I've been reflecting on what this time of year means to me. It's the time when I celebrate Jesus Christ's birth. Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, maybe you can agree with some of what I may share.
Christ was born in Bethlehem. King Herod heard rumors of a Savior, King of the Jews, being born. King Herod saw this new "king" as a threat to him and was afraid. So what did he do? He killed every baby under 2. Hundreds or thousands of innocent babies in search of one threat. All on a rumor. If you're Christian, you don't see it as a rumor, you see it as truth, but Jews say it was just a rumor. So it still can't be proven.
Granted, a terrorist is threat to more than one person's throne. We're talking about rumors of a Messiah versus a terrorist (to masses ). But both are fear punishing thousands of innocents for rumors of one.
So you say it's been confirmed, one of the terrorists entered Paris disguised as a refugee? Do we know he is still using the same disguise? Do we have no physical description of him to look for him? (If not then how do we know he was disguised as a refugee? If we know his name we can find a photo of him.) Do we know that he is still living? If he's still living and disguised as a refugee, I have no problem searching for him among the refugees, but let those who pass inspection come find refuge.
We, Americans, were not attacked this time. Paris was. What did Paris do after the attacks? They opened their doors to strangers. They let people find refuge. Did they know if they were letting a killer in? Or a terrorist? No. But they did not let what happened to them and fear take away their humanity.
And who are we kidding? Are we saved from tragedy for keeping one rumored terrorist out and thousands of refugees? I suppose, if we keep this terrorist out there will be no more murders in this country, no more serial killers, no more school shootings, no more mall shootings. Because terror and tragedy can only be caused by a terrorist from another country. And those terrorists from another country couldn't have possibly already sent terrorists to and America in disguise. If you say, but we know of this one. Then let's find him and stop punishing the masses for the one. If he is not to be found among them, then chances are he's dead or changed disguise (in which case we are focusing on the wrong group and punishing innocents).
And if you say, but these refugees are from Syria. They could be aligned with ISIS and still under disguise as a refugee until they reach America. So we're punishing them twice. Once for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and once for not helping when we had the chance. I suppose in WWII, Nazi's could've disguised themselves to start slowly killing Jews in other places. Because everyone from Germany could be a Nazi. I guess this is true. Any one could've been. If we're sticking to WWII examples, out of fear we sent several Japanese to camps because one could've been a spy. That was racism. This is racism. It's just being blanketed as "fighting against terrorism". We obviously know something about the rumored terrorist among the refugees, otherwise we wouldn't be able to confirm anything. So let's use what we know, find the one, or find that he's not among the refugees anymore and stop using it as an excuse to not help innocent people.
And Christ said, "For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (Bible, KJV, Matthew 25:35-40)
At this time, when we remember Christ, it is His birthday we celebrate. What gift can we give Him? We can serve those in need- like the refugees.
When Christ was born, Mary gave birth in a smelly stable with animals (any women who have experienced a heightened sense of smell during pregnancy- how would you like to smell that during labor? ) because there was no room for them in the inn.
There is room in my heart for humanity. There is room in our country. The terrorists will not win, if I have any say, by killing 147 by gun and thousands by fear and hunger. If we do not help, we in essence help the terrorist succeed in killing more innocent people and we become an accomplice to their terrorism. I will not act in terror. I will not withhold because of terror. If I do, then terrorism has won by making choices according to terror. Let us be our own people. Seek out the terrorists, but let us not live by terror. Let us keep our humanity. Let us help those in need. Let them in.
