LETTER: Cowardly stance on Syrian refugees betrays American values

It is a sad thing to see cowardice in action. Especially in America, the land of the brave, and the Flathead Valley, the home of the Braves.

Discontent with fixing potholes and catching stray dogs, the Flathead County Board of Commissioners now dabbles in global geopolitics.

With plenty of self-importance and darned little historic context, the Flathead County commissioners sent a letter to the American government, saying Syrian refugees are not welcome here. Not that anyone was actually sending any refugees here. No matter. Flathead County is, officially, afraid.

It made me wonder if any of the county commissioners, or any of the members of the crowd that cheered them on, have ever even met a Muslim-American, or an emigrant from a country where Islam is the dominant religion. I have. I’ve lived next door to them, had them as Cub Scout leaders, played soccer with them, trusted them to drive me around in Greyhound buses, and shared hospital floors and college dorms with them.

I never found any of them remotely frightening. They are people. That is all. I am much more unsettled by the ignorance and fear mongering I see in full throat this election season.

America is a nation of immigrants. We have a proud history of embracing refugees. We lead the world in religious liberty and tolerance. That is, we will be as long as we keep the cowards out of office and elect those who are true to American values.

 Let’s have the courage to say no to those who are pushing fear.

— Ben Long, Kalispell