Well, you’re back. This was a city of over 2 million people. Now, a large part of it is rubble. Its people, at least in a large part of the city, have all been killed or forced out. Estimates of deaths range from 300,000 to half a million people. Kinda like they just killed every person in Cleveland. Or Denver. Or New Orleans.
And we let it happen.
I’m not an expert on foreign affairs. And I don’t know all, or even most of the details of the war in Syria. And I don’t know if I should blame Obama for this or not. But it sure seems like the US should have done more to prevent this. And I’m pretty sure that not helping will be the biggest regret of his presidency. Yes, I know we’re already in two wars, and most Americans don’t have an appetite for a third. So, for whatever reason, we ignored a genocide.
But I do know this. Syrian forces were completely backed by Vladimir Putin. Yes, the same guy that Trump and his buddies now call “friend.” Go and take a look at those pictures again, and tell me if someone responsible for that is one you would call “friend.” And no, this isn’t some left-wing wacko conspiracy theory. Putin IS behind Syria’s forces here, and there’s no question about it.
And I also know this. Many thousands of people were killed, including hundreds of thousands of children, but many also lived. Now, where are they supposed to go? Not here in the USA, apparently. Because according to most people in this country, we don’t want them. Apparently, that would be foolish. We don’t want to deal with them. Because they might take our jobs. Or they might be terrorists. Or something. I’ve even heard people say that “they should just go back where they came from.” Look at those pictures again.
Where are they supposed to go?
But what makes me so infuriated, is that only 18% of Republicans support accepting Syrian refugees. Yet most of these Republicans identify as Christians. Yes, Christians. The same ones who happily talk of “The Good Samaritan.” And swear by Matthew 25: 31-46. The key passage here:
44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ 46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
I’m a Christian, and this confuses me. I know that accepting refugees has a lot of problems associated with it. Where do they live? Will they take my job? Will there be criminals or terrorists? I get it. But I also know the good Samaritan took risks, but he helped anyway. Which was pretty much the point of the story. Do I want refugees living in my house? No. But in my town? Yes, I think we could do that. At least we should. As Christians, I think we’re called to do that.
Still, if it came down to it, would I put my money where my mouth is? I don’t know. Or am I no better than those that I’m criticizing? I honestly don’t know. It’s easy to sit in my warm living room and write an angry blog. When it comes to helping, how will I do?
I don’t know the answer to any of this. But I know that as Americans we have just watched one more piece of genocide go by, while we merrily do our Christmas shopping and speak of Peace on Earth. And worry if Obama is still going to take away our guns. Or if some of our taxes are going for healthcare for some lazy guy who doesn’t want to work. And we really don’t seem to care about the Syrians. After all, they’re not Americans. Most of them are Muslims, so they don’t really matter. (sarcasm intended)
It’s no wonder so much of the world thinks Americans are arrogant and selfish.
Because apparently, a lot of us are.
I watched the Vice documentary on Syria about a year ago and could not sleep for two nights. It is difficult seeing these things without feeling compelled to do something. I think the reference to the good Samaritan is the right way to think about it. There are extremely difficult questions to ask about this crisis that cannot be answered, but analysis paralysis should not have affected any of us from helping in any way and it seems to have done just that.
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ReplyDelete"Analysis Paralysis." I like that term. Actually, I hate it, but you know what I mean. Because yes, unfortunately I agree that it has allowed us to do nothing. Good point.
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