My letter to the NYTimes RE U.N. Calls on Western Nations to Shelter Syrian Refugees
Syrian refugees waiting for
transportation to a shelter after crossing into Turkey. Nearly four
million refugees have poured into the countries bordering Syria —
chiefly Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey — straining their resources and
plunging displaced people into poverty.Photo Credit Bryan Denton for The New York Times
We tend to hear and remember the worst news and most titillating
stories. The more outrageous and anti-social the crime the more
attention it gets. I can not help but wonder about all the many
migrants and refugees from the Middle East who came to America
to become loyal citizens contributing positive momentum to
American ideals. People like the inspiring poet Kahlil
Gibran, and people like Dr.
Ziad Asali, a Palestinian American born in Jerusalem who
built a successful career here in America and is a Diplomat of
the Board of Internal Medicine and a Fellow of the American
College of Physicians, as well as the founder of the American
Task Force on Palestine which as been trying to get mainstream
America, as well as people in the Middle East, to
take Palestinian statehood and peace seriously.
Refugee crises in the Middle East have been going on for
more than a century, with many innocent men, women and
children losing all because of hate campaigns and bigotry. The
situation might become much much worse, but it does not have to
be that way. Compassion and kindness and diplomatic efforts have
the power to turn things around: Peace in the Middle East can
and will be built by people who have been able to break free
from the hate campaigns and bigotry, religious extremism,
corruption, crime and conspiracy theories that undermine support
for the rule of fair and just laws. Offering safe harbor for
some Syrian refugees here in America will increase the chances
that their children will be able to get a decent eduction and a
better understanding of how to help create real respect for basic
human rights and freedom- and real democracy for the
people, of the people and by the people.... for everyone's sake.
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