The Flight of Syrians
English 110/Sabina Pringle
Essay: Exploratory
Date:10/23/17
Syria is a country located in Western Asia that suffers from several problems, including the displacement of over four million civilians due to the ongoing civil war that erupted in 2011. These Syrian Refugees are desperately trying to find a safe-haven for themselves and their families. Nations worldwide, including the United States and the European Union, the European Union has taken in millions of refugees in the last few years and is struggling to meet the needs of an unprecedented number of refugees. In Europe, this is being called a refugee crisis, a crisis wary of refugees fleeing and are debating whether or not to accept or reject them into their borders. Politicians, like Trump, fear accepting refugees into their borders due to recent terror attacks in cities like Paris, where some of the affiliated criminals were discovered to have entered the country in refugee waves. Politicians fear that refugees will harm America. Likewise, many politicians like Obama have also argued that determining a refugee’s true motive --whether or not he or she has been radicalized and supports extremism--is nearly impossible to do, and would require a costly, time-consuming, and an impractical vetting process. These politicians want them to stay in Syria and suffer from the horrible wars. However, what many of these realists have a habit of forgetting is that the overwhelming majority of the Syrian people themselves are escaping violence and terror. They are abandoning their homeland and leaving behind loved ones, ultimately hoping to enter a country where death and destruction are not the inevitable norms of everyday life. Therefore, despite political fear over extremism, some people believe that the United States should continue accepting Syrian refugees in this grave time of humanitarian crisis. While others believe that the United States should not continue accepting Syrian refugees because they are dangerous to American society. I am going to mention why Syrian Refugees should be allowed into the United States. The sources used in this paper will help summarize the two different views people have on letting Syrians into the U.S.
Statistics
- “12% agree with resting Syrian Refugees in the U.S while 69% want resettlement program ended”
- “46% would continue the program while 36% would shut it down”
- “99,892 Syrians were registered as refugees as of July 3, 2012, while 4,180,947 Syrians were registered as refugees as of October 4, 2015”
- “ 53% of American adults do not want Syrian refugees resettled in the U.S, while 28% say that Obama Administration should proceed with its plan to accept 10.000 refugees next year without religious screening”
- 11% say only Christians from Syria should be allowed in”
- “More than 250,000 people have died since 2011 when violence broke out in Syria”
Political parties in the United States have conflicting views on allowing Syrian refugees inside their borders. According to the graph that shows the registration of Syrian refugees from 2011-2015, “99,892 Syrians were registered as refugees as of July 3, 2012, while 4,180,947 Syrians were registered as refugees as of October 4, 2015” (Number of Registered Syrians). From 2012 through 2015, the number of refugees increased from the thousands to the millions. The end of 2015 saw the highest number of Syrian refugees registered than any other year. This growing influx of refugees is mainly due to the continued violence in Syria. The Republican Party wants an end to resettlement, and only “12% agree with resting Syrian Refugees in the U.S while 69% want resettlement program ended” (American Oppose) Republicans are more conservative than the Democrats. The Democrats on the other hand, by and large, want to continue resettling refugees in the United States. These Democrats believe that the refugees will create a better environment in the American society with their personal struggle stories. As illustrated in the Syrian issues article, “46% would continue the program while 36% would shut it down” (American Oppose). This shows that both political parties are eager to see a long-term outcome of Syrian resettlement in the United States.
Conservatives opposed
Indeed, Americans have similar views to Democrats and Republicans about the resettlement issue of Syrian refugees. As identified in the opposing groups about Syrian refugee issues, “the new poll found that 53% of American adults do not want Syrian refugees resettled in the U.S, while 28% say that Obama Administration should proceed with its plan to accept 10.000 refugees next year without religious screening” (American Oppose). More Americans share similar views with Republicans than Democrats, Some Americans even say to resettle only certain religious groups within the Syrian refugees. As stated in the text, “11% say only Christians from Syria should be allowed in” (Poll). <<<why do they say this?<<< Furthermore, the majority of state governors (who are mainly Republican) say that Syrians are not welcomed in the countries they are looking for safe-haven. These governors fail to understand <<<do they fail to understand or do they have a different reason for not wanting to accept Syrian refugees? What is their argument against letting Syrian refugees in?<<< that “more than 250,000 people have died since 2011, when violence broke out in Syria” (Terror). According to the United Nation’s “Syrians are now the world’s largest refugee population” (Fears). Most of these Syrians seeking protection are struggling to find refuge in neighboring countries (e.g. Turkey, Lebanon) and in Europe.
