Closing America to refugees will keep us safe? With Donald Trump as our 45th President, we the American people who did not want him as our leader, who did not vote for him, are forced to live by his ideals rather than our historical American democratic values . Alas, the world is beginning to get a taste of President Trump's unenlightened and frightening leadership. His leadership is a loose cannon shooting Tweets on the deck of the Titanic. President Carter's Refugee Act of 1980 is today being smashed to smithereens by a xenophobic, unstable. bigoted and misogynistic President. We are all refugees today in the United States of America. E pluribus unum is gravely endangered by Donald Trump's horrific new Refugee Policy. Our President is giving a gift to violent extremists who would harm our homeland. The Statue of Liberty is no longer the symbol of America's haven for persecuted immigrants and refugees. She weeps, we weep.
69
What about the soldiers, interpreters and guides who are helping us fight the terrorists in Iraq and Syria? Are we barring them also? They put their lives on the line and we won't let them in? Why should any help defeat Islamic terrorists as the President said in his inaugural address? This policy will only hurt America.
76
Mr. Trump has banned entry of refugees and emigrants from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen. He has justified this ban on his terrorism related concerns. Considering the countries excluded from the list, one may conclude that the ban has little to do with terrorism or being Muslim and more to do with where Mr. Trump's investments are located.
There has been media reports regarding Mr. Trump's organization investing in hotels and other real-estate properties in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan, Jordan, and Egypt. None of these countries are included in that list. Admittedly, one does not know if these reports are based on facts or fiction, since Mr. Trump has refused to disclose his tax returns.
Exclusion of Saudi Arabia is particularly puzzling. This is the country from which came 15 of 19 terrorists who participated in the 9/11 attack. This is the country that has more contributed to funding and arming of ISIS than any other country on the planet. This is the country that has been using its oil money to aggressively promote Wahhabism, the brand of Islam which advocates Jihad and terrorist acts against the West. And this is the same country that just a few months ago was threatening to crash the US economy by liquidating its treasury holdings, should the US Congress passes the bill allowing the names of Saudis who funded the 9/11 attack to become public!
There has been media reports regarding Mr. Trump's organization investing in hotels and other real-estate properties in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan, Jordan, and Egypt. None of these countries are included in that list. Admittedly, one does not know if these reports are based on facts or fiction, since Mr. Trump has refused to disclose his tax returns.
Exclusion of Saudi Arabia is particularly puzzling. This is the country from which came 15 of 19 terrorists who participated in the 9/11 attack. This is the country that has more contributed to funding and arming of ISIS than any other country on the planet. This is the country that has been using its oil money to aggressively promote Wahhabism, the brand of Islam which advocates Jihad and terrorist acts against the West. And this is the same country that just a few months ago was threatening to crash the US economy by liquidating its treasury holdings, should the US Congress passes the bill allowing the names of Saudis who funded the 9/11 attack to become public!
50
Well said. But do not expect moral authority from an irresponsible thug still bathing in his own ridiculously vainglorious ignorance, absent compassion for the least among us, the refugees fleeing violence, escaping from certain slaughter; on whom our demagogue-in-chief has opened the floods of racism, intolerance, rage and hate, by abusing the power of the presidency he stole by constant lying and by insulting anybody courageous enough to speak up, and call his bluffing for what it is, the irrational cowardice of a vulgar bully. This abuse is the antithesis of strength, a weak hand instead, trying to impose his capricious nonsense, by following the diktats of disgraceful ill-advisers (i.e. Flynn and Bannon). How low can they stoop? Apparently as low as we let them, without the vital resistance opposing injustice.
39
Refugees. Immigrants. Illegals. Undocumented. Foreigners. Just words? Labels?Until one puts a name, and a face, and a narrative, to an all-too- often stigmatized, marginalized, excluded, dehumanized fellow human being from “there” who wants to be “here.” And when one adds what the novice US President reminded us about, to balance past discrimination against Christians with executive order discrimination against “homogenized” Muslims what are we to do with past sacramental Christian and Jewish words and injunctions in a world of wilfull blindness and deafness: Romans 15:7;Mathew 25:35;Peter 4:9; Exodus 23:9; Leviticus 25:35 and 19:33-34;Hebrews 13:2. Just words? And in addition- which is a useful phrase to consider in a world blighted and blinded by the limiting, binary, “either/or” weltanshauung- given the new exec orders re pro-life, anti abortion; are yet-to- be- born fetuses in the US, and other countries supported by US in their pro-well being and good health practices, actually citizens of countries? Do they, should they, need vetting of some sort? Visas? How many are, can be, “at risk” to become some type of terrorist, or cause other temporary harms? A phantasy? A semantic play on words? Whom can Presidents harm? And lastly, it has been suggested that people, in a democracy, have a right not to carry out orders which are, or may be, immoral or against their religious convictions-beliefs. Who is standing up who can actually make a needed difference right now?
15
D.Trump sets a new bar for the phrase, 'how low can you go'. With this person occupying the highest position in our country, those that didn't vote for him are at a complete loss. Our country stood as a beacon for those in other countries who suffered under brutal dictators and monarchs. D. Trump, who perhaps suffered at most a bit of hazing at the military type of prep school that dad Fred sent him for a bit more 'discipline', has zero empathy nor sympathy for anyone other than his family or those that line his pockets.
This action is beyond contempt.
This action is beyond contempt.
29
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan should be on the top of the list. But this all a game to make hatred and racism great again in America. What have we done to our country?
Liberals and democrats have to recognize that it's our fault. Let's make sure we get our country back in four years. Never stop working hard and go out to vote in each and every election at all levels. It's everyday effort that makes us exceptional! Let's go back to work and never stop fighting for the rights things. No matter the cost or pain. That's what we are. To be a liberal means to be truly free: free from hate, associations and religion, bigotry, racism, misogyny. We are FREE!
Liberals and democrats have to recognize that it's our fault. Let's make sure we get our country back in four years. Never stop working hard and go out to vote in each and every election at all levels. It's everyday effort that makes us exceptional! Let's go back to work and never stop fighting for the rights things. No matter the cost or pain. That's what we are. To be a liberal means to be truly free: free from hate, associations and religion, bigotry, racism, misogyny. We are FREE!
12
David, the US is a lost cause. Perhaps you can come back to the UK and save Labor before it's too late. For the UK there is still a smidgen of hope.
15
The division in America is clear. It has nothing to do with this "Refugee Policy", and everything to do with the person who is calling it into effect.
Barely a week in office, and Donald Trump has managed to pull this country and its national identitiy completely asunder.
His rule comes at great expense.
By playing to his base, he continues to undermine the Constitution with his steady march toward U.S. isolationism.
We don't need to fear foreign terrorists.
There is already one in the White House.
Barely a week in office, and Donald Trump has managed to pull this country and its national identitiy completely asunder.
His rule comes at great expense.
By playing to his base, he continues to undermine the Constitution with his steady march toward U.S. isolationism.
We don't need to fear foreign terrorists.
There is already one in the White House.
38
Why doesn't the media (including the NYT) frame the order in the right context?
"America continues to defend against terrorist ghosts by denying foreign Muslim visa's when all the terrorism related acts committed on American soil were done by Amreicans"
There's probably a tighter wording but basically that's why it's wrong and it will appeal to any base, not just the fearful.
"America continues to defend against terrorist ghosts by denying foreign Muslim visa's when all the terrorism related acts committed on American soil were done by Amreicans"
There's probably a tighter wording but basically that's why it's wrong and it will appeal to any base, not just the fearful.
18
When a child has difficult comprehending idea from a book he finds difficult to read what does a parent do? Give him a CliffsNotes version or try to explain to the child with pretty pictures.
Same is the problem with Little Donnie, except that he is fed very ugly pictures and conspiracy theories by General Flynn, Bannon and Conway about refugees, especially the Muslim ones.
Same is the problem with Little Donnie, except that he is fed very ugly pictures and conspiracy theories by General Flynn, Bannon and Conway about refugees, especially the Muslim ones.
20
Tell this to the victims of San Bernardino, Fort Hood, Orlando.
Most of the American people support this. We view Muslims, not a particular country, as the enemy, just as they view everyone non-Muslim as their enemy.
The terrorists who enter as part of the various Muslim communities are the danger. It is ridiculous to use the same old tired cant of "this is not American". Being American is staying alive.
It is so easy for the rich and protected head of a something called the International Rescue Committee and the multi-cultural pro-Muslims here to lecture us. Trump is doing what we all have talked about over the past many years.
Most of the American people support this. We view Muslims, not a particular country, as the enemy, just as they view everyone non-Muslim as their enemy.
The terrorists who enter as part of the various Muslim communities are the danger. It is ridiculous to use the same old tired cant of "this is not American". Being American is staying alive.
It is so easy for the rich and protected head of a something called the International Rescue Committee and the multi-cultural pro-Muslims here to lecture us. Trump is doing what we all have talked about over the past many years.
29
The irony is that Trump, who was backed overwhelmingly by Christian fundamentalists, is pursuing these most un-Christian of policies.
20
This is deeply unAmerican, and I am ashamed to be a citizen of a country that is so afraid that it attacks the weakest as the problem. Shame on you, Trump voters. Shame on Trump enablers. Shame on all of us who live here. I hang my head in shame. Impeach!
27
I guess we now live in a Trump property. It's about what the condo board, not the residents want. Membership has it privileges...huh.
11
Trump wants "extreme vetting". What's that - thumbscrews and a turn or two on the rack? It already takes 2-plus yeas of background checks and other investigations to get refugee status and an entry visa to the U.S. and the process doesnt care if you worked for the U.S. in Afghanistan or Iraq and your life is in danger.
17
"Rethink"?
You have to think before you can rethink. As the article demonstrates there was any serious thought given to this at all.
You have to think before you can rethink. As the article demonstrates there was any serious thought given to this at all.
10
The order gives priority to religious minorities who are persecuted in their home countries. I wonder if this will apply not only to Christians but also to Sunni Muslims from majority Shiite countries, or to Shiites from Sunni-majority countries.
6
Oh my God. Refugees. This is working out well for Germany. Of course our press doesn't report on this. What a disaster. These are not only refugees but economic migrants. Thousand of single men. Where are the women? Thrown overboard on the voyage?? I am sick of Syria already. We need to help stabilize this and other countries in that region so they can keep their people in.
31
All across America, residents of our Reservations are looking at one another and shaking their heads sadly.
"Why didn't our ancestors think of this?"
"Why didn't our ancestors think of this?"
23
David Miliband has it backwards. For decades, US immigration policy has been profoundy un-American, made by a small elite seeking cheap labor and new Democratic voters, with little concern for public opinion and no concern for the common good. Voters in the U.S. and the U.K., Mr. Miliband's home country, have emphatically rejected this approach. Citizens want immigration policy made with some consideration for their interests.
I don't doubt Miliband and the members of the NY Times editorial board believe they hold the moral high ground on this issue. But I disagree that they do hold it. In effect, they are carrying water for corporations who want cheap labor, and thus working indirectly to increase already pernicious levels of economic inequality. In effect, they are carrying water for Democratic politicians who have forgotten how to further the interests of working class Americans, and who would rather just generate new voters beholden to them.
I don't doubt Miliband and the members of the NY Times editorial board believe they hold the moral high ground on this issue. But I disagree that they do hold it. In effect, they are carrying water for corporations who want cheap labor, and thus working indirectly to increase already pernicious levels of economic inequality. In effect, they are carrying water for Democratic politicians who have forgotten how to further the interests of working class Americans, and who would rather just generate new voters beholden to them.
34
Trump doesn't care about values. He doesn't care about image and neither do the forty-six percent of the voters who elected him. Trump is a strongman, a tough guy if you will. Who needs allies, when you live in a perpetual groundhog day stuck in 1946, the year his birth, when the USA was victorious in World Was II. Unfortunately, Trump is neither a student of history (and reading is not his forte), nor is reason and logic, His driving motive is fear and xenophobia. He is a little man with a little mind, stuck in an age that no longer exists. As Americans we will all pay for his folly.
12
Our first foreign war was against Muslims who were kidnapping our sailors, stealing our property, burning our ships, and extorting money from our national treasury.
It's amazing how little has changed in 200 or so years.
It's amazing how little has changed in 200 or so years.
16
The rottenness of the policy package aside, what most chafes me about this whole subject and the Trump electoral victory and administration in its actions internationally and domestically is the sheer cowardice of it.
In the lexicon of human atrocities, what America is suffering through at the hand of any particular group (both in numbers of atrocities and numbers within a particular group that support those atrocities), is pretty medium on the scale.
And yet we have upended the precepts of the nation while handing the reigns of governance to a type of leader that has been rejected through our history and in our founding ideals and documents. These Trumpian policies and the emotions and theories that support them are chicken-hearted. We are hiding under a blanket of false security as un-American as the executive orders that the blanket is made from.
Domestically, after one or perhaps two generations of societal and government action to smooth out racial, nationality-based, gender-based, orientation-based or other-based bias, we've now called in Mr. Trump to protect some of us from the very freedoms and opportunities granted all Americans (and others) as having been "created equal."
We look like a nation afraid of its own history, promise, and exceptionalism. And Mr. Trump looks like the chief scaredy-cat promising that nothing bad will happen to us because his own fear will act as a force field to protect us from the "bad guys."
"Sad," as Mr. Trump would say.
In the lexicon of human atrocities, what America is suffering through at the hand of any particular group (both in numbers of atrocities and numbers within a particular group that support those atrocities), is pretty medium on the scale.
And yet we have upended the precepts of the nation while handing the reigns of governance to a type of leader that has been rejected through our history and in our founding ideals and documents. These Trumpian policies and the emotions and theories that support them are chicken-hearted. We are hiding under a blanket of false security as un-American as the executive orders that the blanket is made from.
Domestically, after one or perhaps two generations of societal and government action to smooth out racial, nationality-based, gender-based, orientation-based or other-based bias, we've now called in Mr. Trump to protect some of us from the very freedoms and opportunities granted all Americans (and others) as having been "created equal."
We look like a nation afraid of its own history, promise, and exceptionalism. And Mr. Trump looks like the chief scaredy-cat promising that nothing bad will happen to us because his own fear will act as a force field to protect us from the "bad guys."
"Sad," as Mr. Trump would say.
6
Trump's ban of Iranians shows that he is not doing it for the safety of American people, he is just flowing his personal world view (I wouldnt speak of an agenda) and of his Vice President Bannon (Pence isn't VP, he is downgraded to nobody just a representative).
Iran is a Shiite country. All global terrorists (no single exception) are Sunni. And most of them from Arab countries not on the ban list. But that those are potentially dangerous to America doesn't matter because Saudi millionaires are welcomed owners and guests in Trump real estate.
That Iran is actually helping to fight Isis. Actually more than the USA - take Mosul - that can't be true because it doesn't fit in the simple mindset of the lowest IQ president ever who never reads a book and never listens to anyone who might have a different opinion.
Again the question: any checks and balance out there? What a dysfunctional constitution this country has. This will now go on and on four years, a horrible speed race of decay - every day an non-rational order based on lies and personal impulse.
Iran is a Shiite country. All global terrorists (no single exception) are Sunni. And most of them from Arab countries not on the ban list. But that those are potentially dangerous to America doesn't matter because Saudi millionaires are welcomed owners and guests in Trump real estate.
That Iran is actually helping to fight Isis. Actually more than the USA - take Mosul - that can't be true because it doesn't fit in the simple mindset of the lowest IQ president ever who never reads a book and never listens to anyone who might have a different opinion.
Again the question: any checks and balance out there? What a dysfunctional constitution this country has. This will now go on and on four years, a horrible speed race of decay - every day an non-rational order based on lies and personal impulse.
20
The alleged "moral high ground" that the US preaches, has been faltering and unstable for many years... and the last vestige of the fig leaf was lost on Jan 20, 2017.
9
Obama put us all at risk with his polices allowing persons to come here without being vetted, and failed to police overstays, as well as the border. He also played it fast and lose during the ebola outbreak, the results of which were infected persons on planes and walking streets of the US. We got lucky on that. Very lucky.
I am behind the president. It's like Christmas every day.
I am behind the president. It's like Christmas every day.
19
Moral leadership can sometimes include those things that are painful in the short run.
6
The fact that Trump is President demonstrates that the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision of January 2010 served to replace the American democracy with an oligarchy of billionaires, yet our President, other leaders of both our major political parties and the media no longer discuss what is by far the most destructive Supreme Court decision in American history. On the contrary, tributes to the justice who drafted it, the late Antonin Scalia, have recently appeared ion nearly a daily basis in The New York Times.
I'm sick of finding nothing but Trump shock and awe in the media and sick of posting comments on Citizens United to no avail whatever. On January 20, 2017, the greatest democracy in human history came to a disgusting end, and the media still don't know why and evidently don't care.
I'm out of here.
I'm sick of finding nothing but Trump shock and awe in the media and sick of posting comments on Citizens United to no avail whatever. On January 20, 2017, the greatest democracy in human history came to a disgusting end, and the media still don't know why and evidently don't care.
I'm out of here.
13
You try and argue with a straight face that Trump's policy of not accepting immigrants from nations prone to terrorism is an "...abandonment of the United States' role as a humanitarian leader..."
So it is the role of humanitarian leaders to go around destroying other peoples' countries by willy nilly handing out bombs and weapons to any two bit jihadist nut job that claims to be your pal, encouraging them to fight their own government? Creating refugees so you can fall over backwards patting yourself on the back for saving said refugees is a strange policy.
Obama and our Democrat leadership destroyed Syria out of spite because Assad would not listen to them and step down. For them to now claim some mantel of humanitarianism is ripe.
Thanks, but I prefer Trump's policy of not creating refugees in the first place.
So it is the role of humanitarian leaders to go around destroying other peoples' countries by willy nilly handing out bombs and weapons to any two bit jihadist nut job that claims to be your pal, encouraging them to fight their own government? Creating refugees so you can fall over backwards patting yourself on the back for saving said refugees is a strange policy.
Obama and our Democrat leadership destroyed Syria out of spite because Assad would not listen to them and step down. For them to now claim some mantel of humanitarianism is ripe.
Thanks, but I prefer Trump's policy of not creating refugees in the first place.
17
When you said "extremists seek to foster a clash of civilizations," for a second I thought you were referring to the new Trump administration. To pick up a phrase in another NYT article I read this morning, Trump is using a "slash and burn" approach to his first 100 days. He is leading us down a path that can only end in harm, not just to America's image, but to our moral, economic and military standing in this world.
12
And now this. Every day there is another abominable action by this monstrous man we now must call President. I have never in my almost 60 years felt the level of existential dread and horror the election of this psychopath has caused. It permeates my days like a foul stench and makes me despair. I had this thought yesterday; "I've got to get out of here!". Then I realized that there is no truly safe place to go. How can America stand for a president who is poisoning our country and indeed our world? CITIZENS UNITE. ORGANIZE. DEMONSTRATE. PUT PRESSURE ON CONGRESS AND THE SENATE. THIS DEMAGOGUE MUST BE STOPPED.
30
I try to take a small action - phone call, post card, donation - every day. It helps the despair. For the easiest way ever to place a phone call about an issue, try dailyaction.org.
I am also handing out packets with pre-paid postcards, address labels and phone numbers to my friends. Resist!
I am also handing out packets with pre-paid postcards, address labels and phone numbers to my friends. Resist!
14
Surely there is always broad latitude to create temporary bans based on security concerns. Didn't all 9-11 attackers hail from Syria? And aren't nearly all lone-wolf pro-muslim attackers in the US either immigrants from banned countries, or first generation Americans of parents from those countries, who typically travelled to these same countries before attacking Americans?
Long-term bans might be unwise, but short-term bans may help the U.S. in the long run.
Long-term bans might be unwise, but short-term bans may help the U.S. in the long run.
1
Once again I feel ashamed about the direction of my country. Where do we go from here? Does this go before a federal court?
15
Thank you for your wise, well reasoned words. It is calming to have access to a knowledgeable writer who can revisit our history in clear, concise language. A writer and speaker who does not communicate in the prepubescent, irresponsible format of Twitter, like our current President. We the American People need to stand up and say NO... Donald Trump did not win the Popular Vote... The Numbers are with us. Congress needs to step in and stop this madman. Either he does not know what he is doing or even more alarming...maybe he does know what he is doing. I am deeply concerned that Trump is intentionally cultivating fear and anger and using them as manipulative tools to control and overpower the American people. Religious freedom is an important right within a healthy democratic nations. We must all stand for religious freedom.
10
This executive order is beyond troubling. It raises profound questions. Allow me to cite them in their written order and share concerns.
"Numerous foreign-born individuals have been convicted or implicated in terrorism-related crimes since September 11, 2001, including...[those] who entered through the United States refugee resettlement program." Really? This would have been all over the news. Cite the evidence.
"...the United States should not admit those who engage in acts of bigotry or hatred (including “honor” killings, other forms of violence against women, or the persecution of those who practice religions different from their own) or those who would oppress Americans of any race, gender, or sexual orientation." By extension, would Mr. Trump have us deport or exclude those who have done these things from the country, perhaps including those congressmen voting to defund Planned Parenthood, half the Chicago PD and many Christian fundamentalists here? What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.
"...the Secretary of State...with the Secretary of Homeland Security, is further directed to make changes...to prioritize refugee claims made by individuals on the basis of religious-based persecution, provided that the religion of the individual is a minority religion in the individual’s country of nationality." A religious preference for one group is a religious test for admission, clearly at odds with the 1st Amendment.
Trump brings us shame.
"Numerous foreign-born individuals have been convicted or implicated in terrorism-related crimes since September 11, 2001, including...[those] who entered through the United States refugee resettlement program." Really? This would have been all over the news. Cite the evidence.
"...the United States should not admit those who engage in acts of bigotry or hatred (including “honor” killings, other forms of violence against women, or the persecution of those who practice religions different from their own) or those who would oppress Americans of any race, gender, or sexual orientation." By extension, would Mr. Trump have us deport or exclude those who have done these things from the country, perhaps including those congressmen voting to defund Planned Parenthood, half the Chicago PD and many Christian fundamentalists here? What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.
