LETTER: Don't be silenced by Syrian refugee supporters
On a cold, icy March day a team of concerned citizens gathered in front of the Missoula County Courthouse to ask officials to more carefully discuss refugee concerns before allowing further immigration. The rally was followed by similar events throughout the state. Hosted by people of many races and ethnic heritages, the rallies were quiet until an anti-discussion group tried to halt discussion.
The whole state came unglued.
Presenters wondered why anyone would work so hard to prevent and disrupt discussion of refugee challenges. We asked each other just why anyone would lie to claim that people wanting discussion of refugees were “racist,” “anti-refugee” and “haters.” We searched to know why anyone would try to prevent listening.
It made no sense that angry activists would turn out to disenfranchise people wanting discussion while the state’s majority favors discussion of refugees.
We know that, without discussion, refugees will have serious trouble no matter where they go.
Mass immigration of refugees from the Middle East is frightening in light of the many excesses by both legal and illegal immigrants. Nobody has hard and fast objections to refugees. Opposition to refugees is not the issue. Dialogue is. Everyone wants the right to inquire, to learn and to discuss. It is denial of this right-to-discuss that has deep concern.
There is evidence that immigrants from the Middle East are coming to Montana without serious scrutiny. That’s suspicious. Suspicion explodes in the orchestrated absence of descriptions of future scrutiny. This secrecy is ugly. Montana residents want to fully understand and trust whatever scrutiny may be applied.
No matter what side you or I take, the vast majority of refugees must be denied. There isn’t enough America to go around. Our bucket is full. Open space, landfill problems, wastewater challenges, transportation costs, need for buildings and water shortages are all hurdles that have not been sufficiently addressed.
Every new immigrant takes something away from someone else though nobody favors abandoning Middle Eastern refugees. The Americans who serve in the Middle East and Americans who donate to Middle Eastern needs strongly oppose immigration to this country. It is suspicious that media does not address this angle.
We are told that the earliest waves will be some 10,000 (not 100) people plunked down on the prairie. The State Department says that the United States takes far more refugees than all other nations combined.
The goal of the anti-discussion group is to prevent you from discussing. Discuss anyway.
—Jack Wiegman, Missoula