The U.S. Has a Moral Obligation to Help Syrian Refugees

[GennGreymane]

http://time.com/4024901/the-u-s-has-...rian-refugees/

Indifference is a betrayal of America's founding mission

Moral clarity is important because moral decisions are often difficult. The easy choices that pose no risk—one should contribute to charity, help old people across the street, and be kind to children—these are not moral dilemmas. Today, with an estimated 4 million Syrian refugees streaming across the globe, we see a genuine moral crisis in the capitals of the West.

What makes this a moral dilemma is not only a claim on resources. It is also the lurking suspicion that we might be admitting people who, arriving from a region where terrorism and anti-Western feeling is rife, will end up causing harm.

We need to remind ourselves that this is not primarily a problem for the Western world. The countries that have the most refugees per capita are Lebanon, followed by Jordan. Countries including Chad and Turkey have a higher per capita refugee population than Germany or the U.S. The Western country with the highest per capita refugee population is Sweden.

The U.S. has admitted some 1,500 Syrian refugees. With our resources, we can devote more time and energy to the vetting process involved when admitting. Will we ever get it wrong? Of course. But the U.S. standard has been to admit those with a well founded fear of persecution, a criteria more than amply met by those fleeing the conflict in Syria.

There is a temptation for everyone who has made it safely to the shore of a secure nation to roll up the drawbridge behind them. Those who come after may spoil it for those who are already here.

But America was founded on the ideal of refuge. Indifference is a betrayal of its founding mission. The words on the Statue of Liberty cannot be an empty promise if we are to remain the great nation we have been for close to 250 years.

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-tost to me.

We cannot take everyone. We have to exercise caution when refugees arrive from a region that breeds anti-Western terrorists. But we remain that shining city on a hill. We must not close our arms to the world, or to the family on a raft, tempest-tossed, praying for safety. No country can afford to be all things to all people. Equally, this country cannot afford not to be America.

[Stacyrect]

No we don't. We have enough issues with radicalized refugee's in this country as it is.

[Saucexorzski]

http://time.com/4024901/the-u-s-has-...rian-refugees/

Is this suppose to make me want to take in a group of people more fundamentalist then GOP bible thumpers? Because it does not.

[PC2]

Sorry no, better to watch Europe and learn from their mistakes.

[Saucerian]

As an American I think if we cared about moral obligation we would not have certain overreaching govt agencies destabilizing the middle east in the first place. The only obligation we ought have is keeping our nose out of other countries' business.

That said, I think allowing refugees to immigrate here is the right thing to do. We must screen them carefully, though. Perfect vector for muslim radicals to infiltrate.

[Tennis]

Great article by time. Simply shameful by America to not take its fair share of refugees.

[Deleted]

Sorry no, better to watch Europe and learn from their mistakes.

You mean America's mistakes right?

If you hadn't lied about WMDs to the rest of the world because you fancied starting a war half the world away it's unlikely we would have ever reached this point of conflict in the Middle East and Africa.

[judgementofantonidas]

http://time.com/4024901/the-u-s-has-...rian-refugees/

Why? How much oil do they have? Because you know the second we go anywhere we are blamed for other than altruistic motives.

[ezgeze]

The EU Has a Moral Obligation to Help South American Illegals.

[boyzma]

No...we have no obligation to help. How does one propose we get them here in the first place? By bus...ummmmm...doesn't quite work. By plane or boat...but why should we have to pay the expense of that, then feed, home and clothe them for god knows how long. Then what do we do with them? Give them jobs that our own citizens need? No..just no. Here comes the criers of "If you hadn't fucked them up in the first place"...can hear it now. We didn't fuck them up...we had plenty of others who helped...so share the blame. Pull up your big boy pants and do your job...we have our own immigrant problem to deal with.

[ezgeze]

You mean America's mistakes right?

If you hadn't lied about WMDs to the rest of the world because you fancied starting a war half the world away it's unlikely we would have ever reached this point of conflict in the Middle East and Africa.

I find it amusing that British intelligence sources were used to conclude that WMD's were being sought by Iraq. Honestly, nothing else to argue with you that hasn't already been eloquently stated by thewalkindude.

[Roxinius]

yeah no we dont we have enough shit to deal with as it is we dont need to take in anymore

[Stormdash]

If the West has a moral obligation to Syrians, it is to give them the opportunity to have a Syria worth staying in. But human debris hold all the power in that country in one capacity or another -- one of whom is openly bragging that they are embedding their own amongst the deluge fleeing to the West (which, by accounts, is a both much younger and more male population than one typically sees in refugees, which is Frye meme worthy in and of itself).

No sovereignty has a moral obligation to accept, unvetted, unscrutinized, and for indefinite duration, thousands upon thousands of people from another country. At least certainly not a habitable country in need of political remedy by its own people. We aren't talking about a natural disaster or nuclear wasteland.

[Grimbold21]

Invades Iraq > Destabilizes the country > Leaves > Power Vacuum filled by militant extremists > Middle East starts to destabilize.

"Sorry, not our problem"

[Deleted]

Why do we keep trying to blame someone or another, this is everyone's fucking problem.

[Skayth]

I have the moral obligation to watch the middle east burn. Let the extremists consume themselves.

[Cyberowl]

I have the moral obligation to watch the middle east burn. Let the extremists consume themselves.

I sometimes wonder how posts like this could possibly pass the enter button of an intelligent human being.

[dextersmith]

The article can't be taken seriously if their argument stems from

one should contribute to charity, help old people across the street, and be kind to children...

Being merciful is great but to say they are obligated to bear burdens is to be entitled. Accepting refugees is no trivial matter. Countries want skilled people, not dependents. Why the obligation to Syrian refugees in particular?

[boyzma]

Invades Iraq > Destabilizes the country > Leaves > Power Vacuum filled by militant extremists > Middle East starts to destabilize.

"Sorry, not our problem"

You're right...not our problem. We will not hold any countries hand for year upon year, enough is enough.

[Doctor]

I'd be more than happy to help if I possessed any wealth. Unfortunately I am extremely poor and can't even provide for my own self. In such a condition, how can I be expected to help anyone else?