"...the Secretary of State...with the Secretary of Homeland Security, is further directed to make changes...to prioritize refugee claims made by individuals on the basis of religious-based persecution, provided that the religion of the individual is a minority religion in the individual’s country of nationality." A religious preference for one group is a religious test for admission, clearly at odds with the 1st Amendment.
Trump brings us shame.
21
Really NYT? THAT was the best title?
"War-Ravaged Babies and Children Trumped"
"The un-Christian values of the Trump administration"
This one you win by going to the heartland and asking them if they have a heart. (actually a lot of these you win by the same process.)
I think the Left needs to start some serious organizin'. Need to ramp up some long term anti-Trump protests via marches. Marches are the best because even if there are NO cameras, people see you. Ask Gandhi or MLK.
"War-Ravaged Babies and Children Trumped"
"The un-Christian values of the Trump administration"
This one you win by going to the heartland and asking them if they have a heart. (actually a lot of these you win by the same process.)
I think the Left needs to start some serious organizin'. Need to ramp up some long term anti-Trump protests via marches. Marches are the best because even if there are NO cameras, people see you. Ask Gandhi or MLK.
5
What continues to terrify me the most about Trump is the absolute faith his followers have in him. They believe all his lies in the face of absolute evidence that he is lying. On the refugee issue alone he has told at least two -- That Syrian refugees are a danger to this nation and that refugees are not vetted enough -- and his followers eat up and repeat his lies as though they were gospel. Where is the Republican Party leadership? Where are the men who know better and are willing to take a political risk to save this nation and its place as a leader on human rights and democracy? Where are the true Republican Patriots?
113
One of the hated ways in which Obama tried to exercise his powers as president, by going around a totally obstructionist Congress, was to issue executive orders where it was believed, by the best legal experts, that those actions were constitutional and legal. This brought howls of protest from Republicans. He must be stopped! He must be replaced! He's ignoring the Constitution. Obama was called everything but the devil himself and there were probably small time preachers who called him just that.
Now? No problem. "He's doing the right thing." "He's protecting America." "He's an action hero."
For 7 yrs. we heard, "Obama rammed health care down our throats", because no Republicans voted for it. Now, there will be ramming every day and every night when Congress holds votes, but, hey, that's just fine, too. Ram away, Republicans.
Trump is making a huge mistake thinking he can executive order his way to Trumpland. It will work for awhile, but, as messy as it is, the grindingly slow process of Congress is how we make changes and put ideas into law.
Trump might be seizing every available lever of power he can imagine, but the people will have their moment, Congress will quake and the excessive orders he issues will be challenged on every front. By doing so many things through executive orders, he is inviting people to replace him at the next opportunity and to put brakes on the Republican Congress, to counter him, two yrs. from now.
Now? No problem. "He's doing the right thing." "He's protecting America." "He's an action hero."
For 7 yrs. we heard, "Obama rammed health care down our throats", because no Republicans voted for it. Now, there will be ramming every day and every night when Congress holds votes, but, hey, that's just fine, too. Ram away, Republicans.
Trump is making a huge mistake thinking he can executive order his way to Trumpland. It will work for awhile, but, as messy as it is, the grindingly slow process of Congress is how we make changes and put ideas into law.
Trump might be seizing every available lever of power he can imagine, but the people will have their moment, Congress will quake and the excessive orders he issues will be challenged on every front. By doing so many things through executive orders, he is inviting people to replace him at the next opportunity and to put brakes on the Republican Congress, to counter him, two yrs. from now.
13
“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, ONLY IF THEY ARE WHITE CHRISTIANS
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me:
I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, ONLY IF THEY ARE WHITE CHRISTIANS
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me:
I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”
8
I am horrified that there is no screaming outrage from the Republican sheep DT has placed 'christians' at the head of the immigration entry line ?
This is not a partisan issue folks.
This is direct assault against the fundamental tenets of OUR constitution. WE have a first amendment that guarantees US a clear separation of church and state. ( I sense that god's own provincial prince, the strange mr pence, pulled the strings on this one, just as he has convinced the once pro-choice DT to support forced pregnancy )
Trump is easily played and is even more ignorant than he is unstable.
This is not a partisan issue folks.
This is direct assault against the fundamental tenets of OUR constitution. WE have a first amendment that guarantees US a clear separation of church and state. ( I sense that god's own provincial prince, the strange mr pence, pulled the strings on this one, just as he has convinced the once pro-choice DT to support forced pregnancy )
Trump is easily played and is even more ignorant than he is unstable.
11
I did not see the ban on Muslims from Saudi Arabia. Why? I recall that the overwhelming majority of the 911 attackers came from Saudi Arabia. I do not recall any Syrians being involved. These policies are simply wrong, and vindictive in nature. It is a shame that even a minority of the population embraces them.
21
Why not deport Trump back to native Germany. Have Angela put him in a refuge camp for awhile. Maybe Trump's tiny brain will finally figure out how the world works outside of his deluded mind.
DD
Manhattan
DD
Manhattan
13
45 is busy constructing a government and country run by and for cowards. These people are afraid of their own shadows, and through their all-consuming fears are becoming terrorists in their own right.
7
The reality is the Islamic ideology is intolerant and incompatible with individual rights. It is understandable that muslims would wish to escape living under islam, but the USA should do everything in its power to prevent islam from gaining a foothold in the USA.
We didn't need to hate Germans to oppose nazism. We didn't have to hate Russians to oppose communism. We don't need to hate muslims to oppose islam.
We didn't need to hate Germans to oppose nazism. We didn't have to hate Russians to oppose communism. We don't need to hate muslims to oppose islam.
21
How is it that our prior president allowed a refugee policy, that in essence ignored the continued slaughter of Coptic Christians? Had the sanctimonious left progressives in this country and NYT groupies become so anti-Christian and pro-radical-Islam as to be this un-American?
15
No one has the constitutional right to immigrate to the US. There is nothing unAmerican about defending the national security interests of the US, just the opposite.
If only the US and Americans had been protected against the Islamist jihadists immigrants on 9/11, at Orlando, San Bernardino, Chattanooga, Boston Marathon, Fort Hood, etc etc etc. (And this is only the US, the list would easily exceed the NYT character limit if other Western countries were included.)
The constitution is not a death warrant.
During the Obama years, the Christians and Yazidis from the ME, who were subject to harassment and even genocide (according to the UN) from the radical Islamists, were not given priority for asylum. Just the opposite, they were underrepresented in the asylum claims, because Obama said 'it is not who we are' to give higher status to the persecuted Christians and Yazidis for asylum. The election of 2016 showed what the American voters via the electoral college thought of that. These persecuted minorities are deserving of our protection, and only Western countries such as the US (but only now) are providing this protection. Let the western countries take in the persecuted Christians and Yazidis and let the safe-haven Muslim countries take in the refugees in their region. The Trump doctrine makes complete sense, and is one of the many reasons why he was elected via the electoral college.
If only the US and Americans had been protected against the Islamist jihadists immigrants on 9/11, at Orlando, San Bernardino, Chattanooga, Boston Marathon, Fort Hood, etc etc etc. (And this is only the US, the list would easily exceed the NYT character limit if other Western countries were included.)
The constitution is not a death warrant.
During the Obama years, the Christians and Yazidis from the ME, who were subject to harassment and even genocide (according to the UN) from the radical Islamists, were not given priority for asylum. Just the opposite, they were underrepresented in the asylum claims, because Obama said 'it is not who we are' to give higher status to the persecuted Christians and Yazidis for asylum. The election of 2016 showed what the American voters via the electoral college thought of that. These persecuted minorities are deserving of our protection, and only Western countries such as the US (but only now) are providing this protection. Let the western countries take in the persecuted Christians and Yazidis and let the safe-haven Muslim countries take in the refugees in their region. The Trump doctrine makes complete sense, and is one of the many reasons why he was elected via the electoral college.
17
The US ALREADY accepts more immigrants than any other country on earth, and that's only counting legal immigrants. There are 7 or 8 billion people on the planet. Please tell me what happens to the US environment and natural areas if they all move here, as NYT and its readers want. I am fine with Syrians being admitted as long as for every refugee from the middle east who is admitted, then there should be one or two Asians, Africans, Central Americans denied admission. The US CANNOT be the only country in the world with open borders; this is extremely unfair to those of us who were born here and who cannot move because no other country has an open borders policy. Furthermore, refugees and immigrants should NEVER receive more in government benefits than US citizens who worked all their lives and paid for their extremely meagre benefits.
18
It's astounding. Trump declaims "make America great again," then proceeds to destroy the values that make America great. Is there no end to his stupidity?
9
Unfortunately, the term 'Un-American' may not apply anymore. The election is pushing us towards a new America, and it's scared and angry America. It is not listening to high minded ideals anymore.
7
If it weren't for immigrants and children of immigrants , we wouldn't have Google, PayPal, Tesla or Solar City among many other great companies. I would pay to send Trump anywhere but I don't know if any country would take him. Maybe Russia.
9
take 2!
No one has the constitutional right to immigrate to the US. There is nothing unAmerican about defending the national security interests of the US, just the opposite.
If only the US and Americans had been protected against the Islamist jihadists immigrants on 9/11, at Orlando, San Bernardino, Chattanooga, Boston Marathon, Fort Hood, etc etc etc. (And this is only the US, the target list would easily exceed the NYT character limit if other Western countries were included.)
The constitution is not a death warrant.
During the Obama years, the Christians and Yazidis from the ME, who were subject to harassment and even genocide (according to the UN) from the radical Islamists, were not given priority for asylum. Just the opposite, they were underrepresented in the asylum claims, because Obama said 'it is not who we are' to give higher status to the persecuted Christians and Yazidis for asylum. The election of 2016 showed what the American voters via the electoral college thought of that. These persecuted minorities are deserving of our protection, and only Western countries such as the US (but only now) are providing this protection. Let the western countries take in the persecuted Christians and Yazidis and let the safe-haven Muslim countries take in the co-religionists in their region. The Trump doctrine makes complete sense, and is one of the many reasons why he was elected via the electoral college.
No one has the constitutional right to immigrate to the US. There is nothing unAmerican about defending the national security interests of the US, just the opposite.
If only the US and Americans had been protected against the Islamist jihadists immigrants on 9/11, at Orlando, San Bernardino, Chattanooga, Boston Marathon, Fort Hood, etc etc etc. (And this is only the US, the target list would easily exceed the NYT character limit if other Western countries were included.)
The constitution is not a death warrant.
During the Obama years, the Christians and Yazidis from the ME, who were subject to harassment and even genocide (according to the UN) from the radical Islamists, were not given priority for asylum. Just the opposite, they were underrepresented in the asylum claims, because Obama said 'it is not who we are' to give higher status to the persecuted Christians and Yazidis for asylum. The election of 2016 showed what the American voters via the electoral college thought of that. These persecuted minorities are deserving of our protection, and only Western countries such as the US (but only now) are providing this protection. Let the western countries take in the persecuted Christians and Yazidis and let the safe-haven Muslim countries take in the co-religionists in their region. The Trump doctrine makes complete sense, and is one of the many reasons why he was elected via the electoral college.
25
From "On Living", by Kerry Egan
"He paused for a few seconds to catch his breath. He was crying. "The world is not black and white. There is no black and white. There's only gray. You have to live in the gray, or you got no kindness in your heart. You gotta see the gray. You tell them that. You tell everyone that."
"He paused for a few seconds to catch his breath. He was crying. "The world is not black and white. There is no black and white. There's only gray. You have to live in the gray, or you got no kindness in your heart. You gotta see the gray. You tell them that. You tell everyone that."
4
If the American Indians had been as circumspect as Trump about immigration, the American buffalo might still roam freely about their nations. Too late for them, though.
7
With apologies to Pastor Martin Niemöller (1892–1984) for altering his quote “
First they came for the Socialists (Muslims), and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist (Muslim).
Then they came for the Trade Unionists (Mexicans, people with disabilities), and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist (Mexican or disabled).
Then they came for the Jews (non-Christians) and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew or a Christian."
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me."
Lets hope that the American people not only speak up but let their elected representative know that this is not our values and this does not make America great !
First they came for the Socialists (Muslims), and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist (Muslim).
Then they came for the Trade Unionists (Mexicans, people with disabilities), and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist (Mexican or disabled).
Then they came for the Jews (non-Christians) and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew or a Christian."
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me."
Lets hope that the American people not only speak up but let their elected representative know that this is not our values and this does not make America great !
2
I support Trump's immigration policy. The world is much different from 1965 when Lyndon Baines Johnson signed the Immigration Act of 1965, which repealed the Immigration Act of 1924, signed by Calvin Coolidge, Similarly the world was a much different place in 1965 than it was n 1925. But sadly the world is returning to the dangerous decade of the 1920s, marked by the rise the Bolsheviks in Russia, who posed an existential threat to the US. In 2017, the world is worse, as the threats are asymmetric, but revolve around the tenets of RIT, which is distributed across various nations. For that reason Trump has identified the nations from which the treat of RIT is greatest. Eventually people from these nations will be allowed to enter the US but only after they have undergone extreme interrogation, which I believe must include polygraph tests, so that American officials can get an affirmative answer as their relationship to RIT. Simply asking them if they support RIT, to which they will of course say "no". is not enough. America needs physiological proof of the truth. The existence of our nation, as we know it, depends on it. Thank you.
10
None of the major terror attacks we've experienced (e.g. 9-11, Orlando, Ft Hood, Boston, San Bernadino) have been via immigrants from the countries Trump banned immigration from...so here we have another Trump "solution" in search of a problem; a "feel good" measure at best, that will likely be counterproductive and will strengthen ISIS recruiting, along with alienating our Muslim population in the US, who we need to partner with.
6
First of all, I am no fan of DJT nor HRC. As a independent observer I see this decision from two angles. There are two aspects to this decision. First one, DJT is fulfilling his promises which is good for those who supported him. There is no doubt this doesn't fall in line with american values. Second is all those innocent muslim and children are trapped in between terrorist and fight between western countries. What bugs me the most is, DJT didn't do it because he wanted USA to be safe from terrorist but he did it as a face saving tactis. Why? Because, if you look at the statistics and evidence(so called) from the past, 9/11 attackers were from Saudi Arabia. While banning citizens from all the countries except Saudi Arabia clearly indicates that DJT has failed miserably to show to the world that he is serious and this is nothing more than his cheap tactics to deceive his supporters.
Why DJT doesn't ban people from SA? Because he has business dealing with those countries, SA is larger exporter of oil and pretty much controls oil generated economy which US cannot mess up with. While US preach the whole world about human rights and dictatorship, why doesn't USA try to arm the citizens of saudi arabia to over throw the king? Even, i see Fox news praising late king of SA.
The bottom line is, whatever the decision politicians take, they genuinely don't think only for the benefit of the people but also their personal/party's vested interest. This always jeopardize the genuineness.
Why DJT doesn't ban people from SA? Because he has business dealing with those countries, SA is larger exporter of oil and pretty much controls oil generated economy which US cannot mess up with. While US preach the whole world about human rights and dictatorship, why doesn't USA try to arm the citizens of saudi arabia to over throw the king? Even, i see Fox news praising late king of SA.
The bottom line is, whatever the decision politicians take, they genuinely don't think only for the benefit of the people but also their personal/party's vested interest. This always jeopardize the genuineness.
3
In the last five years, approximately 60,000 Americans were murdered by largely Christian born Americans.
Let's ban Christianity.
Let's ban Christianity.
11
'Show me this country named Syria,'
Shouts Trump to his executive curia.
But once opened, the world map
Hangs over his large lap
Leaving nothing to see but Hibernia.
Shouts Trump to his executive curia.
But once opened, the world map
Hangs over his large lap
Leaving nothing to see but Hibernia.
When you hate, as Trump hates, You become like that which you hate.
6
A correct use of the word 'Un-American' which is related to reality is the state of the current American Liberal media. A media which Steve Bannon correctly defined as out of touch with mainstream America and which has degenerated into the mouthpiece of the worst Un-American elements of the Democrat party.
10
Simply because "mainstream" Americans as you identify them may agree with Trump does not make it right. The policy is shortsighted and is a recruiting gift to those who would do us harm.
4
Actually this is not technically "un-American". This type of demagoguing imms and refugees have been part of American history from the start of the first illegals, slaves thru chinese, and now muslims..
Demagogues like Trump are not new either...the know nothings etc. etc.
As Lincoln taught us, we have endured greater than this and we will survive.
Demagogues like Trump are not new either...the know nothings etc. etc.
As Lincoln taught us, we have endured greater than this and we will survive.
2
I despise nationalism.
Character, integrity, honesty--these things are much more important to me than language, borders, culture.
I'll take the refugees any day over the short-sighted anti-intellectual greed which fueled the rise of Trump in America.
Character, integrity, honesty--these things are much more important to me than language, borders, culture.
I'll take the refugees any day over the short-sighted anti-intellectual greed which fueled the rise of Trump in America.
12
Is it time to privatize Ellis Island for real estate development and sell the Statue of Liberty for scrap in the name of national security?
From the Statue of Liberty:
“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me:
I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”
Emma Lazarus
Of course, this quotation is too long for a Tweet.
Trump's executive order will live in infamy with FDR's Executive Order 9066 which authorized Japanese "Relocation" in WW II.
Fear, Fear, Fear....
Lies, Lies, Lies....
America's Shame!
From the Statue of Liberty:
“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me:
I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”
Emma Lazarus
Of course, this quotation is too long for a Tweet.
Trump's executive order will live in infamy with FDR's Executive Order 9066 which authorized Japanese "Relocation" in WW II.
Fear, Fear, Fear....
Lies, Lies, Lies....
America's Shame!
4
The logistics of this thrills private prison companies. Because there is no plan on how to handle this, there may be a need to install provisional trailers outside airports and other points of entry. Oh wait! Would that be like a concentration camp? God help us.
6
It appears that two significantly dangerous muslim countries are not on the list...............Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, both of whom have wreaked more terrorism on the world than any other Muslim country. Hail to the clueless, hypocrite in chief.
10
Would the conversation regarding Trump's executive order be any different if "Jews" replaced the word "Muslims?" Yesterday was Holocaust Remembrance Day when we utter the words, "Never Again." In one week our country seems to be turning in a very dangerous and ominous direction.
11
Of course it would be different. Jews don't have long long history of terrorism.
19
America's "take all" immigration policy is a disaster and unwanted now that the population has swelled so alarmingly. We need to do what all of the other countries do - which is accept only well-educated and "of means" persons. Rather than banning Muslims, etc, simply ban everyone equally. Unless very strict controls on humans are put in place world wide to prevent wholesale destruction of our ecosystem, we will all be "refugees" soon enough, too.
14
Such a policy would have banned someone like Thomas Paine (under educated and of no means). To your suggestion, I would say..."Welcome to the aristocracy," which is exactly what the DoI and the BoR and, to a lesser extent, the Constitution were designed to prevent.
I would also say that America is two things...the idea and the thing. I believe, if we take care of the idea the thing will be OK. This policy is all about the thing and it will, in the long run, be just another step in the death of the idea.
I would also say that America is two things...the idea and the thing. I believe, if we take care of the idea the thing will be OK. This policy is all about the thing and it will, in the long run, be just another step in the death of the idea.
1
Most of the Muslim world hates America and Americans until they want a better country to live. Then some of them continue to hate us even after they arrive. This is a problem. Or after they arrive they become disgruntled, unassimilated and resentful. Better screening could offer us protection from potential serious harm. Ask the families who lost loved ones in San Bernardino, Orlando, Boston and other places how they feel. Hardly any one advocating for these refugees will be living around them, working with them nor sending their children to school with them. How many of us look to Germany, France and England and think, yes let's bring more of THAT over here? Being cautious about who we let into our country is prudent.
33
I live in Orlando. The Pulse shooting was horrible. A close friend lost a loved one that night.
But a refugee didn't perpetrate it.
A homegrown lunatic with confusion about his sexual identity did. Then he pledged loyalty to ISIS at the last minute to justify what he did.
And my close friend who lost someone?
The insane irony is that SHE IS MUSLIM. She is the daughter of immigrants herself. She is very close to the Orlando LGBTQ community and suffered from the Pulse shooting more than almost anyone I know, with possibly the exception of one friend who used to work there.
But a refugee didn't perpetrate it.
A homegrown lunatic with confusion about his sexual identity did. Then he pledged loyalty to ISIS at the last minute to justify what he did.
And my close friend who lost someone?
The insane irony is that SHE IS MUSLIM. She is the daughter of immigrants herself. She is very close to the Orlando LGBTQ community and suffered from the Pulse shooting more than almost anyone I know, with possibly the exception of one friend who used to work there.
8
I cannot stand Trump but halving the number of new immigrants for a year is the LEAST of the problems with him as a leader. Supreme Court -- that's the one that should have us all shaking.
2
How do you make a great country look like a small country? Live in fear. Great countries do not curl up in a ball.
Referring to refugees Trump said "if you were a Muslim you could come in, but if you were a Christian, it was almost impossible.”
So what are the chances that Trump is lying, again? Well, if he is speaking pretty good as it was reported in the Times that "according to the Pew Research Center, almost as many Christian refugees (37,521) were admitted as Muslim refugees (38,901) in the 2016 fiscal year."
But just as Bush attacked the wrong country for 9/11 Trump goes with the money as a greater test than religion by disingenuously leaving out Saudi Arabia from his ban when their private support of terrorism is documented (and it's individuals that are banned so it fits) and their export of "the rigid, bigoted, patriarchal, fundamentalist strain of Islam known as Wahhabism has fueled global extremism and contributed to terrorism."
Referring to refugees Trump said "if you were a Muslim you could come in, but if you were a Christian, it was almost impossible.”
So what are the chances that Trump is lying, again? Well, if he is speaking pretty good as it was reported in the Times that "according to the Pew Research Center, almost as many Christian refugees (37,521) were admitted as Muslim refugees (38,901) in the 2016 fiscal year."
