Huddled Masses Yearning to Breathe Free

What has become of our Nation? I have never been more disappointed in my life than this week, with the politicizing and distortion of the Syrian refugees and of Muslims. To take in refugees is the right thing to do. To target Muslims with profiling and limitations on liberty is wrong.

Our Nation is a nation that was founded and built by refugees … foreigners with hopes and dreams for a better life, most fleeing tyranny and injustice just like the Syrians who are currently fleeing a war-torn country. Let us remember the inscription at the base of the Statue of Liberty: 

“Send 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.” 

This is our nation’s heritage. Since her birth, people have flocked to America, all seeking the “American Dream” – life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Lady Liberty’s inscription echoes Jesus words from the Gospel of Matthew: 

“Come to me, all you that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Mt. 11:28)

We claim to be a Christian Nation. If that is true, how can we turn our backs on the “least of these” whose very lives depend on Good Samaritans acting on their behalf. The Syrian refugees are the victims here. They are victims of terrorism and war. America has throughout her history welcomed and given sanctuary to the “tempest tossed”. Certainly, for Christian Americans it is our duty, amid a world filled with violence and hate, to demonstrate compassion. But instead, this past week all we find is political rhetoric that only serves to foster unfounded fear and unjust hate. 

Presidential candidate, Ben Carson, in speaking about the Syrian refugees, compared them to a rabid dog. And then he used this vile comparison to justify denial of emigration for any Syrian refugees. This is appalling. Presidential candidate, Donald Trump, went a step further to not only flatly deny emigration of Syrian refugees, but to create a registry of all Muslims in the U.S. This mirrors precisely what Nazi Germany did with Jews prior to World War II. And we all know the outcome of that registry was the annihilation of over 6 million Jews.

Religion cannot be used to deny anyone’s rights in the U.S. Our Founding Fathers made it clear that Americans must be guaranteed Religious Freedom. This liberty is guaranteed by the U.S. constitution. Just because some radical terrorists use, yes USE the name of Islam for the basis of their violence and terror does NOT mean that Islam and all Muslims are evil. ISIS is killing Muslims, Jews, and Christians alike. Their violence and hatred is not representative of Muslims or the Islamic faith, just as the violence and terror of the Christian Crusades and Spanish Inquisition are not representative of Christians and Christianity.

Hate and violence begets hate and violence. For us to fall for fear-mongering political rhetoric designed to sway votes, would be foolish. Fear is nothing more than false evidence appearing real. Americans are wiser than that. Isolationist ideals did not protect us from the tragedy of Pearl Harbor, nearly 70 years ago. The very best homeland security and scrutinizing of immigrants cannot guarantee safety and protection from crazy radicals. And to live our lives in fear of what might happen, plays into their hands. Americans are bigger than that. Let us not fall victim to fear. And let us not sow hatred. 

Let us sow love and compassion, especially where these beleaguered refugees are concerned. Their very lives depend on our mercy. I pray that our political leaders will recognize the RIGHT thing to do and act accordingly. Closing our borders to the helpless, homeless, the "tempest tossed" is simply not an option.