With the recent attacks in Paris and ISIS releasing yet another "Hit List," many people are on edge and are concerned about not only their own lives, but the lives of their family, and of those affected by the attacks. But the lives that many people do not seem to be worried about are those of the refugees.
Many want no part in helping them, because they believe that we have to take care of our own first, which I agree with to a point. This shouldn't be an "either or" situation. Why can we not help our country, our homeless Veterans and children, while also helping these men, women, and children? Why does it matter what the color of their skin is, or the fact that they may or may not practice a religion that is shared by many of our own citizens as well as those in ISIS? Does that mean that we should push our humanity aside and sentence these people to a life on the run between country and country, trying to outrun their attackers, who grow stronger and stronger each day?
This is not the first time this happened in our history. During World War II, the Jewish people were trying to find a safe haven away from Nazi Germany, and we gave them the same treatment as we are giving the Syrian refugees now. One event that stands out that directly relates to today's situation is the story of the S.S. St. Louis. A ship of Jewish refugees were given the chance to escape Germany for Cuba, and then hopefully move on to America or Canada. The first stop was Havana, Cuba. However, because of the corruption going on within the government on both sides, over half of the papers of the refugees were wrong and not actually approved, but they still had paid for their ticket and the $500 to get into the country. They had to stay on the St. Louis sitting in the harbor for a week, arriving May 27 and being forced to leave on June 2. During the week, those that had valid permit landings were able to leave. That meant leaving their families in most cases.
On June 2, the St. Louis was forced to leave Cuba. The passengers had tried to get the attention of President Roosevelt and other world leaders to find a new place for them to land. There was suicide watch up on the entire ship and talks about overthrowing it just to stop it from going back to Germany, which would have been certain death. Sadly, they made it to the coast of Florida, but were never allowed to land. The United States was still coming out of the effects of the Great Depression, and they didn't have the funds to take on refugees, nor did they want "those people" within the country our of fear of what was going on in Europe.
Those on the St. Louis were saved by other European countries. The 937 passengers were relocated and divided as followed: Belgium 214, the Netherlands 181, Great Britain 287, and France 224. Though this was a "quick fix," France, Belgium, and the Netherlands would eventually fall victim to the Nazi "Final Solution" and those refugees, who fought so hard to save their lives, ended up doing it for nothing.
Doesn't that sound familiar?
I bring up this history to comment on the very real present issue that we must face not only as country, but us as global community. On Thursday, Nov. 19, 2015, Donald Trump declared that Muslims in the United States, as well as those who go through the screening process, should wear a special ID badge as well as sign up into a special database for Muslims. Also, Trump believes that Mosques should be watched and possibly even disbanded if there is any evidence, no matter the source, that leads to a possible terror organization. This leads one to believe that anyone could call in a report about possible terror organization ties and the Mosque would be shut down right away. I wonder if they would do the same if this was KKK or gang member, or is that acceptable behavior?
Now, who does that sound like? Perhaps a certain evil dictator who took over Europe in the 1930s and 1940s and killed close to 12 million innocent people because they didn't fit into the mold of the ideal human?
Trump believes that this idea of his will end up saving the country and somehow make America great again. How will this make America great again if we are turning our backs on one of main ideals that created this country? We are a country of religious freedom, of freedom of speech, and of freedom of gathering. That this is a place where people should not walk around in fear of how or when or if they pray, or worry about getting harmed on their way to their place of worship. For some ludicrous reason, Trump believes that by doing this, our country will be made safe. After all, it is only Muslims (or just people who look Muslim) that do this type of thing.
Trump not only makes my blood boil, but physically makes me ill.
Trump's end goal in all of this is to get people to hate not only the refugees, but also hate those that look like the refugees and ISIS members. This includes those that are full-fledged Americans, this includes those that have been here for decades, are fifth generation American citizens. (That would like telling an Irish student that they must go back to Ireland, when the closest thing they have seen to their "homeland" is the St. Patrick's day parade in New York City.) Once this way of thinking in accepted, what is to stop us from creating our own concentration camps for those who "look" Muslim, just as we did with the Japanese following the attacks on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941? Where will the new line be drawn?
Donald Trump is not looking to make America great again. He is looking to create his own nation of blind followers who won't question what he says. We as a people need to stand up and tear him down from the podium he believes he has earned. The man is rude, cruel, and does not have America's best interests at heart.
Those who fail to learn the mistakes of history are destined to repeat them.