But just as Bush attacked the wrong country for 9/11 Trump goes with the money as a greater test than religion by disingenuously leaving out Saudi Arabia from his ban when their private support of terrorism is documented (and it's individuals that are banned so it fits) and their export of "the rigid, bigoted, patriarchal, fundamentalist strain of Islam known as Wahhabism has fueled global extremism and contributed to terrorism."
4
What does this guy know? He is a detested "elite". European; university educated; experienced in government. Ticks all the boxes for an "elite".
Voters in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin deliberately decided to throw a Molotov cocktail to demolish this and ignore elites...and if I were in their shoes I might have done the same. They have been crushed by decades of American policy going back to Reagan. While you and I might realise that the Republicans have been principally responsible for their shameful treatment, the hard truth is that the Democrats haven't done much of anything tangible for them either.
And so we have Steve Bannon driving policy.
God help us all.
Voters in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin deliberately decided to throw a Molotov cocktail to demolish this and ignore elites...and if I were in their shoes I might have done the same. They have been crushed by decades of American policy going back to Reagan. While you and I might realise that the Republicans have been principally responsible for their shameful treatment, the hard truth is that the Democrats haven't done much of anything tangible for them either.
And so we have Steve Bannon driving policy.
God help us all.
4
Un-American is one of the weakest qualifications.
I would add: Inhumane, unchristian, cowardly, illegal.
Shameful!
I would add: Inhumane, unchristian, cowardly, illegal.
Shameful!
3
This country has never been what it claimed. Has never lived up to its bragging. It's all coming out now, who we really were all along. Who we were during the Salem trials, slavery, segregation, the Trail of Tears, Jim Crow, McCarthyism, Manzanar, Vietnam, waterboarding, and so much more.
The truth catches up. The Portrait of Dorian Gray has come to the mirror.
The truth catches up. The Portrait of Dorian Gray has come to the mirror.
2
Clearly refugee immigration policy is an important humanitarion and global concern. The statistics that the probability of death from a refugee is less than 1 in one billion says it all. This is a ficticiuos issue promulgated to win gullible votes and distract from the issues that will have great consequence for Americans; health care, taxation, military spending and the environment. How hypocritical that Trump did not ban Saudis or UAE visas, countries with the least amount of religious freedom, promulgators of Wahabism and of course 9/11 operatives. Is it his financial ties? We will never know because his co-conspirators, the Republican party did not force him to reveal his tax returns. In the next 4 years, americans will die and suffer from his policies on social programs and they won't care because this group of cronies will walk away with untold billions.
1
With these immigrants from the Middle East why should we be letting them in en masse just because Germany did. In WW2 it took the Allies 6 years to destroy Germany. Angela W. Merkel accomplished the same thing in 6 months with her immigration policy. This is a Trojan Horse. In 20 years you won't recognize Germany. Might as well rename the place "Deutschlandistan". Is that something that we want to emulate?
You want to immigrate to the US? Go to the American embassy in your country and apply for permission to immigrate. Profess to want to learn English, immerse yourself in American culture and history, dress normal not in costumes and 6th century headgear, drop your old ways in favor of our customs, stop with this Sharia craziness, and maybe we'll let you in. If you can't do that then the USA is not for you. Go immigrate to a country in your own region which shares your values and customs.
Like a private club, whether you get in or not is up to the sole discretion of the members.
You want to immigrate to the US? Go to the American embassy in your country and apply for permission to immigrate. Profess to want to learn English, immerse yourself in American culture and history, dress normal not in costumes and 6th century headgear, drop your old ways in favor of our customs, stop with this Sharia craziness, and maybe we'll let you in. If you can't do that then the USA is not for you. Go immigrate to a country in your own region which shares your values and customs.
Like a private club, whether you get in or not is up to the sole discretion of the members.
19
Well, to keep with this analogy, those now detained at airports have already been vetted by the club members. Trump's order to have them held is just part of his twisted show
4
Most 9/11 hijackers were Saudis and Emiratis and Pakistan hid Bin Laden for ten years yet, somehow, neither Saudu Arabia, the UAE nor Pakistan are on the no entry/extreme vetting list.
This is just another Trumpian play to his supporters so he can bathe in the glow of their adulation and increase his "ratings". (In the reality TV world it's all about ratings.)
Add to this the lie about not accepting Christians and favoring Muslims over Christians in immigration it's just another day in the imaginary new world.
It's Trumpedelic.
This is just another Trumpian play to his supporters so he can bathe in the glow of their adulation and increase his "ratings". (In the reality TV world it's all about ratings.)
Add to this the lie about not accepting Christians and favoring Muslims over Christians in immigration it's just another day in the imaginary new world.
It's Trumpedelic.
4
That Trump's order to suspend resettlement and ban, indefinitely, Syrian refugees was issued on Holocaust Memorial Day is shocking. The depth of this man's wanton disregard for humanity is unknowable. He is signing away our country's soul day by day.
8
Ask yourself one question which should end this debate.
If Barack Obama and Donald Trump were both captured and were on camera by ISIS and had to give up the nuclear codes, or would have their necks sawed from their body, who would chose death with honor to protect you - his family, country and history, and who would squeal like the pig he is.
Who has a base of honor and faith and love for his family and country and would look in the camera with a calm we could only hope to have, a slow smile, the confidence in his faith and family, his sacrifice to keep us all safe, the responsibility he willingly took on when he took the oath of office.
It comes down to this. Who do you trust more to give his life willingly for you if it came down to that? To fall on the grenade? Simple.
If Barack Obama and Donald Trump were both captured and were on camera by ISIS and had to give up the nuclear codes, or would have their necks sawed from their body, who would chose death with honor to protect you - his family, country and history, and who would squeal like the pig he is.
Who has a base of honor and faith and love for his family and country and would look in the camera with a calm we could only hope to have, a slow smile, the confidence in his faith and family, his sacrifice to keep us all safe, the responsibility he willingly took on when he took the oath of office.
It comes down to this. Who do you trust more to give his life willingly for you if it came down to that? To fall on the grenade? Simple.
5
Why have the youth of Muslim refugees in the U.S., Canada and Europe, been such a fruitful source of recruitment for ISIS?
The Latino Dreamers, the Lost Boys of Sudan, and the children of Lebanese Christian refugees don't appear to be joining out enemies.
What's the difference?
The Latino Dreamers, the Lost Boys of Sudan, and the children of Lebanese Christian refugees don't appear to be joining out enemies.
What's the difference?
11
Sky News has reported that Immigration has turned back people arriving at JFK who have valid green card status. BBC News also reports that Google has recalled staff to the US, fearing that its non-US citizen employees with valid visas may be barred.
So, the so-called "great" businessman with a stroke of a pen has (1) done nothing that will truly protect our country from terrorism; (2) further isolates us from the world; and (3) will make international companies consider moving key operations that have multi-national employees to friendlier countries, like Canada.
I feel increasingly queasy with each day's unwelcome news. When will the GOP stand up to the madness (clinical and political)?
So, the so-called "great" businessman with a stroke of a pen has (1) done nothing that will truly protect our country from terrorism; (2) further isolates us from the world; and (3) will make international companies consider moving key operations that have multi-national employees to friendlier countries, like Canada.
I feel increasingly queasy with each day's unwelcome news. When will the GOP stand up to the madness (clinical and political)?
10
Constitution--------What constitution,In the mind of The Donald its just an inconvenience standing in the way of his so called agenda,The agenda to make America Great Again according to The Donald,When outright lies become the Truth what becomes of a mere document which guarantees freedom and liberty for all,Regardless of race --religion or color,In Canada we have welcomed into our country over thirty five thousand Syrian refugees from the Carnage of a horrendous war, My small town in Nova Scotia has adopted a family of four, They are wonderful people just seeking a better life,Refugee sponsorship groups across Canada from coast to coast have welcomed similar families,It makes your heart bleed when you see what these families have had to endure,As a Canadian citizen it has made me realize just how fortunate I am to live in Canada,T o have the freedoms and liberty which we sometimes take far to much for granted,To tell you the truth I am horrified by what I see taking place in America.The Land of The Free and The Home of The Brave is becoming a mere shadow of what the framers of the Constitution envisioned when they wrote We hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal,Wake up America---the whole world is watching,And take it from me---they do not like what they are seeing,This buffoon lashes out at Mexico,Will my country Canada---be next,The country of Washington--Jefferson--Lincoln and Roosevelt is being high jacked by something called Trump,
1
I hate what Trump is doing to this country. We are going to start hating our fellow citizens for their support of his edicts. Or, his supporters will hate those who don't go along with Trump's nonsense. Stopping Muslim refugees, while supporting Christian refugees just gives Isis more ammunition.
4
Trump's supporters please just for second do not repeat what Trump said and try to listen, Ok how do you explain that I fought and severely injured to defend YOU and your family? how do you explain I served in my home country (Iraq) and my priority is protecting my country the US or I thought it was my country! just ask yourself if you want to send somebody to do some under cover work for you in middle east would you send white guy from Texas or send guy like me who speak Arabic and in same time loyal to the USA. I appeal to you to understand the that minority of your follow american been attacked, what should I tell my parents when they want to come visit me? my country doesn't not want you to come because they think you are terrorists? but son aren't you lost so much for your country? true but some angry white peoples think otherwise
8
If he wanted to ban potential Islamic terrorists, he should ban the Saudis and only the Saudis! The Syrians are among the best refugees you could wish for - generally well educated and fleeing a terrible war.
5
Brits and May need to do USA a favor a denounce Trump
4
People do not have a right to live here. Settle refugees in their own area of the world.
10
We have a madman in the White House. It is plan and simple. A coward, a fraud and frankly an unAmerican as you could possibly imagine
5
How quaint! The NYT Editorial Board still thinks "The world looks to America for enlightened leadership"...
Nope! Not any more.
In reality, cynicism and doubt has been growing for many years when it comes to the US' role in the world and any such "enlightened leadership". Post-9/11 America is a very different beast than pre-9/11. Trump has quickly and completely skewered any remaining notion though that the US is interested in supporting good global citizenship. The effects of this hypocrisy will last for a generation.
Nope! Not any more.
In reality, cynicism and doubt has been growing for many years when it comes to the US' role in the world and any such "enlightened leadership". Post-9/11 America is a very different beast than pre-9/11. Trump has quickly and completely skewered any remaining notion though that the US is interested in supporting good global citizenship. The effects of this hypocrisy will last for a generation.
2
When do the witch burnings start?
2
The policy is wrongheaded and shameful. Like so, so, so much else the Republicans and the new administration are doing it is utterly and hopelessly hypocritical.
IF you are going to ban Muslims from countries that harbor terrorists (a bogus and self defeating proposition), THEN how in any deity's name do you NOT ban Muslims from the countries that gave us the guys who flew airplanes into buildings on 9/11??
IF you are going to ban Muslims from countries that harbor terrorists (a bogus and self defeating proposition), THEN how in any deity's name do you NOT ban Muslims from the countries that gave us the guys who flew airplanes into buildings on 9/11??
4
Message To The World: "America Is Now Closed".
2
It is worthy at this time to remind ourselves of the inscription on the Statue of Liberty:
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
1
"It is not right, it is not needed and it is not smart."
Touché!
Touché!
2
As a consequence of invasion of Iraq and toppling of their "stable" government under imaginary pretext, ideal condition for ISIL was created. Under ISIL Iraqis and Syrians suffered horrific abuses. Trump wants them to suffer more.
Trump's actions are out of bound. Indeed, he is the child we all feared. And he happens to hate Hispanics, Black, women (except "beautiful" ones) and of course Muslims and secretly (?) Jews.
Make America great white racist again.
Trump's actions are out of bound. Indeed, he is the child we all feared. And he happens to hate Hispanics, Black, women (except "beautiful" ones) and of course Muslims and secretly (?) Jews.
Make America great white racist again.
3
Under Obama we had:
- the birth of ISIS
- a terrible nuclear deal with Iran that essentially allows them to cheat/self inspect
- Syrian genocide
- San Bernadino
- Orlando
- Ft. Hood
- the expansion of Islamic radicalism across Europe (Paris)
- Muslim Brotherhood
- Palestinian BDS movements and an increasingly anti- Semitic UN
- refusal to call Islamic terrorism by its name
Donald Trump calls a spade a spade and takes meaningful action against Islamic terrorism, something Obama refused to do. If a religion does not support American values (please don't tell me women are equal in the Muslim world), we have no obligation to accommodate it at the expense of our own security.
- the birth of ISIS
- a terrible nuclear deal with Iran that essentially allows them to cheat/self inspect
- Syrian genocide
- San Bernadino
- Orlando
- Ft. Hood
- the expansion of Islamic radicalism across Europe (Paris)
- Muslim Brotherhood
- Palestinian BDS movements and an increasingly anti- Semitic UN
- refusal to call Islamic terrorism by its name
Donald Trump calls a spade a spade and takes meaningful action against Islamic terrorism, something Obama refused to do. If a religion does not support American values (please don't tell me women are equal in the Muslim world), we have no obligation to accommodate it at the expense of our own security.
9
Let me now educate you, if President Bush had not invaded Iraq we would not of had any of above. BTW the person responsible for San Bernadino was born in the USA.
8
He didn't have the decency or intelligence to couch this in conciliatory language. The new administration will be halting immigration from countries XYZ as to make sure those who enter the country do not pose a threat to American citizens, either born or have immigrated here from all nations of the world, whatever faith they follow. As if Americans and anyone from a country seen as an ally working and living in the countries he has put on the naughty list aren't already doing so at risk to their safety, well they are going to love the YUUUGGGEEE bullseye he has now plastered on their backs. Watching the Hannity Interview last night if Trump hasn't given Islamic Terrorist Groups enough recruitment material, no doubt his words "sneaky rats" who are "sick and demented" in describing ISIS which with a little good editing will end up being "Trump calls Muslims, "sneaky rats" who are "sick and demented", cut to some old rally footage. Shameful self-promoting egotistic that one-fifth of Americans voted for as leader of the free world. Truly sickening
3
We are back to 1939 when a ship (St. Louis) full of German Jewish refugees was refused permission to disembark in Florida.
8
Well said, Ghulam.
3
If the ban is illegal according to our laws, how can Trump do it? Legally, that is?
2
What MORAL leadership? That vanished with the departure of Barack Obama, and has been replaced by a man who possesses no morals..........
5
Two ideas are in conflict here, compassion and security. Sometimes it's wise to place one above the other. That seems to be what Mr. Trump is doing. Clearly, the Times and probably a large majority of its readers think the President's order is deplorable. Mr. Miliband's essay states that position fairly well. Now, the Times will, I hope, print essays written from other points of view. If it doesn't, it's simply propagandizing against the President, not engaging in intelligent argument.
13
I am sorry to say but there is one aspect of Trump's policy that I support: giving preferential treatment to Christians and (I assume) other religious minorities. This has nothing to do with a "religious test" but everything to do with the recognition of the simple fact that these religious minorities are slated for genocide by Daesh and other radical Islamist groups. Would you argue, on constitutional grounds, that Jews and Christians should have been treated equally in applying for ayslum during World War 2? Precisely because it was not recognized that Jews, whether you consider them a religious or an ethnic minority, were uniquely singled out for slaughter that so many of them were turned away. This said, denying asylum for Iraqis and Afghanis who helped Americans during the invasion is outrageous.
10
This president drives so many nails in the coffin of American leadership that the world will soon trust China before United States. Trump is everything the haters of the US has claimed the country is all about: a loud-mouthed, ignorant, capitalist, lying, snake oil salesman.
5
Racist, bigoted and unconstitutional.
8
The irony is that every country that he has banned residents from does not allow people with Israeli citizenship to enter their country. Can someone explain how Somalians can cry racism when they are denied entry into the US but the denial of Israelis in Somalia is perfectly acceptable to them? The difference is Somalian Muslims in the US have committed and planned serious acts of violence in the US. When have Israelis committed similar acts of violence in Somalia of the dozens of other Muslim countries that bar them, and only them?
20
Tell that to the children.
Mr. Trump's refugee policy, no doubt wildly popular among his supporters, makes me sick to my stomach.
Land of the free and home of the brave? Not at the moment.
Land of the free and home of the brave? Not at the moment.
12
I doubt President Trump is interested in commentary on his executive actions, or advice, from an un-reconstructed British socialist.
5
I can't believe it!! It's a miracle! Prior to January 20, 2017 I would read the comments on any NYT story about refugees and the top picks were all anti-refugee. "We have our own problems". "Those people all kill each other there. Why would we want them to do it here." "Look at Europe."
If anyone suggested that theUS help provide safe zones, that person was a neo-con warmonger.
Now the top picks are all pro-refugee. America has become heartless under the Donald. Become?!!
I explain to my children politics exist on all levels - school, family, work and follow many of the same rules in each sphere. I tell them if you understand high school politics you understand a lot of world politics. There are the bullies, the weaklings, the popular kids...
But in America, politics as high school is not a metaphor. You people literally behave like you are in high school. The moral preening of teenagers for whom everything is black and white. The narcissistic use and viewing of every situation to put oneself in the center.
You don't want the refugees. You never did. You have let your Iranian friends massacre them, only becoming interested in the more tangential Russian role. Only when you could use the Syrians did you notice them.
This isn't about refugees. This is your little high school war. You Americans insult Syrians and all humanity.
If anyone suggested that theUS help provide safe zones, that person was a neo-con warmonger.
Now the top picks are all pro-refugee. America has become heartless under the Donald. Become?!!
I explain to my children politics exist on all levels - school, family, work and follow many of the same rules in each sphere. I tell them if you understand high school politics you understand a lot of world politics. There are the bullies, the weaklings, the popular kids...
But in America, politics as high school is not a metaphor. You people literally behave like you are in high school. The moral preening of teenagers for whom everything is black and white. The narcissistic use and viewing of every situation to put oneself in the center.
You don't want the refugees. You never did. You have let your Iranian friends massacre them, only becoming interested in the more tangential Russian role. Only when you could use the Syrians did you notice them.
This isn't about refugees. This is your little high school war. You Americans insult Syrians and all humanity.
3
The change, of course, it hatred for trump. Hate based politcs are no better when it's their lizards we hate.
6
This is shameful. The Statue of Liberty should be shrouded in black for the remainder of the Trump regime's time in office. This, in a nation founded by immigrants, sickening.
11
First, the US ALREADY takes in more immigrants than any other country: http://www.migrationpolicy.org/programs/data-hub/charts/top-25-destinati.... This is true even though 1. The amount of available land to accommodate an exploding population has not increased. 2. offshoring of entire industries has increased exponentially, meaning there are fewer available jobs. 3. Automation will soon be eliminating what few jobs remain in the US. 4. Working class American citizens have experienced a dramatic decline in their standard of living, since wages are extremely low and resources are becoming scarce. 5. We are told that the country is "broke" and cannot even afford to honor our obligations to US citizens who have paid for their benefits. That being the case, how can the US afford to welcome and SUPPORT half the third world, as NYT readers would prefer?
9
Pretty simple, really. He banned Muslim refugees and immigrants from countries where he does not have investments. Those latter countries got a pass, and supplied ALL of the terrorists who gave us 9/11, 15 of whom came from Saudi Arabia alone.
And the thing about favoring Christians? Where is his Orthodox Jew son-in-law Jared Kushner? A Jew by convenience, perhaps? Jews are worth less than Christians? Wake up, American Jews and Israel. This Carrot-in-Chief is only your friend when it suits his Twitterverse. And his son-in-law is a modern day Haman. Jews and Christians familiar with the BIble, and not some fake interpretation by some wealth-worshiping Evangelical pastor, will get the reference.
The end times may be arriving with the advent of this cretin we have as President. But it won't get those delusional Christians to paradise. It will, instead, return the world to the cockroaches, who have survived the longest of any living life form, and who probably will rule the planet better than humans ever have.
And the thing about favoring Christians? Where is his Orthodox Jew son-in-law Jared Kushner? A Jew by convenience, perhaps? Jews are worth less than Christians? Wake up, American Jews and Israel. This Carrot-in-Chief is only your friend when it suits his Twitterverse. And his son-in-law is a modern day Haman. Jews and Christians familiar with the BIble, and not some fake interpretation by some wealth-worshiping Evangelical pastor, will get the reference.
The end times may be arriving with the advent of this cretin we have as President. But it won't get those delusional Christians to paradise. It will, instead, return the world to the cockroaches, who have survived the longest of any living life form, and who probably will rule the planet better than humans ever have.
9
You go Trump!
9
I will take in a syrian family. Anyone care to join me?
8
The columnist forgets that a President's and government's first and main job is to protect the citizens of the United States, not those abroad. Then come all other "ideals."
Anyone who champions immigration from Muslim countries it is okay with the idea that 1% of them would later blow up Americans. Who gave you the right to gamble my safety?
If you knew that your own children or parents would be in this 1% who would later be killed by Islamic terrorists would you still support immigration from these terror prone countries? My only regret is that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia weren't included.
Will President Trump also declare Wahhabism a terrorist religion, if we are at cleaning house, internationally speaking? We hope he will!
Anyone who champions immigration from Muslim countries it is okay with the idea that 1% of them would later blow up Americans. Who gave you the right to gamble my safety?
If you knew that your own children or parents would be in this 1% who would later be killed by Islamic terrorists would you still support immigration from these terror prone countries? My only regret is that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia weren't included.
Will President Trump also declare Wahhabism a terrorist religion, if we are at cleaning house, internationally speaking? We hope he will!
23
Miliband is being disingenuous with the numbers.
Buried in his claim that this is a "cut" from "110,000 to just 50,000" is the fact that the former number was "planned"—as a parting shot by the Obama administration.
Under President Obama, nowhere near 110,000 refugees have been admitted in any year. Until this year, the highest number was 74,000—and there were no shrieks in the New York Times in 2011 and 2012, when barely 55,000 refugees were allowed into the US, essentially what President Trump has proposed.
In short, to suggest President Trump is cutting refugees by more than half is patently false. And his policy is well in line with public opinion; in the most recent Pew poll from October, a solid majority of Americans did not believe the US has any responsibility to take in Syrian refugees: 54% to 41%.
So, welcome to democracy—and enough with the hysteria, please.
