Let me start of this post by saying I'm angry. My heart is aches, and sometimes feels as if it is literally breaking. I have cried over this topic countless times in the last week, and I'm sure I will shed at least a few tears as I write this post. I'm posting this because I need somewhere to put this, and I'm not sure where else to put it. Let me explain:
I remember the 9/11 attacks. I remember where I was when they happened, I remember several of my teachers leaving because they were in the military, and I remember trying to sort out my first true experience with evil (I was 11). BUT, I was NOT afraid. I had a teacher at school that day (one who later left to serve his duties in the National Guard) explain to our class that terrorists whole purpose in attacking was to instill fear and terror into the hearts of the people they had attacked, and in other places around the world. Hence the name TERRORist. He explained that no matter what happened, if we did not allow that fear to enter our hearts, as long as we did not let terror become the basis of our actions, as long as we stood with courage and did the right things, we were winning the war on terrorism. That is something that has stuck with me for over 14 years.
Fast forward to today. In the last week, there have been several of these terrorist attacks around the world - some, like Paris, well covered by the media; some, like Beirut and Baghdad, not so well covered. The group has changed from Al Qaeda to ISIS, but their intent is still the same - to instill terror. This became unmistakably clear when they sent a video saying that if any country stood with France, they would attack the hearts of that country the same way they attacked the heart of France.
A few days later, there were people in Congress asking approval to allow a large number of refugees from Syria into the United States. Social media turned into an uproar. People arguing and fighting about whether or not these people should be allowed into our country. There have been several different reasons I've seen for not allowing them to come here, but the biggest reason that I've seen floating around is because they're Muslim and they're going to attack us. There may or may not have been one Syrian refugee involved in the attacks on Paris, so we must shut down our borders and refuse to let the naked, sick, and afraid into our country. (If your concern is the finances of supporting them, I can understand that - I have a different opinion, but I can understand your point of view).
About an hour ago, I was on Facebook and saw a shared post that caused me to go into full-on break-down. I refuse to share it because I find the fact that the picture is being blasted on social media despicable. The picture was of a young boy, maybe 4 to 6 years old, lying dead next to the ocean. His family was trying to escape and they were all killed. (I find it horrifying that it's become acceptable on social media to share a picture of someone's dead baby, no matter what the reasoning.) Yes, I'll admit, it more than tugged at my pregnant-mommy heartstrings after I had just laid my child down for a nap and put away his new snacks from the store.
But the words of the post are what struck me more. It was written by someone who doesn't believe in Jesus Christ (I don't know if he's agnostic/atheist/etc.), and I think he makes a valid point. So often, as Christians, we profess that we are trying to be Christ-like - that we're trying to love, serve, and do as He would do. But then when push comes to shove, just like it is right now with the "discussion" of the Syrian refugees, we refuse to help. We clump all 10,000 people - the men, women, and CHILDREN - who need help, whose only desire is to live through the next day, into a terrorist category because of what might be their religion (do you really even know if every single one of them is Muslim?). And don't try to sell me the bull crap that they're all terrorists. I live in a city where there are many, many immigrant Muslims, and I have yet to be shot at, attacked, or honestly to even have them look me in the eyes. From what I have PERSONALLY witnessed (translation - not been warped by stupid media that's just trying to sell a story) they're incredibly hard working people. Many of them come from war torn countries and are so grateful to be in a place where they're not in constant terror for their lives. Neal was actually in a dangerous situation on his mission and was offered safety by someone who was Muslim. Saying all Muslims are terrorists is just as much crap as saying all members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are homophobic morons who think that just by being around someone who is homosexual it will somehow "rub off' on you.
This combined with the fact that the LDS Church, the church that I belong to and believe wholeheartedly in, has asked its members to do everything that they can to offer support and care for refugees (of which there are 51.2 MILLION of around the world as of February). Don't believe me? Go to LDS.org and search "Syrian refugees." This article has some great information on how to get started helping.
You can disagree with me, I honestly don't care at this point. In my heart I've decided that if somehow, one refugee that came here was a member of ISIS (even though ISIS is already here - not sure how people are blind to that) and attacked us and I died in that attack, I could look my Savior in the face and say that I wanted to and tried to help succor the 9,999 others - because I believe that He's commanded us to do so, no matter race, religion, or country of origin. (Use the Good Samaritan as an example).
So tonight, when we're tucking our children safely in bed and sitting around with full stomachs because we actually got to eat dinner, and whining about our first world problems like our kids not having enough presents for Christmas, let's try to allow Christ to soften our hearts and allow some room for compassion. Because even as you're reading this, people are swimming across channels of water, hiding in the dark, and praying to whatever Deity they believe in that they make it.
Because right now, terrorism is winning. We have allowed fear to enter our hearts to the point where we forget to be decent human beings.
