In the midst of the greatest displacement of human beings since World War II, in the midst of vast numbers of people around the world who are deprived, distressed, and distraught, the richest and most powerful nation on earth has turned a cold shoulder. We Americans are allowing ourselves to be guided by fear and distrust instead of reaching out in love and compassion.
Since the terrorist attacks in Paris and Lebanon a few weeks ago, the majority of U.S. Governors and the U.S. House of Representatives have come out with positions making it harder for the long-suffering and oppressed people of Syria to come into our country. Shame on them. Incredibly, this includes our Congressman, Andy Harris, whose father was born in Hungary and was welcomed into our country in spite of his past associations, and our Governor, Larry Hogan, whose wife is from South Korea.
It reminds me of a cartoon some years ago showing a group of people who have clambered up ladders onto a high raft now pushing the ladders away even as more people are trying to climb up – a vivid and chilling depiction of our diminished sense of collective morality. What ever happened to “Do unto others”?
One observer cogently noted that the entire population of the United States is composed of just three groups of people. The first are the native American Indians who European invaders nearly annihilated. Next are those who were brought here against their will, wrapped in chains, to toil as slaves. The third group is made up entirely of people who came here from somewhere else, or their descendants. Like the majority of us, I am in the third group: not one of my 4 grandparents was raised in the U.S.
So it is stunning, given the reality that we are truly a country of immigrants, that we are so fearful and hostile to those who – just like us or our forebears — now want to re-settle here and become new Americans.
The fear-based argument that among the Syrian refugees a handful might want to do us harm is no excuse to further punish masses of people who have seen beheadings in their neighborhoods, or who have withstood gassing from their government forces, or who happened to be in the way when French, or Russian, or U.S. war planes drop their bombs.
Terrorism can spring up from anywhere as we well know, so slowing the immigration process will not make any significant improvement in our national security. In fact we will lose much more than we gain since our latest surge in anxiety and hostility to foreigners will only serve to diminish our global reputation as a strong and generous nation.
What’s worse is that by taking actions that on the surface seem to be “for our protection”, we are actually hurting our own economy and culture. Our meager approach to helping refugees during this extreme humanitarian crisis is all the more ironic since our country was built on the extra energy that comes from being a melting pot of cultures. Think of our motto, E Pluribus, Unum, which translates to “out of many, one.” As Maryland State Senator Jim Rosapepe has recently written, the ideas, skills, and hard work of immigrants is “America’s secret sauce.” We, as a nation, would benefit from more immigration, not less.
The stirring image of the Statue of Liberty holding her torch high to welcome newcomers [remember Lazarus’ poetic lines “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free”?] is now in stark contrast to the surge of xenophobia and harsh new immigration policies.
Ronald Reagan and others have compared America to a “bright beacon on a hill”; sadly that mighty beacon is now reduced to just a tiny penlight.
Making it harder for others to become US citizens is not helpful for us at home and not going to protect us. It will hurt our own economy, it will hurt our self-image and hurt our global image, and it will increase the suffering abroad. Politicians know these facts, but act in a contrary fashion because of perceived public anxiety and fear.
We must hold our leaders accountable to reverse their stance opposing immigration. Instead, America needs to step up the pace of providing refuge and asylum to the struggling masses. At this critical time, we need our leaders to take the humane steps necessary to protect human life, even if it does not poll well. We need leaders who will enable us to show our better selves to the world rather than simply react to the news of the week.
All of us want to be proud of our country, but looking at our self-defeating kneejerk reaction to a small group of terrorists, I feel ashamed. Let’s turn this around and do the right thing – let us open our hearts and our doors to those who are suffering.
John LaFerla is a retired physician in Chestertown. He has been a former candidate for Congress in the First District of Maryland.
Muriel Cole says
I agree and share your sense of shame. Thank you for articulating this situation so well.
Hugh Silcox says
Well said, Dr LaFerla! Thank you.
Frederick Patt says
Well stated. One point to add is that most terrorists, including the Paris attackers, have been resident in their target countries for some time, not recent arrivals, and certainly not refugees.
MARY WOOD says
Thank you Dr. La Ferla for this article. How did these fear-mongers and nay sayers ever get elected. I wish those of us,whose families were immigrants, and who now live in Kent and Queen Anne’s Counties could get together and take in one refugee family.