Buried in his claim that this is a "cut" from "110,000 to just 50,000" is the fact that the former number was "planned"—as a parting shot by the Obama administration.
Under President Obama, nowhere near 110,000 refugees have been admitted in any year. Until this year, the highest number was 74,000—and there were no shrieks in the New York Times in 2011 and 2012, when barely 55,000 refugees were allowed into the US, essentially what President Trump has proposed.
In short, to suggest President Trump is cutting refugees by more than half is patently false. And his policy is well in line with public opinion; in the most recent Pew poll from October, a solid majority of Americans did not believe the US has any responsibility to take in Syrian refugees: 54% to 41%.
So, welcome to democracy—and enough with the hysteria, please.
17
In Section 11 "General Provisions" of Trump's order it states: "(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations." As another op-ed writer argues elsewhere on the front page, the order violates a 1965 anti-discrimination law, and I cite: "stating plainly that no person could be “discriminated against in the issuance of an immigrant visa because of the person’s race, sex, nationality, place of birth or place of residence.” The order contradicts itself and is therefore unenforceable. A visa cannot be obtained by someone who is banned from entry, and if someone is banned from entry based on nationality, he cannot obtain a visa based on nationality, which is illegal. The other way around: If someone has a valid visa, that person has the right to enter the USA under the conditions of the visa. If the person has not violated those conditions, s/he cannot retroactively be prohibited from entering the USA, otherwise a visa would be a meaningless document.
Trump has to execute the law, and if he doesn't (and even breaks it if the order is found to be illegal and people are illegally discriminated against), he should be impeached by congress.
Trump has to execute the law, and if he doesn't (and even breaks it if the order is found to be illegal and people are illegally discriminated against), he should be impeached by congress.
3
Notice the countries not on the list, those that Trump does business with. Hypocrite thy name is Trump. This ban is stupid and so the current occupant of the WH.
6
Does anyone ever look at data? Since 2001, approximately 3500 people in the U.S. and abroad (including the 9/11 attacks which account for most of that number) were killed by Islamic terrorists. During that same period, over 400,000 were killed by gun violence. Why aren't we banning guns instead???
*And most of the 9/11 terrorists were from Saudi Arabia - a country ironically NOT on the banned list, maybe because Trump has business dealings there...
*And most of the 9/11 terrorists were from Saudi Arabia - a country ironically NOT on the banned list, maybe because Trump has business dealings there...
9
The furor has spoken, so shall it be. Again, as I have wondered so many gazillions of times already, how in the world did this pathological reactionary nut ever attain the position? His actions are as un American as it gets. His philosophy apparently is to take actions which work to feed the sentiment which will do nothing more than grow the extremism he is trying to avoid. He apparently has no capacity to understand or deal with the big picture. As a nation he in a very short time has taken this country backwards in so many ways. What a shame. God help us all.
3
A muslim ban is immoral and a great recruitment tool for ISIS. Now Trump is saying he doesn’t believe in investigation evidences that Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was shot down by a Russian-made rocket and warhead. I believe it is time to initiate the articles of impeachment on the grounds his executive orders and actions are a threat to US national security.
6
Seems like we did this once before, turning away a ship filled with Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany. Those unfortunate victims of fear mongering ended up in concentration camp never to be seen again.
My mother used to say unless you are a Native American, we were all immigrants at one time! Too bad when Trump's family came over they weren't turned away.
My mother used to say unless you are a Native American, we were all immigrants at one time! Too bad when Trump's family came over they weren't turned away.
6
Even the casual news reader has learned that the US vetting process for refugees is stringent. But lets face it, the facts simply dont matter anymore. What matters are the feelings of less then 1/2 of half of those who voted in November. Feelings that immigrants are either taking jobs from "real true-blue Americans", or the feeling that the ranks of the refugees from Syria etc, are mostly terrorists in hiding seeking to gain an easy entrance to the US to further their jihad.
Feelings. The US has been taken over by a man who tells us he runs life on what his gut tells him. He was elected largely by people who rely on their entrenched prejudices and/or ill-informed opinions of the World at large.
So IF DT's gut is so good at figuring things out, maybe he should meet some of these refugees and do a little random testing and see what his gut tells him. After all if he can up the head of the DC Parks Dept and likely grill and admonish the man, about his peni, er...crowd size...why not put him to work personally vetting refugees.
One Q; some brave journalist might ask the Prez. So the Russian Mob has pretty much been running the strip clubs and sex trade up and down the east coast (out west as well) for some time now...shouldn't there be stricter vetting for not only the girls (who are tricked or kidnapped or threatened) brought in for the trade, but also the males, who come here to specifically to join the ranks of these organized crime networks...? Hmmm..??
Feelings. The US has been taken over by a man who tells us he runs life on what his gut tells him. He was elected largely by people who rely on their entrenched prejudices and/or ill-informed opinions of the World at large.
So IF DT's gut is so good at figuring things out, maybe he should meet some of these refugees and do a little random testing and see what his gut tells him. After all if he can up the head of the DC Parks Dept and likely grill and admonish the man, about his peni, er...crowd size...why not put him to work personally vetting refugees.
One Q; some brave journalist might ask the Prez. So the Russian Mob has pretty much been running the strip clubs and sex trade up and down the east coast (out west as well) for some time now...shouldn't there be stricter vetting for not only the girls (who are tricked or kidnapped or threatened) brought in for the trade, but also the males, who come here to specifically to join the ranks of these organized crime networks...? Hmmm..??
1
The process is stringent, but it was failing miserably to protect victims of genocide, and only allowing in economic refugees.
2
Europe is cheering this move.
8
Muslims , bad .
Christians , good.
See, it's that simple.
So says the president of the world's greatest , multi-cultural nation.
No nuance.
No sense of morality.
Plenty of hate.
But it seems the message speaks to the way too many of its people. SAD!!!!!
I have been an admirer of the U.S. However, I do not want to visit the U.S. for coming four years. The U.S is losing its lure ( soft power) when it abandons its moral leadership , when it begins to go so low. Half of the American people may not care, but when this perception reaches a critical mass worldwide, I wish that will help make a positive change , at least a little bit .
Christians , good.
See, it's that simple.
So says the president of the world's greatest , multi-cultural nation.
No nuance.
No sense of morality.
Plenty of hate.
But it seems the message speaks to the way too many of its people. SAD!!!!!
I have been an admirer of the U.S. However, I do not want to visit the U.S. for coming four years. The U.S is losing its lure ( soft power) when it abandons its moral leadership , when it begins to go so low. Half of the American people may not care, but when this perception reaches a critical mass worldwide, I wish that will help make a positive change , at least a little bit .
86
It occurs to me that this poorly thought out executive fiat has been issued on Holocaust Remembrance Day. We are informed too that President Trump did not think it important enough to acknowledge Jews. What an ugly irony that a country founded on noble principles should move with such indecent haste on a day of remembrance for the victims of the worst state sponsored ethnic massacre of the 20th century. Sadly, it has come to that. Clearly, we forgotten our shameful history of turning away a ship bringing Sikh Asians and then Ships bringing Jews fleeing Nazi Germany. And shortly after at war's end we had no qualms about admitting thousands of Nazi scientists and intelligence experts under special dispensations. This time too Trump's masterly pen has forgotten to scribble in the names of Pakistan and Afghanistan which sent the most recent terrorists to San Bernardino and Orlando. And what about Saudi Arabia which sent the bulk of the 9/11 terrorists and still finances extremism through religious charities. Possibly our soon to be Secretary of State oil tycoon intervened and obtained exceptions. Or, may be Trump brand towers are coming up in these exempted Muslim nations!! The only saving grace is the non Muslim minorities already suffering persecution in their homelands have been shown mercy. Badly conceived policies will be hard to implement and spew more problems without addressing the root causes of Islamic terrorism.
62
The Iraq War/Invasion by the US forces and their coalition of the willing, destabilised much of the already unsettled Middle East.
Hundreds of thousands of Iraqi refugees could no longer live safely in Iraq. Trump and the Republican Party own the results of their destabilisation.
Now Trump the populist, seeks to further annoy legitimate refugees for plainly political reasons. Shame on Donald Trump and his stance, which will in all likelihood create more anti Ametican sentiment, rather than help lower tensions and move forward in a constructive way.
Hundreds of thousands of Iraqi refugees could no longer live safely in Iraq. Trump and the Republican Party own the results of their destabilisation.
Now Trump the populist, seeks to further annoy legitimate refugees for plainly political reasons. Shame on Donald Trump and his stance, which will in all likelihood create more anti Ametican sentiment, rather than help lower tensions and move forward in a constructive way.
2
This order is likely to increase the number of home grown terrorists.
2
I cannot believe denying the rights of a group because of religion or country of birth the right to immigrate to the US is legal Constitutionally.
2
A parable retold:
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[a]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b]”
28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30 In reply Jesus said: “A Syrian refugee was going from Aleppo to Turkey, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A Englishman happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, an American, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a German, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to a safe place and took care of him.
36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[a]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b]”
28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30 In reply Jesus said: “A Syrian refugee was going from Aleppo to Turkey, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A Englishman happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, an American, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a German, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to a safe place and took care of him.
36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
4
Why don't we open the doors to more white immigrants? All many Dems want is brown or black ones. In regard to Somalians, many of them are not good citizens here; in fact, many try to bend us to suit their culture. And, the writer is right that what I call 'self righteous' people here don't live among these people. In regard to Mexico, there we go with many Dems, again. Illegals-they welcome them. In their minds(many Dems) there is no such thing as an illegal.
9
Thank you, David Miliband. I'm glad you are here with us and count on you to speak up and out for those you represent. You are fighting for the American people as well, standing up for our principles. We need you.
3
UnAmerican... Was that really written here? Christians in many Muslim lands have been butchered. In many more areas, they have been treated as second class citizens or worse. This continues to this day. Obama recognized this when his administration acknowledged that Genocide very well may have been committed in areas under control of radical islamists.
Make no mistake. Christians make up the majority of this nation. And even if they did not, the hardship faced by Christians under the Muslim yoke demands our action.
The difference between Obama and Trump: Trump Acts. Obama talked.
Make no mistake. Christians make up the majority of this nation. And even if they did not, the hardship faced by Christians under the Muslim yoke demands our action.
The difference between Obama and Trump: Trump Acts. Obama talked.
10
Saying that by determining who enters your nation is "a propaganda gift to those who would plot harm to America", sounds a bit like geo-political extortion--"Better let me in or my angry countrymen will blow your house down", right?
Only a fool or a coward would submit to that kind of "bombastic" rhetoric and irrational nonsense. It is not "a repudiation of fundamental American values", but measured wisdom in deciding whom, how many, when, and from where.
This essay, in a phrase, is just more Liberal Imperialist propaganda coming from New York City's mass-media central. Can't sell that anymore to the American citizens--well, at least not till 2020.
Only a fool or a coward would submit to that kind of "bombastic" rhetoric and irrational nonsense. It is not "a repudiation of fundamental American values", but measured wisdom in deciding whom, how many, when, and from where.
This essay, in a phrase, is just more Liberal Imperialist propaganda coming from New York City's mass-media central. Can't sell that anymore to the American citizens--well, at least not till 2020.
6
Your comment if anything, demonstrates the seeds of discontent strewn about this country that have taken root.
And your choice of tropes strongly suggest that you have clearly forgotten--
whether left, right. or centrist , we are all Americans.
And your choice of tropes strongly suggest that you have clearly forgotten--
whether left, right. or centrist , we are all Americans.
1
Lady Liberty weeps for us, for what we are destroying...the very character of our nation.
7
The New York Times has that series where they detail the lives of
syrian refugees in Canada. There are many sweet stories, but what about the parts that don't fit with the narrative that refugees are good for a country? I'm a feminist, and I can't stand seeing women in hijabs and occasional niqabs. I saw a family at a Walmart in Los Angeles where the woman wore a niqab. Am I supposed to get used to that? A woman wearing a black robe with eye slits? Even the hijab is offensive if it is related to Islam's sick honor custom. Are the Syrian men who are vetted questioned about their attitudes on women? Probably not. They can live here or in Canada (or Germany or Sweden and hold far worse views on the role of women than the worst Republican. Is it fair to consider this?
syrian refugees in Canada. There are many sweet stories, but what about the parts that don't fit with the narrative that refugees are good for a country? I'm a feminist, and I can't stand seeing women in hijabs and occasional niqabs. I saw a family at a Walmart in Los Angeles where the woman wore a niqab. Am I supposed to get used to that? A woman wearing a black robe with eye slits? Even the hijab is offensive if it is related to Islam's sick honor custom. Are the Syrian men who are vetted questioned about their attitudes on women? Probably not. They can live here or in Canada (or Germany or Sweden and hold far worse views on the role of women than the worst Republican. Is it fair to consider this?
13
Also note how few of the syrian refugees were from communities fleeing genocide.
7
It's like living in a Trump Snake Pit. Many potential immigrants might want to reconsider coming to this Trump / Republican hell hole. Not gonna be too much freedom here if these clowns continue.
2
Trump has just given nearly a quarter of the planet's population cause to distrust, even hate America. Fortunately, many of them are better people than our President and will hold this against him and not against all of us or against the ideal America we and many of them still cherish. But he has given them cause. And many will be as indiscriminate as he. In slamming the door on the most aspiring, Western-leaning of the Muslim world, with an in-your-face religious exception for Christians from predominantly Muslim lands, Trump has surrendered America's most valuable defense against terrorism, the moral high ground, and all but declared a religious war on Islam. We all need to be praying Allah hears and helps us, because the American Presidency is Godforsaken.
86
You are so right! Heaven help us.
2
Trump's policy on refugee's is disgusting. But give me a beak. The United States was hardly a moral leader on the issue under Obama. The richest country in the world and so-called moral leader has accepted fewer refugees than many much smaller and less wealthy nations around the world. Canada has given refuge to 5 times as many people. Most European countries (all tiny compared to the U.S.) have accepted similar numbers to us. Where was the NYTimes outrage over this un-American policy during Obama's Administration?
The outrage was there, but the target was those who prevented the President from raising the numbers. Same people, just now with even more power.
What's next? 1940's internment camps like the ones that held Japanese-Americans against their will. Guilt through genetic factors? That worked out sooooo well. When you are privileged, you don't have to learn from history, I guess. Sad!
3
"Together, we will make love and tolerance prevalent throughout the world.”
Quote from Trump statement on Holocaust Remembrance Day. Whatever this man says, think the opposite is what is happening.
Quote from Trump statement on Holocaust Remembrance Day. Whatever this man says, think the opposite is what is happening.
4
America & Americans first.
Can we make it any clearer to the libs?
It's over!
Can we make it any clearer to the libs?
It's over!
7
Trump did not bar anyone from Saudi Arabia nor the
Arab emirates even though the perpetrators
of 9/11 came from there. So what does that tell you?
Follow the money.
Show me one instance of a Syrian refugee terrorist,
Anywhere in the US.
Iraq? After we bombed their country to smithereens
we tell the Iraqis who helped us they can't
have refuge here?
What kind of twisted sick logic is this?
I'm ashamed to be American.
Arab emirates even though the perpetrators
of 9/11 came from there. So what does that tell you?
Follow the money.
Show me one instance of a Syrian refugee terrorist,
Anywhere in the US.
Iraq? After we bombed their country to smithereens
we tell the Iraqis who helped us they can't
have refuge here?
What kind of twisted sick logic is this?
I'm ashamed to be American.
9
Take a look at the Paris Suburbs where Muslims dominate. They do not assimilate into the culture, demand that their quirks be met at all times and produce terrorists at an alarming rate. Islam is not a religion of tolerance, it is one way only for them. Let them all stay in the Middle East and may the best tribe win.
We should annex Mexico, clean up all the graft and corruption, and make it our 51st state!!
We should annex Mexico, clean up all the graft and corruption, and make it our 51st state!!
8
David,I love your comments about immigration--but if we annex Mexico, 2 minutes later, 50 million people would become eligible for all of our social programs.
4
What truly sickening news.
8
The US sacrificed any moral leadership it thought it had the day Trump was elected.
7
What a surprise--yet another in an unending string of anti-Trump columns. Wow....you guys really, really hate this guy. It's beginning to resemble a mania.
Trump's immigration policy should be no surprise to anyone. It's entirely consistent with the message he campaigned on. It's part of his America First policy.
If you want to understand the problem with "bleeding heart" immigration policies--take a trip to Minneapolis. There you will find thousands of Somalis--most of whom are congregated in one area of the city, brooding, plotting, refusing to assimilate, failing to learn English. Many have never wandered off of public assistance. Scores have been arrested for supporting terrorist organizations--and many more are suspected of doing so. In one trial, 9 young men were charged with attempting to join ISIS.
Is this what we want? Do we want to offer passage to people who do not share our values, will never share our values--and simply will not assimilate into our culture--and never come to appreciate the gift of their citizenship?
Ideally, we SHOULD be thinking America First on this subject. Why don't we offer the amazing gift of American citizenship to those who are talented in their field, can contribute to our economy and our way of life--and come from cultures who are not steeped in violence and intolerance?
If you believe Muslim refuges deserved to be rescued and delivered to some better place, where is Japan doing? China? Saudia Arabia? Mexico?
Trump's immigration policy should be no surprise to anyone. It's entirely consistent with the message he campaigned on. It's part of his America First policy.
If you want to understand the problem with "bleeding heart" immigration policies--take a trip to Minneapolis. There you will find thousands of Somalis--most of whom are congregated in one area of the city, brooding, plotting, refusing to assimilate, failing to learn English. Many have never wandered off of public assistance. Scores have been arrested for supporting terrorist organizations--and many more are suspected of doing so. In one trial, 9 young men were charged with attempting to join ISIS.
Is this what we want? Do we want to offer passage to people who do not share our values, will never share our values--and simply will not assimilate into our culture--and never come to appreciate the gift of their citizenship?
Ideally, we SHOULD be thinking America First on this subject. Why don't we offer the amazing gift of American citizenship to those who are talented in their field, can contribute to our economy and our way of life--and come from cultures who are not steeped in violence and intolerance?
If you believe Muslim refuges deserved to be rescued and delivered to some better place, where is Japan doing? China? Saudia Arabia? Mexico?
14
I agree with Trump on this one. Why is that US & Western Europe has to take all the burden of refugees. Have you ever seen China, Japan and the so called rich Gulf states take on any refugees especially the ones displaced from the war in ME.
9
The US does NOT take the burden of refugees. Our vetting has been very stringent. That is why we have taken much fewer !! Syrian refugees than other Western countries. I think it behooves you to read more about this because you are clearly mistaken.
2
Interesting that none of the Muslim-majority countries where Trump does business are on the prohibited list -- Saudi Arabia, Turkey, UAE.
16
Trumps immigration policies are as American as apple pie. Asians were excluded in the 19th century. The quota system of the 1924 Immigration Act virtually eliminated immigration from Eastern Europe (too many Jews) and Italy (too many catholics) The new quotas for immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe[where?] were so restrictive that in 1924 there were more Italians, Czechs, Yugoslavs, Greeks, Lithuanians, Hungarians, Portuguese, Romanians, Spaniards, Jews, Chinese, and Japanese that left the United States than those who arrived as immigrants. The quota system was used to bar Jews (even from Germany favored immigration country) in the 1930s and after WWII because of rampant anti semitism in the USA.
The quotas remained in place with minor alterations until the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965.
Of course terrorism adds a new dimension to immigrant exclusion. You would be hard pressed to find many Americans and Europeans who who wish to take the risk of admitting people from countries dominated by jihadi terrorists.
The quotas remained in place with minor alterations until the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965.
Of course terrorism adds a new dimension to immigrant exclusion. You would be hard pressed to find many Americans and Europeans who who wish to take the risk of admitting people from countries dominated by jihadi terrorists.
3
Our past does not define us nor does it delimit all that we are now or aspire to be.
One aspect of America's success is that we have had little ethic to ethic violence, the actions of whites against black people being a notable exception.
One aspect of America's success is that we have had little ethic to ethic violence, the actions of whites against black people being a notable exception.
1
If Trump establishes a religious test to identify Christians - does anyone think he would pass?
10
I wouldn’t characterize this policy as “un-American.” It’s inhumane. Giving haven for those persecuted for their politics was a core American strategy, which is what makes this policy so stupid.
5
There are far more American citizens doing horrible things to other American Citizens, then there are immigrants doing horrible things to American Citizens. Trump is deluded if he thinks this is going to make us safer.
1
Refugees are seeking "refuge", hence the name. They need a safe place, away from the danger. How does turning away the "Huddled Masses, Yearning to Be Free" reduce the damage done by "Radical Islamic Terrorism"?
The overwhelming majority of crimes in this country are committed by people who were born here.
The majority of terrorist attacks by religious extremists, and other people with extremist views, in the United States are also committed by Americans.
The "Army of God" and other anti-abortion Christians have performed more terrorist attacks on US soil than Islamic Extremists.
Before 9/11, the largest terrorist attack on US soil was the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building building being attacked by Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols in Oklahoma City. Both men were born in the USA. Both had extreme anti-government views.
9/11 was also not performed by immigrants. It was reportedly done by people who hated America for what it had done, including supporting attacks on Muslims in other countries. By turning away people in need, especially in a way which actively discriminates against Muslims, we feed into the narrative of the terrorists it is supposedly intended to stop: America is a place which wants to see all Muslims dead, and so is a valid target.
Trump is making America less safe, less caring, less kind, less empathetic, and less American.
Shame on Trump.
The overwhelming majority of crimes in this country are committed by people who were born here.
The majority of terrorist attacks by religious extremists, and other people with extremist views, in the United States are also committed by Americans.
The "Army of God" and other anti-abortion Christians have performed more terrorist attacks on US soil than Islamic Extremists.
Before 9/11, the largest terrorist attack on US soil was the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building building being attacked by Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols in Oklahoma City. Both men were born in the USA. Both had extreme anti-government views.
9/11 was also not performed by immigrants. It was reportedly done by people who hated America for what it had done, including supporting attacks on Muslims in other countries. By turning away people in need, especially in a way which actively discriminates against Muslims, we feed into the narrative of the terrorists it is supposedly intended to stop: America is a place which wants to see all Muslims dead, and so is a valid target.
