Supports aiding Syrian refugees

Why do we define minorities by their worst example? In America, it seems that if an African-American shoots someone, all blacks are thugs. If a Muslim shoots someone, all Muslims are terrorists. However, if a white guy shoots someone he has mental issues and is a lone wolf.

This country needs to have a serious conversation about bigotry, white privilege and the insane fear of “other” that some politicians and media outlets seem to want to instill.

Your risk of being killed in a terrorist attack in America is 20 million to one (data from 2011). You’re more likely to be killed by brain-eating parasites, texting while driving, toddlers, lightning, falling out of bed, choking on food, medical errors, or autoerotic asphyxiation than by terrorists.

We must not let fear lead us to close our eyes to the largest humanitarian crisis since WWII: the plight of the Syrian refugees. Over 200,000 Syrians have been killed since 2011. There are men, women, and children who are trying to escape their war-torn country, a country that has virtually no infrastructure nor food left to sustain their lives. They are people like us, who simply want a chance for their children to grow up with hopes for a better future.

We are the United States of America. Our great nation was founded on opportunity and hope. Please don’t let fear of the “other” scare you into turning your back on humankind.

This story was originally published November 28, 2015 at 4:01 PM with the headline "Supports aiding Syrian refugees."