I am writing to commend you on the publication of “Outta here!” among the letters to the editor published in the March 9 issue of the Bitterroot Star. I also commend you because you may allow this rather long comment to be published even though its contents may not sit too well with some of your readership.
I know nothing about the Bitterroot Star, its publishers or any relationship (financial or otherwise) it may have with any other newspaper, including the Missoulian (the latter being, unfortunately, a sad example of a daily newspaper principally comprised of reprinted AP wire coverage and serving up uber-liberal editorials).
I also don’t know anything about Mr. Cornelius, the author of the letter. Clearly he is (or, if he has already departed Florence, was) very disappointed with the experience he had in the Bitterroot. Perhaps Mr. Cornelius had personal characteristics that had some bearing on his disappointments, but maybe not. In any event, it is regrettable when any person seeks to better his situation in life and fails, especially in this beautiful part of our country.
However, in his letter Mr. Cornelius raised many points worth considering. I will address here only one point: the issue of whether Syrian refugees should be introduced into the Bitterroot by the government of the United States.
In one respect, this is a very complex issue. In another respect, the issue is simple (though the answer may be hard for some to accept or to say in public).
The complexity arises in the question of how the Syrian refugee problem came about (and what our responsibility may be to “make it right”). It is a coalescence of ancient tribal issues, modern political issues particular to Syrian and northern Iraq and issues of foreign intervention, both political and military. The Shia/Sunni issues entail legitimate analyses (but be careful of the background leanings of the “experts” whose opinions you may give credence) is well beyond my education. Likewise for the background and real motives of the forces behind the creation of the modern states of Syria and Iraq during and following World War I. And whether the U.S., through President Bush (43) (for trusting the wrong people and information and allegedly lying about it to Congress—though I have difficulty in believing that) or President Obama (generally considered by both believed allies and foes alike to be a paper tiger in search of a spine with his
so-called “red line” threat to the Assad government in Syria), or Russia is the source of foreign involvement most responsible for the Syrian refugee problem is something suitable for an entirely different discussion.
The simple issue is this: should these folks (about whom we really know very little other than the general location of their recent origin) should be allowed (you may substitute the word “required”) to be situated in the Bitterroot against the wishes of a vast majority (and I think I’m right on that) of the local residents? By the admission of the U.S. government, there is no practical way each Syrian refugee can be screened (vetted, they call it) to not be an ISIS supporter prior to admission. Thus, this relocation would largely amount to a forced social and cultural experiment with potentially horrifying national security ramifications. And, that experiment would be planned to take place without the benefit of any controlled environment.
Given the potential personal tragedies that might result should a mistake be made (perhaps a statistical likelihood) in examining the affiliation with ISIS of a refugee approved for admission to the U.S., this is not a situation where discussion will lead anywhere. There is no credible evidence to support that proposition. It’s hard to have a discussion of grievances with a person holding a bomb, an AK-47 or a device intended to damage a power grid or to poison the water supply serving the Bitterroot.
Does every right thinking person (especially, I believe, a Christian) feel for the plight of the Syrian refugees? Of course. How could one not? Did they bring this on themselves? No, of course not. A lot of people had a hand in it. Is it wrong for any person to welcome an opportunity to better his life and that of his family? No. This is America.
Does this then require us to jump with open arms into a politically-inspired attempt to solve a very serious problem the cause of which is not of our doing? No. This is a problem of global proportions. Have a look at how things are working out in Greece, the Czech Republic or Germany. Does this mean that we should be forced (yes, forced) into taking a chance under the present admitted limitations of having our families potentially suffer or be exposed to the tragedy of an experiment gone terribly wrong? I don’t think so. The powers that be need to remember that the Bitterroot is NOT a petri dish.
Bob Dennis
Hamilton