Trump is making America less safe, less caring, less kind, less empathetic, and less American.
Shame on Trump.
7
"GM", a comment on your next to the last paragraph. 9-11, 2001, was carried out as a political act by terrorists who used America's role in the world as a motivating excuse, a lie. America, "the far enemy" was picked because the terrorists thought they could easily defeat us, that we would "withdraw from the world stage"** and that triumphant victory would allow them, or help them, establish a world wide caliphate with Bin Laden and others in the ruling position. They came to the conclusion that we would be easily defeat and would retreat in fright because of the withdrawal of Marines from Lebanon under Reagan and the pull out from Somalia under Clinton (forgetting that there was no good, sustaining reason for the US to have been in those locations at the start).
9-11 was an act of madness and one of the great miscalculations in military matters in the history of the world. Nonetheless, they have used America's reactions as a means to weaken us and strengthen themselves.
**The phrases in quotes above are taken from the various terrorists manifestos of those involved in 9-11.
9-11 was an act of madness and one of the great miscalculations in military matters in the history of the world. Nonetheless, they have used America's reactions as a means to weaken us and strengthen themselves.
**The phrases in quotes above are taken from the various terrorists manifestos of those involved in 9-11.
1
Bingo
We repeatedly heard during the last administration that it is the prerogative of the President to set this country's immigration policy. Why should it be any different now?
Saudi Arabia and other Muslim Gulf States need to be compelled by the international community to begin accepting refugees from Syria and other Muslim countries. The West has done its fair share already.
Saudi Arabia and other Muslim Gulf States need to be compelled by the international community to begin accepting refugees from Syria and other Muslim countries. The West has done its fair share already.
9
The US has done far from its share. It may be the President's prerogative, but it doesn't mean he shouldn't be called out if he acts against our values and our best interests.
1
No response regarding the other Gulf States closing their doors to fellow Muslims? Figures.
6
What? He's only doing what FDR did with the Jews. He could have ordered a relaxation in the quotas but refused to or convinced the British allow Jews to enter the future Israel but he refused.
Shame on both of them
Next comes the internment camps ... also a war time US policy
Next comes the internment camps ... also a war time US policy
Screening. Vetting. San Bernardino.
5
Here is a clue for ya, the man responsible for that was born here in the US. So much for being informed, not.
1
"Give me your tired, your poor,
your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
the wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me:
I lift my lamp beside the golden door."
I wonder if Donald Trump, during his seventy years in New York City, ever read these words.
your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
the wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me:
I lift my lamp beside the golden door."
I wonder if Donald Trump, during his seventy years in New York City, ever read these words.
3
We have enough tired, poor huddled masses here already.
7
For those reading this in other countries, I want you to know that there are many of us in the USA that see you as human, and welcome you with open arms. I'm ashamed of my President and his supports who have become so ignorant of other cultures.
5
Shame on you U.S.A..
2
I have identified the feeling I have had lately and realized that is what it is
We are now officially a nation of cowards. What a sad day.
3
Were the "checks and balances" lessons in elementary through high school just a load of bunk? How can individual be pulling this off?
3
I only hope Canada doesn't adopt a similar policy because I have a sinking feeling that, if this president continues along this shameful path unchallenged, many of us may have to seek refugee status there.
1
At least the climate will be more amenable in southern Canada. But the north will be a quagmire of melted permafrost bubbling methane.
2
Actually, Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper tried to impose similar restrictions on Syrian refugees seeking entry into Canada. It was leaked to the press during the 2015 election, that his government was giving preferential access to Christian refugees by fast tracking their applications. His Government also tried and failed, thankfully, to set up a "Barbaric Cultural Practices" hotline for Canadians (one assumes of white/non barbaric cultures) to report on neighbors or anyone they suspect who might be participating in such acts.
Thankfully, Canadians responded by defeating Mr. Harper and electing Justin Trudeau in a landslide.
Mr. Harper must be watching Mr.Trump with envy.
Thankfully, Canadians responded by defeating Mr. Harper and electing Justin Trudeau in a landslide.
Mr. Harper must be watching Mr.Trump with envy.
Trump is playing into the hands of ISIL and the like. They want their cause to be a war defending Islam against the West. Twittler is now the number one terrorist recruiter--good job!
1
We don't want them, we don't need them
4
We are a nation of immigrants, no unless you are a native American your family came here from another country some time back. Mine did, Sweden on my mother's side, Scotland on my Dad's. Get real, this is ugly and so is the man who thought it up and signed it.
What a tragedy! Oh, the inhumanity! Imagine attempting to limit or ban immigrants from countries that are a breeding ground for people who want to kill Americans! We should accept everyone, as the liberal "elite" wants. If they kill us, so be it. If they refuse to accept other religions or western values, so be it. If they degrade wome, so be it! At least we would be morally superior and more compassionate than those racists and islamophobes who seek a sane and safe America.
7
Software like "wanting to kill Americans" gets loaded by the experience of living. People are not born with it.
Accepting refugees is a matter of world wide agreement and most nations around the world do so. It is not a matter of liberal elites. "The breeding ground" for terroristic violence, as they have learned in Europe in recent times, is world wide, not limited to middle eastern nations. We need to be smart. We need to attack the problem at its roots, not fear everyone who might walk down the street.
1
Lady Liberty exchanged for Kellyanne Conway.
The Stars and Stripes exchanged for a swastika.
Boston Strong exchanged for America Afraid.
United We Stand exchanged for Divided we Troll.
Truth sold away for a song (Lock Her Up).
Thanks Rust Belt. Nicely done.
The Stars and Stripes exchanged for a swastika.
Boston Strong exchanged for America Afraid.
United We Stand exchanged for Divided we Troll.
Truth sold away for a song (Lock Her Up).
Thanks Rust Belt. Nicely done.
6
I am appalled and amazed at how humanity as a whole repeats the same mistakes for which we've paid a very high price in history... We muct not take such actions lightly for they have led to catastrophic consequences in the past. Generalizing and discriminating on basis of religion, race, and nationality is only making us regress in terms of the global progress we've made so far.
2
Competitive tribalism inevitably culminates in war.
1
POTUS Limerick #191
There once was a dodo President, a real plonker
Who issued edicts both doltish and insular
He thought it clever to close the immigration gate
Based on purblind notions and hate
Over time making the U.S. dumb and dumber!
so much for the U.S. technology industry....
There once was a dodo President, a real plonker
Who issued edicts both doltish and insular
He thought it clever to close the immigration gate
Based on purblind notions and hate
Over time making the U.S. dumb and dumber!
so much for the U.S. technology industry....
Where would you go to seek redress against injustices when a demagogue controls both houses of Congress and soon the Supreme Court?
2
A man known for serial abuse of judicial process as a means of extortion, no less.
talented Arab techies will now go to Russia
2
I know one of these Afghan refugees who worked for the U.S. troops in Afghanistan as an interpreter, and started receiving anonymous threats by phone of the "We know you worked for the Americans and we know where to find you" type. Though he had worked more than the minimum number of years to qualify for asylum, the U.S. turned him down. He never understood why; neither did I, who saw his paperwork. (He got a very strong recommendation from the U.S. military officer who supervised him - on letterhead and in a format that I recognized from when I'd worked for the DoD.) When the heat got too hot in the kitchen, he escaped Afghanistan and made his way to Germany, where he planned to attempt an appeal. I lost track of him for a while, but when we crossed paths again, he told me Germany had accepted him and preemptively accepted his wife and toddler, who would be coming shortly to join him. Frankly, I thought from the first that he'd be better off here in Germany, so I'm very happy for him.
As for Mr. Milliband's point that the U.S., closing its doors to refugees, "forgoes its moral authority to call upon the countries of Europe . . . to provide such shelter," Mr. Trump has made it clear that he thinks Angela Merkel was an idiot to do exactly that.
As for Mr. Milliband's point that the U.S., closing its doors to refugees, "forgoes its moral authority to call upon the countries of Europe . . . to provide such shelter," Mr. Trump has made it clear that he thinks Angela Merkel was an idiot to do exactly that.
3
Besides being out of step with American values, It's also unfair to our continental European. They allready carry the biggest burden of dealing with the influx of the millions of refugees that the US and the UK created with their sensless wars in those countries.
The refugee crisis is also nurturing populism in Europe amd destabilzing the EU, but i guess that's also something Trump and May want.
Expect a lot of push back from continental Europe on this particular issue!
The refugee crisis is also nurturing populism in Europe amd destabilzing the EU, but i guess that's also something Trump and May want.
Expect a lot of push back from continental Europe on this particular issue!
35
How about some international pressure on the wealthy Gulf States to take at least a few of these refugees? Saudi Arabia and company close their borders to their fellow Muslims and the mainstream media goes silent.
9
Of all the things DT has done since becoming our president, this is by far the worst and most concerning to me. He's basically turned his back on the most hopeless and desperate people in the world for absolutely no reason whatsoever other than to placate his base. To my knowledge, there hasn't been a single terrorist act committed by a Syrian refugee in the US, and even if you count all of the terrorist acts committed by muslims in this country since 9/11, it wouldn't even add up to the number of people killed by handguns or drunk drivers in a couple of days in the US. Yet, I don't hear anyone talking about banning alcohol, cars or handguns in the US, all of which represent far greater risks to us than these helpless desperate refugees. I'm sure the Trump supporters, many of whom probably consider themselves good Christians, are cheering this development. This isn't a form of Christianity that Jesus would recognize. Time to change the lyrics of our national anthem: we're now officially the home of the cowards.
149
I hope we can find a good law suit in this to court we must go. The lost of liberty based on national origin is against our American way. President check, Congress check. Now to go to court we must go. Lets pray the Republic holds.
When Mr. Trump is no longer our president, I hope that the world will welcome us back to the family of free, democratic nations.
3
Our founders are rolling over in their graves. Perhaps the motto inscribed on the Statue of Liberty should be changed or a "Do Not Enter" sign hung around her neck?
2
This nation has become singularly the "country of fear". It has an amazing armed services that is garrisoning the world and taking on every kind of threat. But the rest of the people have become petrified by all kinds of assumed risks.
Living in Canada and watching how more than 35,000 Syrians are settling into a new life, it is mystifying to me how the media and political leadership in the US have scared Americans into renouncing their heritage.
Living in Canada and watching how more than 35,000 Syrians are settling into a new life, it is mystifying to me how the media and political leadership in the US have scared Americans into renouncing their heritage.
1
I'll keep my comment brief. I'm a Canadian and I want to do what I can to help. If there's anyone in this thread who is aware of a case of a person who has been denied passage to the U.S.A. or whose safety has been affected by yesterday's announcement, email me at [email protected]. God willing, we can make something happen.
7
Of course, those countries Trump does business with are not included in the immigration ban. Saudi Arabia, home of the 9/11 bombers, is not included. Even in discrimination Trump discriminates.
5
I'm sorry but it's a typical American refugee policy. There is absolutely nothing inconsistent between Trump's policies and those of the previous two Administrations that targeted Iran, and not Saudi Arabia, for all acts of terrorism during and post-9/11.
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan left off the visa restriction list???
It's not a U.S. attack on Islam. It is a U.S.-Israeli-Saudi attack on Iran. Follow the money.
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan left off the visa restriction list???
It's not a U.S. attack on Islam. It is a U.S.-Israeli-Saudi attack on Iran. Follow the money.
3
Blow up people's homes for over 10 years, call them terrorists when they fight back, then ban the people who are trying to escape.
Of course no conservative Christian sees nothing wrong here.
Of course no conservative Christian sees nothing wrong here.
2
Mr. Trump walks on our constitution with hob-nailed boots. His insular (me me me) point of view is sickening. He needs to go away and those in power to impeach him need to grow some backbone. Cleaning up in his destructive wake will be hard enough already. Imagine more and more of this.
2
Funny how so many GOP members claim to be christians.
7
When stupidity is King!
This neither makes us safer or American, (the underlining premise in make AMERICA great).
We are a nation of immigrants, the concept of American exceptionalism is that we take the tired the hungry and the poor and make they into the greatest people on earth. (talk about recycling!) The immigrants path has never been easy, but it was hoped the know nothing party was relegated to history and not the POTUS. EVERY group was opposed by some fools, but EVERY group contributed and made us great, (Latinos, Muslims too).
Secondly this policy does not make us safer. The most important weapon in fighting asymmetrical warfare is intelligence. The best way to get that is from the people in those nations. They want a better life here or there, they want hope, Freedom and safety. This is what America is to them...or was. We have just told them that they are the enemy, nothing like making your task more difficult. Hum-tell is the life blood or our intelligence community, Trump effectively killed that just one week after he told the CIA "You'll get so much support from me you'll be saying stop supporting us so much." Listen closely humpty-trumpty and you hear the CIA say stop supporting us so much.
This neither makes us safer or American, (the underlining premise in make AMERICA great).
We are a nation of immigrants, the concept of American exceptionalism is that we take the tired the hungry and the poor and make they into the greatest people on earth. (talk about recycling!) The immigrants path has never been easy, but it was hoped the know nothing party was relegated to history and not the POTUS. EVERY group was opposed by some fools, but EVERY group contributed and made us great, (Latinos, Muslims too).
Secondly this policy does not make us safer. The most important weapon in fighting asymmetrical warfare is intelligence. The best way to get that is from the people in those nations. They want a better life here or there, they want hope, Freedom and safety. This is what America is to them...or was. We have just told them that they are the enemy, nothing like making your task more difficult. Hum-tell is the life blood or our intelligence community, Trump effectively killed that just one week after he told the CIA "You'll get so much support from me you'll be saying stop supporting us so much." Listen closely humpty-trumpty and you hear the CIA say stop supporting us so much.
1
It is very sad to read the xenophobic comments of writers who dismiss the NYT and it's readers as liberal elites while they themselves are readers. How many of you have been sheltered by a country protected by the vastness of two oceans while thousands are fleeing wars (several instituted by America), oppression and famine. We have been blessed with a land that has provided us with incalculable bounty that we have shared with the less fortunate throughout the world.
Yet now, when we are challenged to stand by our fundamental beliefs we scurry into a corner, close our eyes to these terrible circumstances and shame ourselves before the world. This is the result of choosing a feckless, cowardly, intellectually stunted grabber as our Commander in Hiding.
Yet now, when we are challenged to stand by our fundamental beliefs we scurry into a corner, close our eyes to these terrible circumstances and shame ourselves before the world. This is the result of choosing a feckless, cowardly, intellectually stunted grabber as our Commander in Hiding.
4
While I don't support the policy, it is time that other Muslims nations step up to accept refugees. Wouldn't that make more sense to have them relocate to a culture that is similiar and closer to home in most cases: hint Saudi Arabia.
6
Many of our grandparents, immigrants from all backgrounds, chose to live in ethnic enclaves known as the Lower East Side and Harlem because they arrived with little money, poor language skills, and emotional trauma. No one wants to leave their home due to war or extreme poverty. It took our forefathers a few generations to learn the language and assimilate, but we still maintain our traditions. History shows us that public education, public health, public employment (as train conductors, cops, fireman, etc.) and public housing enabled them to socially integrate while keeping personal customs and beliefs. Our grandparents were deeply religious, but their clergy, also from immigrant stock, preached inclusion and fairness, not 120 day waiting periods. Today, the clergy is silent, impotent and afraid. Are we, too afraid? Are our communities so weak that we cannot welcome a refuge?
1
A lot of the comments in support of this policy reflect the fact that there are already people in America who need help, and we need to prioritize our own internal needs and priorities before we help others. I can particularly understand the frustrations of those who served in our military, suffered for their service, and have not received the help and support that they clearly deserve. One can respect this viewpoint, even if one disagrees with the consequences that are now following.
However, we now know that Iraqis who helped American forces, who have been thoroughly vetted by existing thorough procedures, are being stopped and held in detention as they attempt to seek refuge in the US. In some cases, they would reunite with families who have already arrived here. These Iraqis might be returned to Iraq. If they are returned, they are likely to be hunted down and murdered for the crime of providing aid to the nation that has now rejected them. They provided an invaluable service to us. We are now rewarding their service with ostracism, which may well lead to their violent deaths.
However, we now know that Iraqis who helped American forces, who have been thoroughly vetted by existing thorough procedures, are being stopped and held in detention as they attempt to seek refuge in the US. In some cases, they would reunite with families who have already arrived here. These Iraqis might be returned to Iraq. If they are returned, they are likely to be hunted down and murdered for the crime of providing aid to the nation that has now rejected them. They provided an invaluable service to us. We are now rewarding their service with ostracism, which may well lead to their violent deaths.
4
On this Holocaust Remembrance Day, it is important to note that were this 1940, Trump would ban Anne Frank from entering the US!
6
Half of Trump's extended family is Jewish. Nice try.
8
Another op-ed writer today says that Trump's immigration ban is illegal and will not survive a challenge in court. And a suit has been filed. So already, a mere days after inauguration, we are going to see a test of whether our founders created a system of governance that can indeed rein in an abusive executive. Here, Trump overstepped decisively, with odious actions and not just his usual odious words. We all knew it was coming but have taken comfort in the belief that our government is different because no single branch can go off on a frolic of such magnitude that it might, on its own, undermine our bedrock ideals and create a present and future danger to the republic. Even though those checks on executive power are weakest in foreign affairs, it seems Congress has this one covered. So now it's up to the judicial branch to enforce the legislative branch's guardrails on the president's discretion. Let's hope it works.
6
Trump CAN do this.
1
This is so disgusting that I have trouble responding to it in words that the New York Times will publish. It is also dangerous because now ISIS has this ban to use to not only recruit members but also to order and perhaps carry out terrorist activities here in America. We are truly headed into violent, deadly dangerous times.
7
Thank you Mr Trump for radicalizing a whole new generation of jihadists.
11
I'm sure ISIS and Al Queda are writing him very nice thank you notes, and admiring tweets, as we speak.
1
Why am I not hearing outrage from the Democrats? Why am I not hearing Schumer's and Pelosi's voice in loud opposition and defiance. Why is no one in the Democratic Party denouncing this at every opportunity?
5
Only Bernie Sanders -- and his voice is not being reported, as usual, by the New York Times. I knew the Democrats would roll over and play dead -- except for Bernie. And the Dems wonder why they lost? Cowards.
1
Since Timothy McVeigh was born Roman Catholic, should we be banning them too?
I am ashamed of my country.
Not my president. IMPEACH NOW.
I am ashamed of my country.
Not my president. IMPEACH NOW.
10
"Un-American."
Overusing this term to the point of inuring us to what is really un-American -- denigrating fellow citizens (Trump supporters) while hailing these foreign strangers -- is what is truly Un-American.
Overusing this term to the point of inuring us to what is really un-American -- denigrating fellow citizens (Trump supporters) while hailing these foreign strangers -- is what is truly Un-American.
5
You are a "foreign stranger" too, Bhaskar. Deny that would not make your brown skin any lighter. :-)
1
The right to voice opposition to policy or supporters of policy is as American as it gets. Acceptance of all peoples regardless of practiced religion also fits the bill of what it means to be American. Bigotry is the term used to define those who persecute all who practice in any particular religion for the actions of a few. Trump is a practicing bigot as is anyone who supports his actions in this matter.
....a policy sounding similar to the reason for Sen. T. Cruz's constituents being escorted by police officers from his Houston office's building for trespassing.
3
Since Americans are more likely to be killed by lightening than by a terrorist attack it is also true they are more likely to be killed by police, especially if they are not white.
3
We are all part of the same race ; the human one
The United States was founded upon people fleeing persecution, whether that be from the ballot box ( there was none ), taxation ( no representation ) or religious persecution ( my God is bigger than yours )
Now that we have drawn some imaginary line on a piece of paper ( map ) and we supposedly have ours, we don't want anyone else to have it. It does not matter if they are in pain, or tortured or even killed
We are indeed selfish behind the drawbridge.
The United States was founded upon people fleeing persecution, whether that be from the ballot box ( there was none ), taxation ( no representation ) or religious persecution ( my God is bigger than yours )
Now that we have drawn some imaginary line on a piece of paper ( map ) and we supposedly have ours, we don't want anyone else to have it. It does not matter if they are in pain, or tortured or even killed
We are indeed selfish behind the drawbridge.
4
it's about time. The U.S. is not a free lunch for whoever happens to show up. And it's assets are not free to be given out by liberals wanting to get that warm fuzzy feeling.
7
The mean, cruel, heartless feeling is so much better -- especially for "Christians."
ISIS has been murdering minority Christians in Syria and Iraq, yet only a handful of Christians from those countries have been deemed worthy enough to be resettled in the U.S. Instead, the overwhelming majority of refugees come from those nations' dominant religious sects. It sounds like the people doing the picking - UN staffers - are biased. We need to stop letting them decide who comes to the U.S.
7
Shameful, disgusting, discriminatory and unconstitutional.
Fascist America in the making.
“Perhaps a lunatic was simply a minority of one.”
Fascist America in the making.
“Perhaps a lunatic was simply a minority of one.”
3
Christians SHOULD be given priority because a) their lives are at far more risk given the extreme biased against them in the middle east and b) they are far more likely to assimilate into the American culture.
6
David Miliband, did you read the results of the BBC poll of Muslims in your own country, on their reactions to the murders at the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo? According to an articles in The Telegraph, written by Matthew Holehouse and Dan Hodges on 2/25/15,
27% of British Muslims admitted to feeling sympathy for the attackers' motives. 8% said they were not sure, and 2% refused to answer.
24% thought it was justified to attack anyone who published images of the Prophet Muhammed.
20% agreed with the statement that Western society is incompatible with Islam.
Angela Merkle invited Syrian refugees into Europe. One of the reasons your countrymen voted for Brexit was that they felt they already had too many Muslims who were terrorist sympathizers. They no longer wanted Britain's borders to be open.
27% of British Muslims admitted to feeling sympathy for the attackers' motives. 8% said they were not sure, and 2% refused to answer.
24% thought it was justified to attack anyone who published images of the Prophet Muhammed.
20% agreed with the statement that Western society is incompatible with Islam.
