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The Islamic State Wants You to Reject Refugees

By Clarence Page, Tribune Content Agency on

Remember how news photos of a drowned 3-year-old Syrian boy in September put new pressure on the West to welcome more refugees? That was then.

Last week's attacks in Paris have sparked the opposite response after a Syrian passport was found near the body of one of the Paris suicide bombers. A shamefully robust chorus of American politicians is falling over themselves to show how hostile they can be to refugees of a war that America played a major role in creating.

This is especially true of Republican presidential candidates, as the issue quickly took on a sharply partisan divide. The Democratic candidates want to accept at least the 10,000 Syrian refugees that President Barack Obama has announced plans to accept -- which is far fewer than our European allies are taking in.

The Republicans? Not so much. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal signed an executive order on Monday to block the settlement of any Syrian refugees from the so-called Islamic State's war in Iraq and Syria.

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio reversed his previous support of refugees, saying there's no way they can be properly vetted. Sen. Rand Paul, Ohio Gov. John Kasich and retired surgeon Ben Carson voiced similar doubts.

Mike Huckabee, Arkansas' former governor, said we should "wake up and smell the falafel" as he called on House Speaker Paul Ryan to resign if he won't block refugees' arrival. By CNN's count, at least 27 governors -- including Ohio Gov. John Kasich, a Republican presidential candidate -- have indicated they will try to block Syrian refugees from their states.

 

Most disturbing, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said this country should shift its focus to allow Christian refugees but not Muslims. Donald Trump, in his typical fashion, said he even would consider "closing mosques." Yes, the presidential race has sunk that low.

"That's shameful," President Barack Obama responded to that news. "That's not American. That's not who we are. We don't have religious tests to our compassion." Well, some of us don't anyway.

Is shutting our national door to refugees a good idea? Appearances can be deceiving.

Yes, I believe Americans should continue to welcome Syria refugees. Since my family and I live and work in the nation's capital, which unconfirmed Islamic State videos name as the terror group's next big target city, I don't take that position lightly.

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(c) 2015 CLARENCE PAGE DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.

 

 

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