Since Syria has been in a civil war, ISIS has been able to carve out Syrian land for themselves. ISIS (Islamic State of Syria) is a terrorist group that branched off from Al-Qaeda during the Syrian War. With all of these Syrian civilians now homeless due to ISIS invasions, it makes the United States question what the right thing to do is. Do we take them or do we let them fend for themselves?

We have been involved with the War on Terror since October 7, 2001 in response to 9/11. The concern with the Syrian refugees is a legitimate one, but Americans cannot turn our heads to innocent people.

The mess between Syria is confusing and misunderstood. It all started about four years ago between four conflicting groups: Assad (president of Syria), ISIS, the Kurds, and the Rebels. Each side has diverse foreign packers that are unsure of who their actual enemy is. Iran and Russia stand with Assad, while Turkey, Jordan and the Gulf States stand with the Rebels. In 2011, Syrian people began peaceful protests for democracy. Assad did not favor the peaceful protestors or the idea of democracy in his country, so he became aggressive with the people.

In July, the protestors began to fight back. Assad responded by sending out an army to put an end to the protestors. The people who originally were peaceful became violent and formed the Free Syrian Army and are now calling themselves Rebels. Extremists from Syria and other Middle Eastern countries called Jihadists were sent by Assad to fight the Rebels. Assad freed Jihadist prisoners so it would be more challenging for foreigners to support.

While all this is going on, the Kurds secede from Assad’s rule. Syria went into a civil war in the summer of 2011 . Soon enough, regional powers entered the battlegrounds. Iran, allied with Assad, sent daily cargo flights to assist him with his mission. At the same time, the oil rich state of Turkey, located on the Persian Gulf, and the Gulf States began sending money to the Rebels to counteract Iran’s influences.

Iran stepped up their involvement by bringing in Hezbollah, a Lebanese Shia group, to invade on behalf of Assad. The Gulf States reacted by sending even more money and resources to the Rebels. Jordan became involved during this time in support of the Gulf State. The Middle East soon became divided based off either Shia or Sunni preferences of religion.

Things began to further escalate when Assad first used chemical weapons on civilians. More than 1,700 people were breathing in death. Obama believed it was America’s foreign duty to protect the lives of civilians and help them get out of Assad’s regime. The Obama Administration signed a secret order after all of Assad’s massacres to train and equip the Rebels. The U.S. urged Middle Eastern leaders to stop funding extremists but their requests were obviously ignored. Obama threatened to bomb Assad but decided to back down.

Then something changed the course of the war. An Al-Qaeda affiliate, primarily based in Iraq, broke away from the group over internal conflicts and regrouped to name itself ISIS. ISIS began fighting the Rebels and the Kurds and gained land within Syria and Iraq. In 2014, the U.S. began air strikes against terrorists in Syria and Iraq. The U.S. launched a campaign to fund only the Rebels who fought ISIS. Assad, this entire time, has been losing ground to ISIS.

In 2015, Russia further assisted Assad by going after ISIS but “missing” and hitting the Rebels. With every group confused on whom to fight it looks like this war will be hard to extinguish.

With Syria being so vulnerable while in a civil war, ISIS was able to get land fast. ISIS has gained over fifty percent of Syrian land. As they take the land, they blow up any historical sites and anybody who fights for Assad. They blew up the historic city of Palmyra, Syria, which was built in the first century. Palmyra, once a Silk Road hub and one of the cultural focal points of the ancient world, is home to some of the most beautiful and well-preserved ruins, including the Temple of Bel, built in the first century.

ISIS believes the conservation of such historic ruins is a form of idolatry so they have destroyed temples and historic artifacts, as well as ancient Assyrian sites in Nineveh, Iraq, after conquering the province. Obviously with all the war, air strikes, bombings, and killings. Syria is not a safe place to raise a family. People are being pushed out of their homes, which raises the question: Where do they go?

After ISIS brutally attacked Paris on November 13, 2015, people began to question what to do with Syrian refugees. The wheels of political standpoints had begun to roll. 31 United States’ governors opposed housing Syrian refugees. Thus far, all but one of the governors are Republicans.

History is repeating itself. In 1938, Fortune magazine surveyed Americans on whether or not they wanted to accept Jewish European refugees fleeing fascism. Fewer than five percent of the people surveyed accepted America housing these refugees. At the time, America was still bouncing back from the Great Depression, so the fear was that the refugees would take American jobs. This mirrors us currently climbing back out of the recession and the fear that Syrian refugees could take American jobs. We need to learn from history to not press replay.

Another concern with letting Syrian refugees into America is that along the wave of people, an ISIS member could come into the United States. This fear is forgetting that ten percent of ISIS are already westerners.

Although the 31 states claim to oppose Syrian refugees in their state, it really boils down to the federal government’s decision. The Refugee Act of 1980, signed by Jimmy Carter, states it is America’s duty to allow escaping refugees from a country that is persecuting on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. Basically, the states’ opinion means nothing. They legally cannot dispute immigrants and refugees simply based off the fact they do not want to.

America was raised on the idea that we protect those who cannot protect themselves. Defeating ISIS means showing and proving American ideology to the world. Denying Syrian refugees not only has a negative effect on national security, but also directly aids ISIS on a ideological and material level. ISIS wants the west to hate Islam so they not only get more supporters but prove the point that the west fears them. ISIS has become so successful because they put out obscene amounts of propaganda of war.

When we say no to refugees, they become overcrowded with limited funds and become ISIS pawns. ISIS is then able to recruit and radicalize potential fighters. America is giving them exactly what they want.

There are nearly 1.6 billion Islamic people in this world. ISIS, which makes up less than five percent of Muslims, is now the face of Islam to the world due to the Paris attack. It is a sad, ignorant reality to think all Muslims are terrorists. It is unfair to the religion and to the innocent, peaceful people of Islam. ISIS has been killing everyone along the way, including Muslims this entire time. ISIS kills Muslims who do not comply with joining their radical movement and Muslims they do not think are radical enough.

Part of the reason that ISIS broke away from Al-Qaeda was because they did not think Al-Qaeda was extreme enough. The people behind 9/11 were not extreme enough. We are dealing with terrorist maniacs.

If Christians don't equate the KKK with Christianity, then there should not be a problem dismembering Islam from ISIS. With the holidays coming up, I know that I will see a bunch of baby Jesus’ in the front lawns. Reenacting a nativity scene with a Middle Eastern couple that could not find shelter is a cruel irony. Also, if the people that think a fertilized egg is a human being but child refugees aren’t, religious excuses as to why refugees are not welcome in America is not valid.

It should be a signal that if they truly believe in the protection of people, they will not have a problem with Syrian refugees being safe in our home, America.