Angela Merkle invited Syrian refugees into Europe. One of the reasons your countrymen voted for Brexit was that they felt they already had too many Muslims who were terrorist sympathizers. They no longer wanted Britain's borders to be open.
10
Let's picked a day on which all us will go to Washington, unarmed, and surround the White House with millions of people. I'm serious. Millions and millions of people surround the White House and bring the government to a halt.
2
There is no difference between a ban on all Muslims and a ban on all except those who are not Muslims.
2
Dear refugees, dear poor, huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
I am sorry that you will not be allowed to enter. Us, the free and the brave, are denying anymore of those like us who sought refuge in the past centuries. I don't know what to say other than, I am sorry. Hopefully, one day, you can come to America to escape the torture, the discrimination, the racial profiling, the religious persecution, the ethnic cleansing, the genocidal maniacs..... We are supposed to be a haven for you, but we are not now. I am sorry. I can do nothing but vote in the next election. That doesn't help you, I know. But, I don't know what else to do.
Our hearts go out to you and hope you can weather it until we can offer refuge again.
America
I am sorry that you will not be allowed to enter. Us, the free and the brave, are denying anymore of those like us who sought refuge in the past centuries. I don't know what to say other than, I am sorry. Hopefully, one day, you can come to America to escape the torture, the discrimination, the racial profiling, the religious persecution, the ethnic cleansing, the genocidal maniacs..... We are supposed to be a haven for you, but we are not now. I am sorry. I can do nothing but vote in the next election. That doesn't help you, I know. But, I don't know what else to do.
Our hearts go out to you and hope you can weather it until we can offer refuge again.
America
5
One American president fuels a civil war that chases five million refugees into the sea then his successor refuses to throw them a lifeline. What a sad commentary on American morality.
3
Thank you Mr. Miliband. God Bless the IRC. I know how valuable refugees are to a community. Hometown economies have been made stronger by the addition of hard working, ever-so-grateful refugees. Businesses that hire IRC refugees report tremendous success. Furthermore, the addition of these families adds an uplifting spirit and sense of pride to our communities. When citizens meet and work closely with the resettled refugees minds are changed ... from fear to inclusiveness, and friendships are made.
Since Trump's illegal order from Friday my question to Congress is this: which Congressmen, which Senators are going to stand up to Trump's illegal action banning & interning refugees? Where are the brave men and women In Congress? Our future depends on you to take action against a despot.
Since Trump's illegal order from Friday my question to Congress is this: which Congressmen, which Senators are going to stand up to Trump's illegal action banning & interning refugees? Where are the brave men and women In Congress? Our future depends on you to take action against a despot.
3
Unapologetic, rational, self-interest. Self-sacrifice is no one's obligation. American presidents are OBLIGATED to protect Americans, and eschew the assumption of any material risks. Americans BEFORE Syrians. He has no discretion to exercise policy to the contrary. And, by the way, Syrians want peace and to REMAIN in their country. So make peace in Syria and keep them in a safe zone until then.
2
#AshamedInTheUSA
5
Today, I am ashamed to be an American. Being an American Jew, whose people have been targeted for hate so often makes it that much worse. True, this is not the first time that I have been ashamed of my country, but I am sick and tired of it. Let us resolve that this will not keep happening, that we shall go forward every day to make the United States live up more closely to its ideals.
14
Yes, it's un-American. That said, why are people angrier for Trump imposing a travel ban then they were at Obama for bombing and killing Yemenis and backing a war that pushed that country into famine? They appear to be way angrier at a temporary ban on Syrian refugees (which is disgusting) but where were they when Obama's policies helped tear Syria apart and added significantly to the refugee crisis there? They're angry about this wall but give Obama a pass on deporting more Mexicans and Latin Americans than any other past president or on the fact that Hillary voted for building a 700 mile "security barrier" between our two countries - which is just another name for a wall. So I ask the Democrats and the left where they were when all that was going on? Obama made it incredibly easy for Trump to get to this point. So by all means be upset and fight this, but know the truth about how we got here.
8
Well said.
3
Do you think finger-pointing is useful?
LOL
1
DJT does not care how his actions affect anyone. he is without sensitivity and impervious to others' suffering
12
Nor does the Donald seem to believe that confidence and stability have anything to do with growth or prosperity. I suppose casinos, golf courses and luxury hotels are above all that.
2
There is NO right to enter the US as a "refugee". People can be barred for any reason. We certainly do not need people entering the country who oppose free speech, equal rights for women and religious liberty. Or those who would kill over a cartoon of someone they think is a "prophet". I'm glad that President Trump is putting Americans first that's a nice change from the last POTUS. This will also give wealthy Islamic countries like Saudi Arabia which has taken in NO Syrian refugees a chance to step up and help fellow Muslims.
11
We certainly have our own domestic differences over what "religious liberty" is in the US already.
1
Yes there is no right. But you are wrong in your assumption that this makes America safer. All terrorists of the past two decades came from countries who are not banned. Iran hasn't been behind any global terrorism because it's a Shiite country. All terrorists (especially 9/11) are Sunni and from countries like Saudi Arabia. But trump will always let in Saudis because they buy his real estate.
4
No one is saying it's a right. Shelter and acceptance in the US, as charity, was a grace we used to offer displaced, desperate fellow humans who were running for their lives.
Putting scare quotes around the word refugee is offensive. There are real refugees in grave danger who need other people's help to get to a safe place.
To conflate all refugees with terrorists is false. Stopping refugees to the US will not make us safer.
Putting scare quotes around the word refugee is offensive. There are real refugees in grave danger who need other people's help to get to a safe place.
To conflate all refugees with terrorists is false. Stopping refugees to the US will not make us safer.
1
Students with valid visa from the listed countries at colleges across the US, who were planning to fly back this weekend after a home visit, before classes start... Visa and green card holders working in the high tech and other industries who cannot travel abroad anymore, or return now they are abroad... This order will inflict so much damage!
5
Let's just tear down the Statue of Liberty. It has no meaning under the current president and only serves as a painful reminder of our hypocrisy.
10
It's our values that are at stake. While we may have a temporary setback while the legality of Trump's orders are tested, in the long run we are in a debate about which values should prevail in America. We have long had two sets of morals: one set that opens doors to the world, welcomes diversity, and sees the need for safety nets and caring for each other; and a second set that embraced slavery, performed genocide on the native people of this land, enshrines white male dominance and supremacy, and cultivates and embraces fear of those who are even marginally different. When we promote the first set of values, people live and breathe and flourish. When we promote the second set, people suffer and die.
Trump would have his constituency believe there is no real vetting of refugees or immigrants. He falsely asserts that many acts of terrorism have been conducted on our soil by refugees (I read the order). His deluded assertions are salesmanship designed to invest him with more power and to cover the insidious things the Congress is undertaking. We must remain vigilant, bringing truth to the fore, check facts, and hold tight to our better nature, not giving in to fear, judgment, or assumption.
It's the second set of values that rejects people based on who they are--skin color, religion, gender. The first set of values allows us to reject behaviors, not people. Right now, Americans need to reject the behavior of this president and Congress and reassert our basic goodness.
Trump would have his constituency believe there is no real vetting of refugees or immigrants. He falsely asserts that many acts of terrorism have been conducted on our soil by refugees (I read the order). His deluded assertions are salesmanship designed to invest him with more power and to cover the insidious things the Congress is undertaking. We must remain vigilant, bringing truth to the fore, check facts, and hold tight to our better nature, not giving in to fear, judgment, or assumption.
It's the second set of values that rejects people based on who they are--skin color, religion, gender. The first set of values allows us to reject behaviors, not people. Right now, Americans need to reject the behavior of this president and Congress and reassert our basic goodness.
6
Refugees Detained at U.S. Airports, Prompting Legal Challenges to Trump’s Immigration Order -- NY Times today.
We know his modus operandi, which is to sow chaos and confusion everywhere; so we must proceed to give him more than he can handle.
The only effective way of dealing with him will be by the exercise of total-across-the-board opposition to every single executive action and legislative proposal he makes, regardless of their content.
Many battles will be lost in the process, but swamping him in legal battles, media exposes, boycotts of his business supporters, government and private sector opposition at the local level and protest marches will be our best hope of slowing him down and ultimately getting rid of him.
Our situation is truly growing more desperate by the day.
We know his modus operandi, which is to sow chaos and confusion everywhere; so we must proceed to give him more than he can handle.
The only effective way of dealing with him will be by the exercise of total-across-the-board opposition to every single executive action and legislative proposal he makes, regardless of their content.
Many battles will be lost in the process, but swamping him in legal battles, media exposes, boycotts of his business supporters, government and private sector opposition at the local level and protest marches will be our best hope of slowing him down and ultimately getting rid of him.
Our situation is truly growing more desperate by the day.
11
I hear this all the time; Saudi bans this and UAE bans that. So the US wants to be like Saudis ? US of A for White Christians prominently? With some token Blacks and Hispanics by virtue of themselves being "Christians"?
If so I will end this discussion. Actually the discussion already ended when an overwhelming populace chose to look away from Trump's vices, his unethical behavior and installed him in the WH.
If so I will end this discussion. Actually the discussion already ended when an overwhelming populace chose to look away from Trump's vices, his unethical behavior and installed him in the WH.
5
Trump is only banning immigration from Muslim countries, where he doesn't have business dealings.
Turkey, Saudi Arabia, or anyplace else that has a golf course or hotel that he makes money off of, is exempt.
This has nothing to do with immigration.
He's just lining his own pockets.
Turkey, Saudi Arabia, or anyplace else that has a golf course or hotel that he makes money off of, is exempt.
This has nothing to do with immigration.
He's just lining his own pockets.
10
In two years, we will have an opportunity to take it out on all Republicans, to minimize the damage Trump is doing in SO many areas.
5
I suggest that all of the anti-immigrant commenters pull out their family trees and look at where their ancestors immigrated from before shutting the door on these immigrants and visitors.
Outside of the Native Americans, we all came from foreign lands. And most were not vetted in the "old days."
Every nationality and religion immigrating to America has both its good and bad people. Most criminals have lineage extending to non-Muslim countries and are Christian. That is a FACT.
So if you want to stop the criminal element, we will have to figure out a way to deport immigrants of Christian and European descent because they form a good portion of the problem.
Now what Country did Trump's ancestors immigrate from?
Outside of the Native Americans, we all came from foreign lands. And most were not vetted in the "old days."
Every nationality and religion immigrating to America has both its good and bad people. Most criminals have lineage extending to non-Muslim countries and are Christian. That is a FACT.
So if you want to stop the criminal element, we will have to figure out a way to deport immigrants of Christian and European descent because they form a good portion of the problem.
Now what Country did Trump's ancestors immigrate from?
10
"So if you want to stop the criminal element, we will have to figure out a way to deport immigrants of Christian and European descent because they form a good portion of the problem."
Obvious that Scott does not care for Christians and Europeans. How can you equate the rights of a legal resident or citizen of the United States to those of an illegal alien when it comes to deportation after commiting a serous crime here?
How can you oppose vetting because i was not done "in the good old days"?
In the "good old days", Christian Europe was not a breeding ground for anti-American hatred, but rather the oppositie.
Obvious that Scott does not care for Christians and Europeans. How can you equate the rights of a legal resident or citizen of the United States to those of an illegal alien when it comes to deportation after commiting a serous crime here?
How can you oppose vetting because i was not done "in the good old days"?
In the "good old days", Christian Europe was not a breeding ground for anti-American hatred, but rather the oppositie.
4
How do you use data and standing law to combat a vocabulary of all, terrible, unfair, extreme, wipe them off the face of the earth. Trump's fast moving mouth of adverbs and adjectives make it almost impossible for the press to keep up with his habitual need to exaggerate. Forming policies around a 25 word vocabulary of adverbs and adjectives is leading this country into a dark space.
1
No one is really commenting on Trump's privileging of Christians over Muslims.
I write this from Rhode Island, the state founded on the Enlightenment principle of religious freedom and freedom of conscience. This is a bedrock freedom of our nation, stretching all the way back to the 1630s, before we became a nation. Roger Williams left the Massachusetts Bay colony to establish a new colony because the Puritan leaders were trying to force him to make a declaration of his faith in public. Williams felt this was wrong and that religious belief was a private matter, not a matter for the authorities, Trump's inclusion of this provision, and his discrimination against Islam, makes the USA one of those nations that participates in conflicts based on religious belief. We need to get back to the Enlightenment notion that "citizenship" transcends religion.
The image of immigration officials "sorting" Christians and Muslims is so wrong, so disgusting, and can only evoke the Nazis sorting of Jews and non-Jews. US officials should never be in a position to "sort" human beings based upon their religion. I hope they refuse.
Isn't anyone in the White House advising Trump on this and other issues? He clearly does not understand the foundation of American values. Oops, I forgot, the likes of Bannon and Conway are there. Probably won't get great advice from them. For them, America is a "Christian nation." To hell (literally) with anyone who's not a Christian.
I write this from Rhode Island, the state founded on the Enlightenment principle of religious freedom and freedom of conscience. This is a bedrock freedom of our nation, stretching all the way back to the 1630s, before we became a nation. Roger Williams left the Massachusetts Bay colony to establish a new colony because the Puritan leaders were trying to force him to make a declaration of his faith in public. Williams felt this was wrong and that religious belief was a private matter, not a matter for the authorities, Trump's inclusion of this provision, and his discrimination against Islam, makes the USA one of those nations that participates in conflicts based on religious belief. We need to get back to the Enlightenment notion that "citizenship" transcends religion.
The image of immigration officials "sorting" Christians and Muslims is so wrong, so disgusting, and can only evoke the Nazis sorting of Jews and non-Jews. US officials should never be in a position to "sort" human beings based upon their religion. I hope they refuse.
Isn't anyone in the White House advising Trump on this and other issues? He clearly does not understand the foundation of American values. Oops, I forgot, the likes of Bannon and Conway are there. Probably won't get great advice from them. For them, America is a "Christian nation." To hell (literally) with anyone who's not a Christian.
5
This administration - an administration populated with descendants of immigrants - would discriminate based on nation of origination & religious faith!? SHAME! Just this week Mr Trump ballyhooed the fact to British PM May that his own mother emigrated from "serious Scotland" Who, among these immigrés from the world's nations, would he have turned away?
John James Audubon, Illustrator
Albert Einstein, Scientist
Ayn Rand, Philosopher/Writer
Andrew Carnegie, Business Leader
Desi Arnaz, Actor
Van Morrison, Singer
Khalil Gibran, Poet
Bob Marley, Singer/Songwriter.
Wolfgang Puck, Chef
Willem de Kooning, Painter
Henry Kissinger, Diplomat
Nikola Tesla, Inventor
Joseph Priestly, Theologian
Elie Wiesel, Writer
Mikhail Baryshnikov, Dancer
Carlos Santana, Guitarist/Songwriter
Stokely Carmichael, Activist
Felix Frankfurter, Supreme Court Justice
Thomas Nast, Journalist/Illustrator
Alders Huxley, Author
Igor Stravinsky, Pianist
I.M. Pei, Architect
Imam, Model
Martina Navratilova, Athlete
William Wyler, Director
W.H.Auden, Poet
Igor Sikorsky, Engineer/Inventor
Oscar de la Renta, Fashion Designer
Lee Strasberg, Educator
Rudolph Valentino, Actor
Jose Canseco, Baseball Player
Aasif Mandvi, Comedian
Bat Masterson, Law Enforcer
Christiane Amanpour, Journalist
Isaac Stern, Violinist
Myles Standish, Military Leader
Sholem Aleichem, Author
Joseph Pulitzer, Publisher
Knute Rockne, Coach
Fareed Zakaria, Journalist
Hakeem Olajuwon, Basketball Player
Wernher von Braun, Scientist
ran out of space...
John James Audubon, Illustrator
Albert Einstein, Scientist
Ayn Rand, Philosopher/Writer
Andrew Carnegie, Business Leader
Desi Arnaz, Actor
Van Morrison, Singer
Khalil Gibran, Poet
Bob Marley, Singer/Songwriter.
Wolfgang Puck, Chef
Willem de Kooning, Painter
Henry Kissinger, Diplomat
Nikola Tesla, Inventor
Joseph Priestly, Theologian
Elie Wiesel, Writer
Mikhail Baryshnikov, Dancer
Carlos Santana, Guitarist/Songwriter
Stokely Carmichael, Activist
Felix Frankfurter, Supreme Court Justice
Thomas Nast, Journalist/Illustrator
Alders Huxley, Author
Igor Stravinsky, Pianist
I.M. Pei, Architect
Imam, Model
Martina Navratilova, Athlete
William Wyler, Director
W.H.Auden, Poet
Igor Sikorsky, Engineer/Inventor
Oscar de la Renta, Fashion Designer
Lee Strasberg, Educator
Rudolph Valentino, Actor
Jose Canseco, Baseball Player
Aasif Mandvi, Comedian
Bat Masterson, Law Enforcer
Christiane Amanpour, Journalist
Isaac Stern, Violinist
Myles Standish, Military Leader
Sholem Aleichem, Author
Joseph Pulitzer, Publisher
Knute Rockne, Coach
Fareed Zakaria, Journalist
Hakeem Olajuwon, Basketball Player
Wernher von Braun, Scientist
ran out of space...
8
Just so you know, Mr von Braun was a Nazi. He and other Nazi scientists were secretly brought to this country under an OSS program (the precursor to Dulles' and Truman's CIA) called "operation paper clip". We used their diabolical research, that is, their atrocities performed on Jews, Slavs, Homosexuals, Poles, Russians, Gypsies and admitted communists, to advance our genetic and space sciences. This society benefits from this despicable episode to this day. May we also remind that this policy was put in place with democrats holding the white house from 1933-1952. Know your history before portraying yourself as fool.
4
Trump has just accelerated the process of American decline with his racist, shallow and low IQ brain and his mirror image team. Hitler did not force his way into ruling Germany. People elected and supported him.
5
Holding people at Kennedy Airport today?
Deplorable.
It will be an executive order to have an "I am a Christian" tattoo on the forehead next.
Deplorable.
It will be an executive order to have an "I am a Christian" tattoo on the forehead next.
4
So, here's a foreign gov't agent telling ME what is un-American? Dude, are you listening?
4
I am the last person to advocate for an echo chamber, and in fact, over the last couple of years I have posted here I have warned against it. With that said, has any one noticed an increase of very right leaning comments...not the usual thoughtful and reasoned ones, which I enjoy, but those that seem to repeat the prejudices and falsehoods of the propaganda on the right? I know this sounds paranoid, but I wonder if Bannon has encouraged people to infiltrate left leaning blogs and news websites? I only think of this because the administration always accuse public dissenters of being "paid" or part of the DNC...and Trump seems to project a lot....
5
Interesting. BUT we are the majority. Hillary got more votes and Trump's poll numbers are very low.
3
Rachel, you're not paranoid. Perhaps Bannon himself doesn't actively encourage it although I wouldn't be surprised if he did, but so-called "trolls" have been a fact for a while now. Putin surely encourages the practice to influence public opinion abroad.
3
Sure - just let them ALL in, NO vetting, just like Hillary would have - tens of thousands more......in fact just open the borders entirely > > > NO problem. And get back to me after the next San Bernardino or Orlando or Boston. which would then be Donald Trump's fault, too
7
So reading the article took much of your time?
The reality that the vetting process is the most stringent, escaped you?
BTW, none of those events you mentioned were committed by refugees! Each was done by citizens or legal residents who'd been here for some time...
The fault lies with those who committed the acts. No one else. And certainly NOT Pres. Obama. There is no rule of law, or executive order that will prevent individuals from committing a crime of any kind.
The clean records of immigrants coming from these regions who are already here, speak for themselves.
But hey, dont let the facts get in your way...why should they...we now live in the "feelings over facts" era.
The reality that the vetting process is the most stringent, escaped you?
BTW, none of those events you mentioned were committed by refugees! Each was done by citizens or legal residents who'd been here for some time...
The fault lies with those who committed the acts. No one else. And certainly NOT Pres. Obama. There is no rule of law, or executive order that will prevent individuals from committing a crime of any kind.
The clean records of immigrants coming from these regions who are already here, speak for themselves.
But hey, dont let the facts get in your way...why should they...we now live in the "feelings over facts" era.
1
Since Bush and Cheney created the refugee crisis with their slaughter of hundreds of thousands of innocents, you'd think the United States would want to take the lead in resolving the crisis not slink away from it. Apparently not.
9
We're only going to let Christians in?
Trump, Pence and the GOP are trying to force Christian Sharia Law on our nation.
The better choice would Atheists.
They believe in facts, science and reality.
They believe in education and critical thinking.
Most are far more kind, moral and empathetic than American Christians seem to be.
These are the qualities our country is lacking right now. And where the solutions to problems will be found. We're not going to be able to pray our problems away.
Separation of church and state.
There is no national religion. And there never should be. We have Freedom of Religion. Follow any you choose, or none at all.
America is governed by the Constitution. Not the Bible.
Trump, Pence and the GOP are trying to force Christian Sharia Law on our nation.
The better choice would Atheists.
They believe in facts, science and reality.
They believe in education and critical thinking.
Most are far more kind, moral and empathetic than American Christians seem to be.
These are the qualities our country is lacking right now. And where the solutions to problems will be found. We're not going to be able to pray our problems away.
Separation of church and state.
There is no national religion. And there never should be. We have Freedom of Religion. Follow any you choose, or none at all.
America is governed by the Constitution. Not the Bible.
15
Ah...but the Right has run their narrative for so long they have the less informed believing that the Founding Fathers merely forgot to make this nation a Xtian theocracy. Slipped their minds.
Plus the Dems and Left let the Repubs re-write history and re-interpret the founding documents for at least 5 decades now, and their "view" has found purchase among many in the Bible belt and elsewhere. It all began with Gingrich, and the sudden rise in political power of the Moral Majority/Minority, Family First, etc groups. Alongside the resurgence of the Intelligent Design crowd who are still trying to get their creationist "science"
taught in schools, with Evolution. (which is barely taught anyway, if you want a good Evo-science education for your kids send them to Catholic schools!)
