Safe Zones

Trump wants to establish “Safe Zones” inside Syria and Yemen instead of allowing refugee’s into the U.S. is to instead create safe zones inside Syria.

I think safe zones are a great idea.  Ultimately, we want the entire countries of Syria and Yemen to be safe zones.  However, creating safe zones will take some time.  We were already setup for accepting refugees that have already gone through an extensive vetting process.  Trump likes to imply that Obama was letting just anyone in with no vetting, which was and is a lie.  Refugees under Obama went through a vetting process that averaged TWO YEARS.  That’s pretty extreme already.  What does Trump propose to add to that in 120 days?

But that does not mean we turn our backs to the refugees waiting right now.  The two options are not mutually exclusive.

One other thing to consider is that creating safe zones will require more American boots on the ground, and will result in more American casualties.  We will end up losing more Americans in combat over there than we would lose from any terrorist sneaking into the U.S. disguised as a refugee.  (If the Syrians could create these safe zones without our boots on the ground, they already would have.)

True Christians Welcome Refugees

Here’s an idea:  There are over 300,000 Christian churches in the United States.  How about each church sponsor ONE refugee family from Syria?    Each church should welcome that family to America.  The congregation should help them find a place to live.  Help them get a job to support themselves.  Treat them the save way you would treat a new preacher coming to your church:   Take them meals.  Visit them and get to know them as PEOPLE.  Let them get to know you.

You do not have to share their faith, nor do you have to impose yours on them.  Instead, SHOW them what Christianity is all about.  SHOW them that the Parable of the Good Samaritan was not just a story.  SHOW them what America really stands for.

Here is what will happen:

(1) WE will find out that they are really not that different from us after all.  All they want is a better place to raise their families without fear of persecution. And once we find common ground, we can start to form true friendships between peoples and nations.

(2) They will see what TRUE CHRISTIANS really are all about.  When and if they return to their country, they will take stories of American Hospitality and kindness back with them.  Either way, word will get back to the Middle East that the United States not only talks the talk of Liberty and Freedom, we stand behind it as well.

(3) By getting to know them personally, any bad apples among them will stand out like sore thumbs.  Terrorists won’t try to sneak in this way because they know they will be caught.  In every terrorist incident to date, haven’t all of the terrorists isolated themselves from their neighbors?  And haven’t the neighbors who did actually interact with them realize that something was off with them?  Instead of just a few isolated neighbors, imagine an entire congregation befriending a single family.  That avenue of entrance for terrorists will be closed.

Isn’t this much better than leaving them helpless in a war-torn country, where all they know and hear about America is that we are evil?