Humans.

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I imagine many people are annoyed at Facebook lately.

I, for sure am one of those people. Everyone sharing their opinion, trying to convince someone else that they are right, someone else is wrong. I don’t want to hear about it on Facebook – go do something about what you claim is so important to you (I am including my self in this as well).

This last weekend was one of those weekends I felt my heart sinking lower into my chest as I learned about the attacks on Paris, Beirut, Baghdad, and Kenya. I am so sad for this world. Sometimes I think any prayer is just too small to help.

As if those horrific events weren’t worse enough, half of the states in the U.S. have decided to not welcome Syrian Refugees because of the scare related to the Paris attacks. This makes me not just sad, but mostly angry. People’s post saying that we shouldn’t let them in based on fear, or your racism towards a certain culture or religion. Tip: Just because in your post you say “I am not racist but…” you can still be racist.

For those who may not know, here is what a refugee means:

“a person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster.”

I understand we all lived different lives. Maybe I feel this way because I went to school in one of the most diverse zip codes in the country, or I spent most of my college career on Friday nights tutoring, and just hanging out with a refugee family. Or maybe because my faith is important to me, I believe in loving your neighbor, your enemies, and living as Jesus would (I fail at this daily).

Here’s the thing. Do you know what it is like to be in a Civil War? Or be scared for your life on a daily basis? I actually don’t but being in Boston around those bombings gave me a tiny taste of that.

Now, let me introduce you to a pretty amazing family from Iraq:

They were refugees, who were being persecuted by war and fled to the U.S. The mother (a Doctor, incredibly smart and fluent in English) explained to me that they had to move because she no longer felt comfortable sending her kids to school due to the many bombs that were occurring. I for one, do not know the feeling of living in constant fear but I am so glad that Illinois welcomed them and provided a safer route to school. I hope Illinois changes their mind and welcomes the Syrian refugees.

For those of you who think of Refugees as poor, not well off families that want to take advantage of America please know that this is not always true! This family was wealthy. Highly educated. Had a large house with servants and did not want to leave their country, BUT WERE FORCED.

Let me know introduce you to the family I was with for three years – and in turn, became my family:

These kids were amazing. They were fluent in English, great students that worked hard, and were so fun to be around. THEY had to leave Burma (now Myanmar) to the neighboring country of Thailand. Finally, they came to the US where they have been for many years. This family loves and misses Thailand dearly.They miss their culture, and family and have suffered great loss due to the violence in Myanmar.

The United Nations’ refugee agency issued a statement where they said the following:

“We are concerned about reactions by some States to end the programs being put in place, backtracking from commitments made to manage the refugee crisis (i.e. relocation), or proposing the erection of more barriers. We are deeply disturbed by language that demonizes refugees as a group. This is dangerous as it will contribute to xenophobia and fear. The security problems Europe faces are highly complex. Refugees should not be turned into scapegoats and must not become the secondary victims of these most tragic events.”

You can see the whole issued statement here.

I found this on twitter – Sometimes a picture is more powerful than words right?

You may have a different opinion regarding the Syrian Refugee crisis, but please, know that you may not have the whole story. Don’t believe everything the news feeds you. And know that in the same way they are doing everything to keep their family SAFE, you would as well.

“Not a Christian or Jew or Muslim, not Hindu, Buddhist, Sufi or Zen, Not any religion… first, last, outer, inner, only that breath breathing human being.” – Rumi

Til next time,

Katherine