Make no mistake about it, with Pence as VP, and Sessions running the justice dept, and vapid DeVos heading the Dept of Ed, we will see a big attempt at - if not a victory of pushing aside Evolution science, sciences in general, for Intelligent Design in public high schools.
Plus the Dems and Left let the Repubs re-write history and re-interpret the founding documents for at least 5 decades now, and their "view" has found purchase among many in the Bible belt and elsewhere. It all began with Gingrich, and the sudden rise in political power of the Moral Majority/Minority, Family First, etc groups. Alongside the resurgence of the Intelligent Design crowd who are still trying to get their creationist "science"
taught in schools, with Evolution. (which is barely taught anyway, if you want a good Evo-science education for your kids send them to Catholic schools!)
Make no mistake about it, with Pence as VP, and Sessions running the justice dept, and vapid DeVos heading the Dept of Ed, we will see a big attempt at - if not a victory of pushing aside Evolution science, sciences in general, for Intelligent Design in public high schools.
We are no longer the country Emma Lazarus celebrated in her Statue of Liberty poem. I loved that country, the one with open arms that welcomed the "wretched refuse" of distant shores. But the vast majority of this country, not just Republicans but many Democrats and recent immigrants too, want controls on immigration.
Trump "won" for many reasons, but one of the reasons was that latinos voted for him in roughly the same numbers that they voted for Romney. How is that possible after all of the things he said?
Well, the Mexicans and other latinos who voted for Trump were not insulted by what he said because they are now on this side of the border.
America no longer feels rich with abundant jobs and open land. Our vile and cowardly President won the election by exploiting that feeling. If we want decency to return to our nation, if we want to lift our heads from the shame that is now upon us, we must recognize the views of the vast majority of the American citizens. We must have Democratic leaders who support the immigration of people who share American values of freedom of speech, freedom of religion and equal rights and oppose the immigration of those who do not.
Democrats let Trump define the narrative that became reality in his revolting and hypocritical refugee policy. If we want to reverse that policy and open our country's arms again, Democrats must regain the narrative by acknowledging the feelings and fears of today's America.
Trump "won" for many reasons, but one of the reasons was that latinos voted for him in roughly the same numbers that they voted for Romney. How is that possible after all of the things he said?
Well, the Mexicans and other latinos who voted for Trump were not insulted by what he said because they are now on this side of the border.
America no longer feels rich with abundant jobs and open land. Our vile and cowardly President won the election by exploiting that feeling. If we want decency to return to our nation, if we want to lift our heads from the shame that is now upon us, we must recognize the views of the vast majority of the American citizens. We must have Democratic leaders who support the immigration of people who share American values of freedom of speech, freedom of religion and equal rights and oppose the immigration of those who do not.
Democrats let Trump define the narrative that became reality in his revolting and hypocritical refugee policy. If we want to reverse that policy and open our country's arms again, Democrats must regain the narrative by acknowledging the feelings and fears of today's America.
4
I share the opinion already expressed by many that this action is nothing more than a big chunk of red meat Trump is tossing to his most racist and bigoted supporters, some of whom are members of his staff and Cabinet. For the sake of what is commonly called, "security theater," (splashy, showy, will accomplish nothing), he is preying on some of the poorest and most desperate people on earth. That we all knew this was coming doesn't diminish my disgust.
9
Like that phrase, "security theater." Though with Trump, we might equally call it "insecurity theater," since he seems to do everything out of personal insecurity.
3
What a pleasure to hear a rational, eloquent, reasoned voice calling our Nation to stand up to its highest ideals. Thank you Mr. Miliband.
What a contrast to the crude hate and fear bluster from our intolerant, uninformed and unprepared new President.
We shall remember the day Trump's executive rush to bar deserving refugees from the Middle East from entering our country along with the day America prevented 908 Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany on the MS St. Louis from disembarking in Florida in 1939.
Under Trump, America may become known as the land of the free and home of the frightened, a people who lacked the courage to live up to their most noble principles.
What a contrast to the crude hate and fear bluster from our intolerant, uninformed and unprepared new President.
We shall remember the day Trump's executive rush to bar deserving refugees from the Middle East from entering our country along with the day America prevented 908 Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany on the MS St. Louis from disembarking in Florida in 1939.
Under Trump, America may become known as the land of the free and home of the frightened, a people who lacked the courage to live up to their most noble principles.
13
Someone please explain to me how favoring the entry of members of one religion over others is Constitutional. Like with so many other things over the past week (and really, the past 18 months), I am baffled. And deeply fearful for the future of this country.
4
Conservatism will eventually die. It's having its last breath at the moment. The new generation will eventually take over and replace the madness. In the meantime liberals will suffer.
3
I do hope you are right and this is the death throes. It was mistaken of liberals not to foresee that the end would be so ugly.
1
Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me:
I lift my lamp beside the golden door.
Emma Lazarus
On a plaque at the Statue of Liberty
We should remove this plaque, it is no longer in effect.
We need to protect our Muslim citizens from Trump.
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me:
I lift my lamp beside the golden door.
Emma Lazarus
On a plaque at the Statue of Liberty
We should remove this plaque, it is no longer in effect.
We need to protect our Muslim citizens from Trump.
3
My father was a Holocaust survivor. Any time he saw persecution and injustice, he spoke out. He cautioned against scapegoating and stereotyping and hate.
He passed away in 2007. Although I miss him terribly, I am grateful he did not live to see this, it would have killed him.
The fact that that odious man signed that morally reprehensible order on International Holocaust Remembrance Day just makes it that much worse.
My dad said when he came to the US by sea, all of the survivors gathered to see the Statue of Liberty. He said it was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen and he finally felt safe after years of unspeakable suffering and loss.
One angry signature from our sociopath president has stolen that hope from thousands of people yearning to breathe free.
He passed away in 2007. Although I miss him terribly, I am grateful he did not live to see this, it would have killed him.
The fact that that odious man signed that morally reprehensible order on International Holocaust Remembrance Day just makes it that much worse.
My dad said when he came to the US by sea, all of the survivors gathered to see the Statue of Liberty. He said it was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen and he finally felt safe after years of unspeakable suffering and loss.
One angry signature from our sociopath president has stolen that hope from thousands of people yearning to breathe free.
246
Absolutely.
1
Debbie, my father came at age 16 in 1920, after surviving starvation and wartime horror in Eastern Europe during the First World War and Bolshevik Revolution. He said similar things about his sea voyage here. He said everyone on the ship bent down and kissed the floor of the vessel when they saw the Statue of Liberty.
4
The full text of Emma Lazarus's poem:
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
Finally a president willing to try and tackle problems. Good for him for actually trying to help Christians...being persecuted even more.
3
Everyone hopefully can remain calm. For sure, a period of planetary crisis unlike anything before, but the sooner this one disturbing disordered creature departs the world stage, the better the chance for humanity to work together to maintain, create, and develop a better life together.
1
I hope, when his term is over, the world will forgive us and welcome us back to the family of nations.
1
The 1st Amendment as crafted by some wonderfully wise men named Washington, Franklin, Madison, Adams and others has given us freedom from religious doctrine for 200 years.
And 7 days after becoming President, Donald Trump has urinated on this freedom by instilling a religious test for immigration.
This is not only a violation of our Constitution but a clear slap in the face of our patriotic Founding Fathers and the country they hoped to create.
And 7 days after becoming President, Donald Trump has urinated on this freedom by instilling a religious test for immigration.
This is not only a violation of our Constitution but a clear slap in the face of our patriotic Founding Fathers and the country they hoped to create.
5
I think what disturbs me about Trump is that everyone knows he is off kilter in his mind, but they are so happy to have a chance to get what they want, that they will sacrifice any person, cause, or pillar of our Democracy, for their own means--it is a kind of ravenous insanity. I wish more our our country had served in its military, in my twenty years, I seldom ran into any racial issues--and we didn't have the word "they" in our vocabulary. I think the electorate would have a lot more (or any) empathy for others--whether Syrian child (and women) refugees, or abortion rights. There are so many children not being taken care of on this planet--like eight million (Cokie Roberts) children refugees, so we want the ones who are born to suffer, and those who are not born to be born, just because and when they are born, who cares what happens to them? I don't care what religion or political party you are from, but if you do not have empathy, then you are a selfish and lost soul--and certainly not American--not the America I know and knew.
5
It's fascinating that Trump has no problem with admitting Saudis and their pals, the Wahhabbis.
I realize that 9/11 was a long time ago in Trump years, but it wasn't that long ago to most New Yorkers, especially the first responders.
It wasn't that long ago to those of us who live in and around DC (we're mostly not politicians) or to our first responders. Few photos were published of the damage to the Pentagon, but it was extensive.
The 9/11 attack was just yesterday to those who were in the buildings and survived.
I have no problem with Muslims. I have increasing problems with Trump.
I realize that 9/11 was a long time ago in Trump years, but it wasn't that long ago to most New Yorkers, especially the first responders.
It wasn't that long ago to those of us who live in and around DC (we're mostly not politicians) or to our first responders. Few photos were published of the damage to the Pentagon, but it was extensive.
The 9/11 attack was just yesterday to those who were in the buildings and survived.
I have no problem with Muslims. I have increasing problems with Trump.
5
15 of the 19 hijackers on 9/11 were Saudis. Mohammed Atta was from Egypt. There was one at least from Yemen. Yet Saudi Arabia is not on Trump's list of "terrorist" countries.
5
Criminal, shameful, irrational. etc. All descriptions of trump and his party. Please, somebody, put a cover on the Statue of Liberty. Whatever it meant, it means nothing now.
4
Let's have big Syrian refugee center in Chappaqua, NY. Hillary Clinton can welcome them. She wanted 1000s and 1000s of them in the US. Let's put another center Kalorama, Obama's new neighborhood.
6
It is difficult to accept that this is happening here. America is being diminished by this man.
4
bevan, destroyed you mean
3
In the 3/24/16 N.Y. Review of Books, Mark Lilla wrote a review titled “How the French Face Terror”. One of the books he covered is SITUATION DE LA FRANCE by Pierre Manent in which Manent explained that Muslims place more value on their religion’s beliefs and culture than on individual liberties. Muslims value their religion’s cultural morality; whereas we, in the more secular west, value human rights.
The reviewer, Mark Lilla, wrote “He (Manent) therefore finds it understandable that Muslims see modern ideas of freedom as just another set of cultural moeurs, and feel condescended to by Westerners delivering lectures on human rights.”
It sounds to me as if Muslims place their religious culture above the freedoms guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution and its Amendments. We have freedom of religion and of the press. A person is free to practice Islam, but the press has the freedom to criticize Islam. In France, Muslims murdered the writers and cartoonists at Charlie Hebdo for criticizing their religion. Charlie Hebdo made fun of every religion, but only the Muslims could not handle the criticism.
Can Muslims truly integrate into western countries?
The reviewer, Mark Lilla, wrote “He (Manent) therefore finds it understandable that Muslims see modern ideas of freedom as just another set of cultural moeurs, and feel condescended to by Westerners delivering lectures on human rights.”
It sounds to me as if Muslims place their religious culture above the freedoms guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution and its Amendments. We have freedom of religion and of the press. A person is free to practice Islam, but the press has the freedom to criticize Islam. In France, Muslims murdered the writers and cartoonists at Charlie Hebdo for criticizing their religion. Charlie Hebdo made fun of every religion, but only the Muslims could not handle the criticism.
Can Muslims truly integrate into western countries?
7
Miliband makes an eloquent case. I would be even more persuaded if he made even a modest attempt at even-handedness:
He could have mentioned the regular harassment and persecution that Christians experience in Egypt, Pakistan and Indonesia, looting and pillaging in Syria and outright genocide in Iraq. The denial of religious rights to Christians in Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan and even Morocco. The outrageous blasphemy laws across the Muslim world that target Christians.
The West has been closing its eyes against religious intolerance in Muslim-dominated countries for much too long. Trump's act, as indiscriminate as it is, is a tiny step in the other direction. What I want to see is the right to build a church and wear a cross in Riyadh.
He could have mentioned the regular harassment and persecution that Christians experience in Egypt, Pakistan and Indonesia, looting and pillaging in Syria and outright genocide in Iraq. The denial of religious rights to Christians in Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan and even Morocco. The outrageous blasphemy laws across the Muslim world that target Christians.
The West has been closing its eyes against religious intolerance in Muslim-dominated countries for much too long. Trump's act, as indiscriminate as it is, is a tiny step in the other direction. What I want to see is the right to build a church and wear a cross in Riyadh.
11
Coward Trump, in delivering to his angry base, further shames our country.
3
Mr Miliband, you live in a big sanctuary city
Any statistic on how many wealthy towns have petitioned to get affordable housing in their neighborhood? (for refugees, illegal immigrants, poor blacks?)
Let's start with the hometown of one of your fans , Chappaqua.
Any statistic on how many wealthy towns have petitioned to get affordable housing in their neighborhood? (for refugees, illegal immigrants, poor blacks?)
Let's start with the hometown of one of your fans , Chappaqua.
4
Resettle refuges? NO. More illegal Israel settlements? YES.
2
"…the arrival of Syrian refugees is a repudiation of fundamental American values, an abandonment of the United States’ role as a humanitarian leader and, far from protecting the country from extremism, a propaganda gift to those who would plot harm to America."
Oh, please! When are the Democrats, Left, Liberals and globalists stop
using this stupid narrative?!!!
Muslims do not integrate, they should stay in their countries. Look what
is happening in Europe, total chaos. We do not want it here.
Enough of "it is un-American" or "that is not who we are". America and its people come first. Period.
Oh, please! When are the Democrats, Left, Liberals and globalists stop
using this stupid narrative?!!!
Muslims do not integrate, they should stay in their countries. Look what
is happening in Europe, total chaos. We do not want it here.
Enough of "it is un-American" or "that is not who we are". America and its people come first. Period.
8
Period! Did you get that from Sean Spicer's crowd size press conference on Saturday?
4
Propaganda. You imply that appeasement of one's enemies is rational. It is not. If your enemies have no just grounds for their grievance, then appeasement makes no sense. There is no need to apologize or appease a person without just cause for their enmity. Instead, you must resign yourself to defend yourself. Your mentality is that of an apologist for your existence.
2
When I was young, there were Italians in the North End of Boston who had children and grandchildren, but who had never leaned English. No, they did not assimilate. When I was young, there were Jews on the Lower East Side of New York who had children and grandchildren, but who spoke only Yiddish. They did not assimilate, but those children and grandchildren did, and became as American as your or I.
4
Remember when, not so long ago, we banned communists from our country because they espoused philosophies and beliefs which were at odds with our values?
People have no right to come here. It is totally up to us in our sole discretion, just like a private club.
People have no right to come here. It is totally up to us in our sole discretion, just like a private club.
9
Barring Communists because of their political views was one of the most disgraceful episodes in our history.
4
It's good to see that a few rational Americans read the NYT. Thanks for commenting Mike. I read the NYT because the writers and readers are so excellent, and I always want to test my thinking. But these leftists are so irrational and uncritical in their thinking. In fact, that's true of the right also.
5
He is setting up a new, unbelievably vile world war, the likes of which history has never seen.
Now "Jihad" means something. No Muslims can enter; only Christians.
This can't be good.
Now "Jihad" means something. No Muslims can enter; only Christians.
This can't be good.
7
David Milliband writes: "The world looks to America for enlightened leadership." He should question Theresa May's repudiation of Enlightenment values since she became prime minister. She attacked cosmopoitanism in her Conservative party conference speech last October: “If you believe you are a citizen of the world, you’re a citizen of nowhere.”
Trump's dictum "America First" does not embrace liberty, equality, fraternity and all human rights. It is authoritarianism. This Anglo-American relationship foreged by May and Trump seeks to restore the old order - nativism and nostalgia - going back to the good old days when their countries were white and thriving.
Trump's dictum "America First" does not embrace liberty, equality, fraternity and all human rights. It is authoritarianism. This Anglo-American relationship foreged by May and Trump seeks to restore the old order - nativism and nostalgia - going back to the good old days when their countries were white and thriving.
10
Reading this article and too many of the comments one would think that a monstrous thing was done by a monstrous person. It's obvious that the NY Times and too many of its readers can't get over the last election and combined with the usual dose of political correctness we get this kind of slanted journalism.
Attempts at controlling illegal immigration by President Trump also appears to get the same responses from the Times and too many of its readers and the disconnect from NYC and the rest of the country becomes more and more obvious.
The first responsibility of any government is the protection and well-being of its citizens before anything else and don't forget the western world, including the U.S. is at war with Moslem fanaticism. Too many public officials under President Obama have admitted that proper vetting is almost impossible and I think the writer of this article is simply incorrect when he talks about the background checks going on. President Trump has done the right thing for this country.
Attempts at controlling illegal immigration by President Trump also appears to get the same responses from the Times and too many of its readers and the disconnect from NYC and the rest of the country becomes more and more obvious.
The first responsibility of any government is the protection and well-being of its citizens before anything else and don't forget the western world, including the U.S. is at war with Moslem fanaticism. Too many public officials under President Obama have admitted that proper vetting is almost impossible and I think the writer of this article is simply incorrect when he talks about the background checks going on. President Trump has done the right thing for this country.
12
I weep for your blindness. But one day you will see, the truth because Mr. Trump's "transgressions" will be found out. They always are.
Go back and read the article carefully. Refugees receive pain-staking vetting. Your opinion has no basis in fact, only in predjudice. Such ideas are antiquated and doomed to failure.
1
While trying keep terrorists away, Trump and his supporters like yourself may be turning ordinary, peaceful Muslims already in the country into terrorists. When that happens, what can we do? Send all of them to special camps?
3
The right wing is just plain schizoid. The policy of making contraception difficult and abortion impossible exacerbates the population pressures that make these people feel so vulnerable. They are self-contradictory.
11
Quoting Joe Califano's 1980 very noble words in support of the bipartisan Refugee Act ignores the realities of the world for the past 20 years. The fact is that bipartisan support wouldn't be as evident today because of those same realities. We do have a rich and unique history of being a melting pot. And while Americans from all their different backgrounds honor and respect their heritage they are Americans first and they understand our foundational separation of church and state. We have a right and an obligation to insure those who want to come here are prepared to honor those foundations. And we should reject the argument that our actions to protect who we are is fodder for our enemy's propaganda. It is they who are intolerant of any and all freedoms and we should not be afraid to stand up for who we are for fear of retaliation. If there are facts that demonstrate the current "vetting" is effective let's hear more about it. Not just how many months is takes. But what do we look for, who gets rejected and why, who do we say yes to? I'm tired of this refrain of "this is not who we are". We are first a nation of laws with a constitution that defines who we are. Shouldn't we expect everyone who wants to live here accept that?
12
Charlie, maybe this will help clarify why people are upset:
1) In 2015, the vetting process for Syrian refugees was already extremely rigorous-- only about 50% of applicants passed the vetting process, and three separate federal agencies investigated all applicants for potential ties to terrorist groups, histories of radicalization, etc. Most refugees admitted were children. Here's a link (http://time.com/4116619/syrian-refugees-screening-process ). We admitted about 10,000 in the whole of 2016. None of them has been implicated in domestic terrorism.
Are we really afraid of these children? That's the message we're sending the world right now.
2) Furthermore, if you look a little more carefully, you'll find that Trump has actually exempted from this ban the citizens of Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey-- countries affected by radical terrorist groups, but also countries where he has business interests. So is this really about national security? 19 out of the 20 terrorists who attacked us on 9/11 were Saudis, but we're not suspending visas for their citizens? Trump's reasoning here is either illogical or hypocritical.
3) You are right that we are, or aspire to be, a nation of laws. We should take the threat of terrorism seriously. But there is simply no evidence that treating refugees so cruelly is going to protect us from extremist Islamic terrorism. It's a policy born of fear and cowardice. That's what we mean when we say "this is not who we are."
1) In 2015, the vetting process for Syrian refugees was already extremely rigorous-- only about 50% of applicants passed the vetting process, and three separate federal agencies investigated all applicants for potential ties to terrorist groups, histories of radicalization, etc. Most refugees admitted were children. Here's a link (http://time.com/4116619/syrian-refugees-screening-process ). We admitted about 10,000 in the whole of 2016. None of them has been implicated in domestic terrorism.
Are we really afraid of these children? That's the message we're sending the world right now.
2) Furthermore, if you look a little more carefully, you'll find that Trump has actually exempted from this ban the citizens of Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey-- countries affected by radical terrorist groups, but also countries where he has business interests. So is this really about national security? 19 out of the 20 terrorists who attacked us on 9/11 were Saudis, but we're not suspending visas for their citizens? Trump's reasoning here is either illogical or hypocritical.
3) You are right that we are, or aspire to be, a nation of laws. We should take the threat of terrorism seriously. But there is simply no evidence that treating refugees so cruelly is going to protect us from extremist Islamic terrorism. It's a policy born of fear and cowardice. That's what we mean when we say "this is not who we are."
4
"We are first a nation of laws with a constitution that defines who we are." Perfect. Yes.
"Shouldn't we expect everyone who wants to live here accept that?"
Perfect. Yes. Agreed. But everyone includes 'everyone' - not just the 'incoming'.
"Shouldn't we expect everyone who wants to live here accept that?"
Perfect. Yes. Agreed. But everyone includes 'everyone' - not just the 'incoming'.
Democracy faces an unsolvable dillemma, each time a majority supports undemocratic policies.
President Trump promised during the campaign to implement racism in the American border protection legislation, by judging individuals on characteristics derived from a group they belong to (e.g. nation, religion), rather than individual features.
The problem for him now is to choose between two anti-democratic ways forward: not following up on campaign pledges, or implementing racism he promised.
He did it 'his way'. Fair enough. He cannot be blamed for that.
The 63 million Americans who voted Mr. Trump into the Oval Office should answer the question why they wanted democratic values to be abandoned to solve the border protection problem (assuming that this problem really existed). The voted to undermine a fundamental democratic value of their nation.
In a certain sense Mr. Trump is only minor factor in this game.
President Trump promised during the campaign to implement racism in the American border protection legislation, by judging individuals on characteristics derived from a group they belong to (e.g. nation, religion), rather than individual features.
