach, though I expect that's not what Coredumped believes.

But either way, there are millions of refugees getting killed in conflicts in which we are involved. It's disappointing and sad to see so many of our leaders - especially the ones who've always called for even more military involvement in the Middle East - to advocate leaving these people out in the cold.

I'm just shocked at the lack of compassion and complete absence of any sense of humanity. Maybe I'm foolish for expecting better, I don't know.

I feel the same way... but for different reasons than you

[Scarlettjax]

Very anecdotal, but I likely would not have enjoyed the life I've had in Jacksonville if it were not for a couple of Syrian refugees in the  1960's.  When our family moved to Jax from South Georgia, flat broke, no job, this Syrian couple helped my father get employment that lasted for over 40 years with one company.  They allowed us to move into a duplex with them in Riverside, and I grew up sharing meals with them; we introduced them to southern cooking and they taught us how to enjoy and make middle eastern cuisine. 

In my work, I've dealt with many of the refugees and those coming over for asylum into our city.  I've yet to meet one who is not appreciative of the opportunities they get simply by living in a free country.  Are there issues with getting used to a new culture and fitting in, of course.  But it's rare these difficulties turn into criminal or terrorist actions.  We have many more home-grown criminals who are more likely to prey on them instead of the reverse.

Jacksonville still has the 5th largest Syrian population in the country.  How do you think this type of reaction makes them feel?  We are a very diverse city and that's part of our charm - and our curse, for those who think that a homogeneous society is best.  This whole country is made of immigrants and we pride ourselves on having the freedom that should and does attract those who do not have it in their home countries. 

I fear our "American" reaction in this instance will only underline what ISIS is telling the rest of the world - look, they talk a game of freedom and inclusion, but really, see they don't want you.  The unintended consequence is likely going to be more war, more terrorism and more recruitment by these extremist groups.  Note that you do not have to be middle eastern in your ancestry to be recruited - we seem to be growing them in the current population as well. 

A proper and thorough background check as is done on the refugees we allow in will minimize the risk.  Doing what we are now with our obviously xenophobic reaction will be certain to keep the cancer spreading.  Think about the bigger picture and put down the broad brush.

[Sentient]

Very anecdotal, but I likely would not have enjoyed the life I've had in Jacksonville if it were not for a couple of Syrian refugees in the  1960's.  When our family moved to Jax from South Georgia, flat broke, no job, this Syrian couple helped my father get employment that lasted for over 40 years with one company.  They allowed us to move into a duplex with them in Riverside, and I grew up sharing meals with them; we introduced them to southern cooking and they taught us how to enjoy and make middle eastern cuisine. 

In my work, I've dealt with many of the refugees and those coming over for asylum into our city.  I've yet to meet one who is not appreciative of the opportunities they get simply by living in a free country.  Are there issues with getting used to a new culture and fitting in, of course.  But it's rare these difficulties turn into criminal or terrorist actions.  We have many more home-grown criminals who are more likely to prey on them instead of the reverse.

Jacksonville still has the 5th largest Syrian population in the country.  How do you think this type of reaction makes them feel?  We are a very diverse city and that's part of our charm - and our curse, for those who think that a homogeneous society is best.  This whole country is made of immigrants and we pride ourselves on having the freedom that should and does attract those who do not have it in their home countries. 

I fear our "American" reaction in this instance will only underline what ISIS is telling the rest of the world - look, they talk a game of freedom and inclusion, but really, see they don't want you.  The unintended consequence is likely going to be more war, more terrorism and more recruitment by these extremist groups.  Note that you do not have to be middle eastern in your ancestry to be recruited - we seem to be growing them in the current population as well. 

A proper and thorough background check as is done on the refugees we allow in will minimize the risk.  Doing what we are now with our obviously xenophobic reaction will be certain to keep the cancer spreading.  Think about the bigger picture and put down the broad brush.

"I fear our "American" reaction in this instance will only underline what ISIS is telling the rest of the world"  - how naive are you?  The muslims see the US propping up Israel for 60 years and acting as its agent in the ME...  see us OCCUPYING muslim countries for a decade and killing over 500K people...  while we CONTINUE TO BOMB and KILL their people in SYRIA every day.

But you think that protesting resettlement of 100k "refugees" is going to incite them and contribute to their fervor for killing us and all that we stand for?  Have you ever had a thought in your life about these facts??

[Sentient]

https://youtu.be/tHuDKQYQCHc

A snapshot of what is really happening in Europe as the immigrant army swarms across the borders - on to the new "holy land" of Germany.  Why Germany?  well they are running from conflict.  Yes but there is no conflict in Turkey?  Or Greece? Or Hungary? Or Romania? Or Slovenia?

Ohhh wait a sec - they are in it for the money...!!!!  Oh OK that makes sense.  They were completely safe in Turkey but know Germany has the biggest hand outs... so all aboard and off we go.