Beryl Smith says
Well said Mary. If you figure out a way to welcome and host a family–I will be with you. If our elected officials are unwilling to act humanely, it seems to me that it is up to the citizens to take matters into their own hands and show that they care!
Joseph Irr says
Bravo Dr. LaFerla. How can we counter the negatives been espoused by the fear mongers? Your essay clearly states what this country is all about.
Richard Hawkins says
Well done John. Wish I could have phrased it as well as you did. The fear is changing what America has always stood for and needs to be replaced by hope.
Marj Morani says
Well said, thank you for writing this.
Karen Smith says
“the richest and most powerful nation on earth has turned a cold shoulder” to its veterans, seniors, children, and others who are homeless and starving. While I have no objection to welcoming refugees of any kind as long as they are self supporting and respect our culture and laws, I simply cannot support the expenditure of even one penny (even for security checks) until we have helped all American citizens. We need toe stop throwing our money to others nations until we have taken care of our own!
Ed Plaisance says
It has never been an “either or” proposition. If our history had been based on such exclusivity, my ancestors (and yours) would never have made it to this country.
As far as taking care of our own, I agree we should do more…make sure the person you vote for has the same position. We can complain about the “idiots in Congress”, but who put them there? “We the people” elected them…or rather a shamefully small portion of the voters put them there. Maybe we deserve what we have.
Gren Whitman says
As exibited by mass shooting after mass shooting, the most dangerous terrorists in the United States are … American citizens.
Gary Di Vito says
I can remember a movie scene where so many people tried to get into the same lifeboat that it capsized and sank.
Ed Plaisance says
Excellent essay!
Shame on Andy Harris, Larry Hogan, and all the other so-called leaders.
Jim Landskroener says
John: Well said! One would think that the voices of reason and compassion could help pull the discourse away from those who pander in bigotry and fear. Unfortunately, responding to bigotry and fear is very easy; reason and compassion can be difficult. Didn’t a great leader once say, “We do these things not because they are easy, but because they are hard.”?
Ed Plaisance says
Yes, it was John F Kennedy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ateh7hnEnik
Can you imagine any one of the present candidates making a speech like today?
Where are those leaders today?
Patrick Byrne says
Yes, that would have been JFK talking about going to the moon in 1962. A different time, different leadership skills, and a different subject. But it sounds good.
joe diamond says
It was JFK……….maybe not a great leader……but he held my attention. During his inauguration address (I think) he said we choose to go to the moon in ten years AND THE OTHER THING ( ‘Nam)……….not because it is easy . . .
What seems to be lacking in the Kennedy response is the will and authorization to police the world. Beyond that we need to find the money to pay for it. We cannot do off budget wars or do the LBJ thing and start the presses; we cannot pay for stuff with money we just print.
Still…..your question remains…how do we respond with compassion? I see the immigrant flow as the response of people who are afraid to stay where they are. In other times these people would be in search of a better life somewhere….anywhere.
Should we do it like the Hungry in 1955 vs Russia……..twist in the wind?
Should we do it like the North Korea vs South Korea……unresolved?
America saves “Nam……they have recovered from our help, a little?
Should have mentioned Cuba first……we were on the wrong side of history there & Angola?
At what point should America just ignore the evil empire; kick ass and restore our friends to power? Would that even help? Then there is the question of how much can we ignore?
I miss the days of the Nazis and Communists. They were big and bad but at least you knew who to shoot at.
So I ask what can be said for, while not becoming the arsenal of democracy, we could stop the red menace, have a war on drugs, be committed and have a war in terror…..within budget limits.
How do other world police forces do this?
Joe Lill says
“I had always hoped that this land might become a safe and agreeable asylum to the virtuous and persecuted part of mankind, to whatever nation they might belong.”
—-George Washington
With that in mind I’m developing a list of current Washington politicians that I would like to send out of the country on a one plane load of politicians heading out to one plane load of immigrants coming in basis. In one plane load of politicians heading out and one plane load of immigrants coming in we could solve many of our country’s problems while honoring our Founding Father’s wishes.
Patrick Byrne says
You may want to consult the folks in San Bernardino, CA before you make up that list and proceed. They may see things differently.
joe diamond says
Little doubt you are correct……and that is a problem in itself. Persons involved directly in an event become experts. The politicians Joe wants to export will find victims and use them to promote unrelated legislation with hidden small print. “Look, his shirt still has blood on it……he must know more than everyone!
Joe