Powerful Immigrant Story about their escape from Syria
Heartbreaking Humans of New York stories shared by Syrian families on their escape from, is their only key to freedom. In Syria, there were many cities, one being Aleppo, a “relatively a safe city,” that suddenly experienced fighting. This caused a family of two, a woman named Dima and her son, to view their homeland differently. Their homeland is now a war zone, it has become unsafe. “Aleppo has been totally destroyed,” Dima said, “We came here not knowing we would stay. We left all our belongings in Syria because we didn’t know we would not go back” (Immigrant). Dima had come to visit her relatives in Massachusetts and currently, she is unable to return because of the attacks placed on the country and the people. In another story told by a mother of two children, the little Syrian boy responds, “They were from the city of Kobani in Syria. They had applied for legal migration to Canada because the father’s sister was living in Canada, and they were denied” (Morning). This shows that Syrians are struggling to escape their motherland. Meanwhile, Dima fought to obtain legal migration but failed much time and “their only option was to join their relatives in Canada, and put their lives in the hand of smugglers” (Edition). Their only hope was to take matters into their hands leading to the death of Aylan, his mother and his brother on the sea. That day Aylan wore sneakers, symbolizing an important journey that kept him strong and stable. According to Boukaret, he asserts “And I saw those little sneakers and realized that h his parents had a dressed him for a very difficult journey” (Syrian Boy). Illustrating desperate thoughts about escaping from a war zone country of murderers and dangers to provide a better future for Dima’s only son, Aylan.
Fear of Refugees
According to a French Senator, the attack placed on Paris led to growing concern toward Syrians entering countries, like Europe and particularly the United States. French Senator argues, “One of the men who attacked Paris held an emergency passport or similar document” (Amanpour), presenting him as one of the attackers, creates a feeling of fear and suspense in many people of that country. The French senator also stated the identity of this man, stating “the bomber falsely declared himself to be a Syrian named Ahmed Muhammad born on September 10, 1990, and was allowed to enter Greece on October 3rd. Eventually, he made his way to Paris, where he was one of the three men who blew themselves up at the State of France” (Christina). Since he is a Syrian who took a part in the attack placed on Paris, people will blame Syrian refugees further forbidding them from entering their safe haven locations they desired for. The Syrian population should not be blamed because of extremists who are perpetuating a stereotype of “radicalized” refugees, but rather should be empathized with because they are escaping a land inhabited by the same extremist.
Ignorant Leader
Furthermore, public opinions from political candidates, including Donald Trump issues changes that should be done because of Syrians entering the United States. Mr. Trump said the following: “when the Syrian refugees are going to start pouring into this country, we don’t know if they are ISIS, we don’t know if it’s a Trojan horse” (Lies). Trumps comparison of Trojan horses and confusing them with the ISIS group displays him as a narcissistic leader for our community. He continues speaking about actions that he desires, such as “a database and other checks and balances. We want to go with watch lists. We want to off with databases, and we have no choice, we have no idea who’s being sent here…” (Applauses). In one of Trump’s
presidential campaign he stated, “We are going to have to do things that we never did before. And some people are going to be upset about it, but I think that now everybody is feeling that security is going to rule” (Trump). Trump wants to make harsh refugee laws due to the fact that he believes they are all a harm to the American environment.
Disagreements
However, Obama supports accepting Syrian refugees in entering the United States, unlike Donald Trump. Obama presents his argument by displaying the crisis refugees are facing. Obama agrees
Many of these refugees are the victims of terrorism themselves, that’s what they’re
feeling—slamming the door in their faces would be a betrayal of our values. Our nations
can welcome refugees who are desperately seeking safety and ensure our own security we can and must do both (Vilifying).
From Obama’s point of view, he understands what refugees are striving through unlike Mr. Trump’s position treating them like Trojan horses. Obama’s words are genuine and welcoming to the Syrians and this is how it should be done. In addition, Obama further points out the following: “when I hear folks say that maybe we should just admit the Christians and not the Muslims (refugees), when I hear political leaders suggesting that there would be religious test for which person who’s fleeing” (Against). Obama disagrees with people referring to only Christian Syrians in entering and leaving the Muslim Syrians out. He finds it unnecessary for having harsh rules situated on Syrians. To underestimate Syrians because of their religion is biased which is why Obama disagrees with opinions said by many political leaders
Work Cited
This page has paths:
- English 110 Portfolio Alyah Lima
- Alyah's 110 Portfolio Alyah Lima