This is a war, make no mistake, populations are being displaced, without a shot fired.  Tell the Indians how they should have welcomed the Plymouth party with open arms, you know they were just fleeing oppression and all.  How did that work out for them?

[Adam White]

I'm not defending Obama, but get real. It's got GHW Bush and GW Bush written all over it, too. It's not a one-party issue.

You can put Iraq on Bush, we expect that from him, he's a republican. But Obama has wanted his own war for several years. He ran on "hope" and "change" and other nonsense. Shame on us for believing him. He's got so much blood on his hands I don't see how anyone can stand behind him anymore.

So he got us in to this mess and now what? Like I said, there's no end in sight.

He didn't get anyone into anything. He continued where the other guy(s) left off. We wouldn't be in Iraq without either Bush. We wouldn't have created the conditions in Iraq that led to the rise of IS. Obama can be faulted to a point, but to say he got the US into this mess is disingenuous.

He can be faulted for mishandling the U.S. response in the region with a halfassed approach, though I expect that's not what Coredumped believes.

But either way, there are millions of refugees getting killed in conflicts in which we are involved. It's disappointing and sad to see so many of our leaders - especially the ones who've always called for even more military involvement in the Middle East - to advocate leaving these people out in the cold.

I'm just shocked at the lack of compassion and complete absence of any sense of humanity. Maybe I'm foolish for expecting better, I don't know.

I feel the same way... but for different reasons than you

I don't understand that you mean. I am talking about people fleeing IS, not IS.

[fsquid]

I heard ISIS was contained, so they should be able to go back soon.

[Adam White]

omg.  so by this thinking, because of the fact that people like Michael Dunn and George Zimmerman, and any number of other killers, we should ban white immigrants from coming to the US?

A white christian terrorist (member of the christian identity movement) committed the OKC bombing. In fact, (white) christian identity movement groups (Aryan Nations, The Order, others) have committed lots of terrorist acts on US soil. What does that say about white christians?

The majority of mass shootings have been committed by white males. Should we bar all white males from having guns? Does this mean white males are a problem?

[JeffreyS]

http://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2015/11/19/9760060/refugees-history-holocaust



How America's rejection of Jews fleeing Nazi Germany haunts our refugee policy today

[L.P. Hovercraft]

Jesus and our founding fathers would surely approve of these two courageous defenders of the faith and our fair homeland from the immigrant horde and their diabolical offspring.

[fsquid]

Jesus and our founding fathers would surely approve of these two courageous defenders of the faith and our fair homeland from the immigrant horde and their diabolical offspring.

kid second from left is obviously giving a sign or signal to sleeper cell.

[Bridges]

Jesus and our founding fathers would surely approve of these two courageous defenders of the faith and our fair homeland from the immigrant horde and their diabolical offspring.

As I said in the other thread, I don't think Jesus would be too shocked.  Every Christmas his follows put out displays of a homeless middle eastern couple forced to give birth in a barn. 

[I-10east]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXag4HcSfdc

[BridgeTroll]

https://youtu.be/tHuDKQYQCHc

A snapshot of what is really happening in Europe as the immigrant army swarms across the borders - on to the new "holy land" of Germany.  Why Germany?  well they are running from conflict.  Yes but there is no conflict in Turkey?  Or Greece? Or Hungary? Or Romania? Or Slovenia?

Ohhh wait a sec - they are in it for the money...!!!!  Oh OK that makes sense.  They were completely safe in Turkey but know Germany has the biggest hand outs... so all aboard and off we go.

This is a war, make no mistake, populations are being displaced, without a shot fired.  Tell the Indians how they should have welcomed the Plymouth party with open arms, you know they were just fleeing oppression and all.  How did that work out for them?

Don't worry Sentient... they are skipping the whole "paperwork and vetting thing" and entering via our Texas/Mexico interface...rofl...

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Legitimate question:

Has there been an end-game discussed?

Like it or not, we're going to shelter hundreds of thousands of refugees.  What's the plan when their civil war is over?

I mean are we just going to ship them back?  Do they have a choice?  Is the plan to force 'assimilation'?  Or has no one given any thought to that part yet?  Is this one of those build / design projects?

[coredumped]

Legitimate question:

Has there been an end-game discussed?

Like it or not, we're going to shelter hundreds of thousands of refugees.  What's the plan when their civil war is over?

I mean are we just going to ship them back?  Do they have a choice?  Is the plan to force 'assimilation'?  Or has no one given any thought to that part yet?  Is this one of those build / design projects?

My legitimate answer: there is no end game. Who the hell are we fighting anyway? People who hate Americans? Good luck ridding the planet of people like that. Yes, they're very bad people, the things they do are awful and disgusting, but this is not a country we're fighting where they'll sign an instrument of surrender.

There's no end in sight. We've been at it 14 years now, only a few more years and we'll tie with the Vietnam war.

no end in sight.