The problem for him now is to choose between two anti-democratic ways forward: not following up on campaign pledges, or implementing racism he promised.
He did it 'his way'. Fair enough. He cannot be blamed for that.
The 63 million Americans who voted Mr. Trump into the Oval Office should answer the question why they wanted democratic values to be abandoned to solve the border protection problem (assuming that this problem really existed). The voted to undermine a fundamental democratic value of their nation.
In a certain sense Mr. Trump is only minor factor in this game.
2
Trump does not have majority support. He got elected through the Electoral College, which was designed to retain the slave states in the US. Democracy was bent to accommodate the evil of slavery.
2
Would you have said the same thing if Hillary would have been elected thanks to the electoral college? I doubt it. I believe in majority voting, but the US has adopted another method. That is its right and does not reduce its democratic status.
2
It's already started! Detaining refugees in transit after they had already been cleared.
Another article deals with the ramifications of our relationships with Middle Eastern countries in general. A war on Islam is what they see it as. How could they not see it that way?
Great job Mr. President! You are managing to alienate just about every single honest Muslim the US military relies on for information and help. Furthermore you have just thrown away Americas ability to promote itself as a highly democratic example of tolerance and religious freedom for all.
Another article deals with the ramifications of our relationships with Middle Eastern countries in general. A war on Islam is what they see it as. How could they not see it that way?
Great job Mr. President! You are managing to alienate just about every single honest Muslim the US military relies on for information and help. Furthermore you have just thrown away Americas ability to promote itself as a highly democratic example of tolerance and religious freedom for all.
29
Spot on.
3
Christine, this is only the beginning. The evil Republican party is responsible for this.
3
Yes. Our ability to promote our ideals stopped the minute we put that man and the rest of his gang of hate mongers in office. Showed ourselves on the whole to be a bunch of hypocrites. Shut up or put up.
Mr. Miliband makes a powerful although tired argument against tightening asylum policy. Makes sense if viewed out of context and with box of napkins handy. In their absence however, his argument makes no sense. For starters, Mr. Trump is doing the will of his voters, keeping his election promises. If he were to take Mr. Miliband's advice, he would face the same fate Mr. Miliband was handed by the British, a Brexit refugee, sitting in New York, crying crocodile tears, instead of leading an entire peoples.
Mr. Miliband also fails to specify what the right number is to take in refugees other than saying he likes 110 over 55. Most would agree if he were comparing Autobahns to Interstates. But he's not. Listen, there is no right number other than 0.
Which brings us to biggest issue in the refugee debate, which is that today's refugee is incentive for a thousand tomorrow. The real incentive that _all_ nations need to be working on, is reversing that incentive. The gentrification of the world's hot spots, if you will. Not easy, but can be done if the global powers harnessed their combined powers and focused on eradicating problems locally. Going beyond clenching fists, opening floodgates, and writing bleeding heart columns from New York. None of that is ruled out, but the ground needs to be cleared first. More on that later.
Mr. Miliband should write his next piece from the ME. And ask for food, shelter, education, and the like. Pip pip.
Mr. Miliband also fails to specify what the right number is to take in refugees other than saying he likes 110 over 55. Most would agree if he were comparing Autobahns to Interstates. But he's not. Listen, there is no right number other than 0.
Which brings us to biggest issue in the refugee debate, which is that today's refugee is incentive for a thousand tomorrow. The real incentive that _all_ nations need to be working on, is reversing that incentive. The gentrification of the world's hot spots, if you will. Not easy, but can be done if the global powers harnessed their combined powers and focused on eradicating problems locally. Going beyond clenching fists, opening floodgates, and writing bleeding heart columns from New York. None of that is ruled out, but the ground needs to be cleared first. More on that later.
Mr. Miliband should write his next piece from the ME. And ask for food, shelter, education, and the like. Pip pip.
7
I wish I had another word for the scapegoating of a marginalized population in need of dire help, but at this time all others fail me outside of this one: evil.
45
With the disgusting orders to ban refugees and people from many countries, you also wonder what this will do to the huge American tourist industry? Overnight America goes from being a big open welcoming country that everyone wants to visit to becoming the country of "Unwelcoming". Will people decide against vacationing in Trump's America and how devastating will that be for business including "Hotels" all over America.
17
The US gun cult already discouraged a great deal of foreign tourism to the US. With Trump, retaliation by foreign countries is likely to make travel there more dicey for US citizens. It's not much fun to be isolated from the rest of the passengers with one's passport held by the police wondering if one will be allowed to catch the boat.
3
Mr Bolger: Gun cult? In over 50 years of gun ownership, I've yet to have an urge to shoot an immigrant or a tourist. Outside of the five boroughs, gun owners are not a cult. We are legion.
I know. In the US, the Gun is what the phallus was to the Roman Empire.
Too many people aren't paying attention. The most prominent terrorist attacks in the US and Europe were not carried out by refugees! They were carried out by residents, often 2nd generation, of muslim descent. Shut out the well vetted refugees and you will not have had an effect on the most likely source of terrorism.
8
Well, and some were carried out by white Americans.
1
I stand with Trump;
His views were known and we had an election;
There will be more elections;
The refugee problem, is to be solved by restoring peace in the countries of origin;
His views were known and we had an election;
There will be more elections;
The refugee problem, is to be solved by restoring peace in the countries of origin;
11
" ... The refugee problem, is to be solved by restoring peace in the countries of origin; ..."
I do agree with this.
As long as it means that the US will stay away form those countries, as it was the US which created most of the problems in the first place.
Starting with Bush II, the US has destabilized and entire region with no better reason that an egotrip to establish some sort of Pax Americana that simply does not fit into the cultures of the Middle East.
So yes, get the US out of Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and all those places in which the US has its "military and diplomatic advisers" at work.
Send the US the invoice for the damage done in the past 50 years and put the responsible politicians in court in The Hague.
I am somewhat certain that this will restore some sort of peace in the region.
Even if this means that quite a few local warlords and dictators will take power.
And yes, US allies need to learn that being a country like Saudi Arabia does not mean that there is no justice for them.
I do agree with this.
As long as it means that the US will stay away form those countries, as it was the US which created most of the problems in the first place.
Starting with Bush II, the US has destabilized and entire region with no better reason that an egotrip to establish some sort of Pax Americana that simply does not fit into the cultures of the Middle East.
So yes, get the US out of Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and all those places in which the US has its "military and diplomatic advisers" at work.
Send the US the invoice for the damage done in the past 50 years and put the responsible politicians in court in The Hague.
I am somewhat certain that this will restore some sort of peace in the region.
Even if this means that quite a few local warlords and dictators will take power.
And yes, US allies need to learn that being a country like Saudi Arabia does not mean that there is no justice for them.
1
What exactly is a "vulnerable" refugee as opposed to just an ordinary refugee? Or is someone just painting their portrait of a heartless person? Both have fled for an urgent reason, so are these then the ones from the ER, or something? They better come with good health insurance then, otherwise they may have wished they'd stayed at home once they get their hospital bills here.
2
I don't recognize America anymore --and it has taken Donald Trump all of one week to do that.
His most recent plan to ban all Syrian refugees from entering the U.S. is just as premature as Angela Merkel's idea to throw open the gates to Germany, and ultimately the rest of Europe two years ago.
But what about the Syrian family who just want to raise their young children without the blood and bombs that have defined their young lives?
What about those Syrian & Iraqi interpreters who risked life and limb to aid U.S. Armed Forces, and who now face threats of revenge and death?
Have we not the resources the differentiate between those who pose a real threat to this country, and those who just want to live in peace?
I don't recognize America anymore, in fact it scares me.
His most recent plan to ban all Syrian refugees from entering the U.S. is just as premature as Angela Merkel's idea to throw open the gates to Germany, and ultimately the rest of Europe two years ago.
But what about the Syrian family who just want to raise their young children without the blood and bombs that have defined their young lives?
What about those Syrian & Iraqi interpreters who risked life and limb to aid U.S. Armed Forces, and who now face threats of revenge and death?
Have we not the resources the differentiate between those who pose a real threat to this country, and those who just want to live in peace?
I don't recognize America anymore, in fact it scares me.
19
It floors me how people who consider themselves "liberals" consider it an imperative to import people into this country from the most illiberal cultures on the planet.
12
These are mostly people fleeing from persecution by said illiberal regimes - the ones wanting only the freedom to raise their families and work their way through life without being bombed or imprisoned for being in the wrong place at the wrong time or wanting freedom of speech.
Sounds like core American values to me.
Sounds like core American values to me.
3
I am sickened by this and will continue to call my representatives to push hard on this policy. This is not the United States that I naturalized in to 15 years ago. I am ashamed of what is transpiring. We have lost our light.
We all must be heard. Call, write, tweet your reps daily.
We all must be heard. Call, write, tweet your reps daily.
19
The resistance to refugees is not about possible terrorism - that's a ruse. The resistance mainly is to people seeing America with new eyes and with idealistic goals and ambition to create a life and a community. They are likely to support nothing the GOP appreciates.
7
Trump does not represent the values of our country. He does not represent the desires and needs of its citizens.
He is not the CEO of America, and we are not his employees.
What we are witnessing is the downfall of democracy and its principals at the hands of a self-serving, uneducated, arrogant man-child who is drunk with power and spinning out of control. He'll drag the rest of us into the maelstrom unless he's stopped, and soon.
He is not the CEO of America, and we are not his employees.
What we are witnessing is the downfall of democracy and its principals at the hands of a self-serving, uneducated, arrogant man-child who is drunk with power and spinning out of control. He'll drag the rest of us into the maelstrom unless he's stopped, and soon.
17
Agree, but we must recognize and never forget that Trump's actions and words are supported by Speaker Paul Ryan, Mitch McConnell and most members of the Republican Congress. Where is the outrage? Where are the statements from Republicans forcefully condemning Trump and his xenophobic, irresponsible and shameful orders. It is chilling to witness their complacency.
3
Obama Clinton And Kerry showed they do not reflect the values of our country. Arming the Syrian revels and then watching as that failed strategy led to the destruction of an entire society is the real story. Add to that the Libya fiasco and the unlawful use of drones killing innocent civilians and you have a moral disaster called the Obama foreign policy. So all you lib commenters don't talk to us about morality - it's been absent for the last 8 years
5
Welcome to the Fascist States of America
2
What a shameful and disgusting chapter in American history is now upon us. Ignorance, bigotry and malice has perhaps permanently stained our nation. I am so thoroughly saddened and revolted that it is time to emigrate out of here if any country worth living in will take in American refugees.
20
We have no moral obligation to take refugees of the Syrian civil war in as immigrants. There are so many civil wars, why this one? We might have a moral obligation to take in those with a well-founded fear of religious or ethnic persecution. But that is not the case with the vast majority of the Syrian refugees.
Any we do admit should agree to follow American customs and to assimilate into our society. How stupid is the idea of taking in people who hate Christians and Jews and moderate Muslims, who would kill LGBT people, who practice FGM and wife-beating. There needs to be a stringent cultural compatibility criteria.
Instead of taking in immigrants, at half the cost we could help ten times as many stay in places nearby and provide them help for rebuilding their homes once the war ends. We could also support resettlement and immigration to countries near Syria whose people have a more closely related language, culture, and ethnicity.
Europe is a failed experiment showing large scale immigration from Syria is a disaster. Why repeat that mistake?
Any we do admit should agree to follow American customs and to assimilate into our society. How stupid is the idea of taking in people who hate Christians and Jews and moderate Muslims, who would kill LGBT people, who practice FGM and wife-beating. There needs to be a stringent cultural compatibility criteria.
Instead of taking in immigrants, at half the cost we could help ten times as many stay in places nearby and provide them help for rebuilding their homes once the war ends. We could also support resettlement and immigration to countries near Syria whose people have a more closely related language, culture, and ethnicity.
Europe is a failed experiment showing large scale immigration from Syria is a disaster. Why repeat that mistake?
18
There are several homegrown Americans who hate Jews and moderate Muslims, who are wife-beaters and who want to murder LGBT people. Do they need a cultural competency class as well? Or are they in clear because they're white?
4
This obscenely idiotic and self defeating stupidity will
only be reversed when there is sufficient pushback against
it by republicans in congress, state governments, and
corporate leaders. So, until such people get up the
moral courage and stiffen their moral backbone to
scream back at the cretin who has implemented such
nonsense, american policy is being made by
the same louts and amoral paranoid midgets whose
anti foreign sentiments prior to ww2 kept out
far too many who then perished when the SS got to them.
The deaths of the innocents who will die as a result
of this policy will be firmly upon the shoulders of
those cowards who did not pushback against it.
only be reversed when there is sufficient pushback against
it by republicans in congress, state governments, and
corporate leaders. So, until such people get up the
moral courage and stiffen their moral backbone to
scream back at the cretin who has implemented such
nonsense, american policy is being made by
the same louts and amoral paranoid midgets whose
anti foreign sentiments prior to ww2 kept out
far too many who then perished when the SS got to them.
The deaths of the innocents who will die as a result
of this policy will be firmly upon the shoulders of
those cowards who did not pushback against it.
7
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal - but some are more equal than others.
5
I was in Mexico last week and spoke with students. I heard some say that they had wanted to come to the US to attend school but that that have changed their minds.
America has become a symbol of hate in the world. Sad.
America has become a symbol of hate in the world. Sad.
9
If we ever had moral leadership, it went out the door with the inauguration of Trump.
But let's face it, we've spent the last two decades causing death, destruction and a lot of pain without much to show for it.
But let's face it, we've spent the last two decades causing death, destruction and a lot of pain without much to show for it.
5
America as a "humanitarian leader" ? Is this the same humanitarian country that tortured it's inmates at Guantanamo and whose new president wants to bring torture back?
Is this the same America that runs a targeted drone assassination program started by Bush and continued by Obama and Trump that accepts collateral damage of 16 year old American boys?
We Americans are hardly in a position to accuse anyone of not being humanitarian enough.
Take my word as a 14 year American expat in Europe that our traditional allies here in Europe have long since lost respect for America as a moral example to them or anyone else.
Mores the pity!
Is this the same America that runs a targeted drone assassination program started by Bush and continued by Obama and Trump that accepts collateral damage of 16 year old American boys?
We Americans are hardly in a position to accuse anyone of not being humanitarian enough.
Take my word as a 14 year American expat in Europe that our traditional allies here in Europe have long since lost respect for America as a moral example to them or anyone else.
Mores the pity!
6
Trump must allow the other shoe to drop as he hastens to enforce Title 8, USC (immigration law). That would be to abolish Title VII (affirmative action and EEOC law). At least those two legal actions in tandem would be consistent and more fair. As it is we still live with illegal hiring and academic admission practices based on race.
2
Reading this and the Bier column convinced me that we are being led by a man who has already violated our U. S. Constitution, his oath of office to uphold it, our immigration laws and the words at the site of the Statue of Liberty. I'm so offended!
10
David Miliband's appeal embodies the right mix of idealism and pragmatism. America's ideals help define us as a people, while also creating positive bonds between the US and other democratic nations. Trump's fearmongering would undermine those basic principles in pursuit of a level of security unattainable in this life.
Trump's success, however, highlights the need to stress the practical benefits of a generous refugee policy. Victims of persecution, like other immigrants, help to renew the entrepreneurial spirit that, for generations, has stimulated economic growth and a vibrant culture. Driven to succeed in a society notable for its indifference to an individual's origins, the new arrivals or their children create a disproportionate number of the new businesses in America.
Currently, Trump controls the narrative about the impact of refugees, because their defenders have not emphasized adequately the pragmatic reasons for a more generous policy. An appeal to American ideals forms an important part of any campaign to admit more refugees. A focus on their contribution to our standard of living, however, can persuade skeptics immune to more abstract arguments.
Trump's success, however, highlights the need to stress the practical benefits of a generous refugee policy. Victims of persecution, like other immigrants, help to renew the entrepreneurial spirit that, for generations, has stimulated economic growth and a vibrant culture. Driven to succeed in a society notable for its indifference to an individual's origins, the new arrivals or their children create a disproportionate number of the new businesses in America.
Currently, Trump controls the narrative about the impact of refugees, because their defenders have not emphasized adequately the pragmatic reasons for a more generous policy. An appeal to American ideals forms an important part of any campaign to admit more refugees. A focus on their contribution to our standard of living, however, can persuade skeptics immune to more abstract arguments.
4
What was a repudiation of fundamental American values, an abandonment of the United States’ role as a humanitarian leader and, far from protecting the masses was when Obama drew a red line, and did nothing.
US Forces could have easily rendered Assad's one airfield worthless, and install a no-fly zone. That sir, would have save thousands, no tens of thousands of lives.
Instead our policy of appeasement was installed by a weak President with no fore sight. Perhaps you saw footage of those Russian barrel bombs being dropped over Aleppo, that was American repudiation.
And now comes a 120 day ban and you are appalled?
US Forces could have easily rendered Assad's one airfield worthless, and install a no-fly zone. That sir, would have save thousands, no tens of thousands of lives.
Instead our policy of appeasement was installed by a weak President with no fore sight. Perhaps you saw footage of those Russian barrel bombs being dropped over Aleppo, that was American repudiation.
And now comes a 120 day ban and you are appalled?
3
Are we sacrificing ideals on the altar of political expediency? Are we being driven by facts and/or fear? The answers to these questions say much about who we are and what we stand for.
http://thewaryouknowcurat.wixsite.com/the-war-you-know-
http://thewaryouknowcurat.wixsite.com/the-war-you-know-
3
Here's an astonishing thought for me: I don't disagree with Trump's immigration policy. I did not vote for him, supported Hillary all the way, am embarrassed by most of his behavior.
But why aren't the Syrian refugees being allowed into the rich oil states, Qatar, Emirates, Kuwait? They share a religion, language, culture. Western nations like Germany, Sweden, France, are finding themselves victims of their own largesse. I'm glad the U.S. is giving this some second thoughts.
But why aren't the Syrian refugees being allowed into the rich oil states, Qatar, Emirates, Kuwait? They share a religion, language, culture. Western nations like Germany, Sweden, France, are finding themselves victims of their own largesse. I'm glad the U.S. is giving this some second thoughts.
17
Me too. A lifelong democrat, I voted for Clinton. I absolutely agree with this policy.
These people should be helped nearer to their home countries so they can rebuild them when the war ends or the regime changes.
I don't understand why the wealthy gulf states get a pass on this. Or indeed Japan and South Korea.
These people should be helped nearer to their home countries so they can rebuild them when the war ends or the regime changes.
I don't understand why the wealthy gulf states get a pass on this. Or indeed Japan and South Korea.
5
Both of you are misinformed.
Millions of refugees have settled in Muslim countries. Far more than in Europe.
Millions of refugees have settled in Muslim countries. Far more than in Europe.
If refugee status worked as intended to give temporary safe haven to people displaced by war until they can go home, then this would not be as complicated.
'Refugee' is not just permanent; essentially new citizenship but financially supported but with housing and job placement.
And then come the relatives who get the same.
Citizens pay for what they do not receive themselves. For a potentially endless stream of people.
Make refugee status temporary and there will be more support and compassions here and in Europe.
'Refugee' is not just permanent; essentially new citizenship but financially supported but with housing and job placement.
And then come the relatives who get the same.
Citizens pay for what they do not receive themselves. For a potentially endless stream of people.
Make refugee status temporary and there will be more support and compassions here and in Europe.
1
This was the country, which in 1886, built the Statue of Liberty as "an icon of freedom and of the United States, and a welcoming sight to immigrants arriving from abroad." How did we fall so far down the path of cruelty and intolerance?
10
Donald Trump
2
Chinese Exclusion Act, 1882-1943.
Japanese Interment Act, Executive Order 9066, 1942-1946
Japanese Interment Act, Executive Order 9066, 1942-1946
1
Trail of Tears 1838
The problem may work itself out over time: who will want to live in what is becoming an ugly little police-state cleptocrcy, run by bigots, racists and clueless multi-billionaires? Conversely, Europe and other countries may be faced with an increase in demands for residence, if not asylum from the many Americans who believed in the American ideals inscribed in its Constitution and validated in American engagement in the World throug two World Wars and the creation of the UN and the system of international treaties and conventions; and who no longer recognize their country..
7
We have no obligation to take in the worlds refugees. This article makes it seem as if we are breaking the law.
We are simply controlling our borders and population.
Do we just allow 1,000,000 people a month in the country? No borders? No controls?
We are simply controlling our borders and population.
Do we just allow 1,000,000 people a month in the country? No borders? No controls?
12
(to Crossing Overhead) : You write "This article makes it seem as if we are breaking the law."
But if the government decides we will take in refugees at all, then there are laws that determine how this is done and prohibit discrimination based on national origin.
But if the government decides we will take in refugees at all, then there are laws that determine how this is done and prohibit discrimination based on national origin.
2
It's sad to read some of the comments to this article. I, like probably many of the commenters, am a descendent of immigrants and refugees. In my case, it was Irish refugees in the late 19th century; people who fled their country because of hardship and make a new life for themselves in the United States. They were hated then, until they assimilated, and it's rare to find people being anti-Irish any more.
But these reactions are simply racist, even though many of the commenters couch their words in platitudes like "We've all met nice Muslims..." The argument that there are terrorists among the refugees is specious; there are terrorists in the United States, white males in militias, fighting for the white race. Should they be sent back to...?
America was built on tolerance and acceptance of others. But under this president, the loud voices of people with no understanding of the world is getting amplified, leading to changes like this. I suspect that most of the people against helping these refugees live in mostly white areas, where they've never seen or worked with Muslims, or people from any other country. It's their blinded lives that need to change, not the openness of the United States.
But these reactions are simply racist, even though many of the commenters couch their words in platitudes like "We've all met nice Muslims..." The argument that there are terrorists among the refugees is specious; there are terrorists in the United States, white males in militias, fighting for the white race. Should they be sent back to...?
America was built on tolerance and acceptance of others. But under this president, the loud voices of people with no understanding of the world is getting amplified, leading to changes like this. I suspect that most of the people against helping these refugees live in mostly white areas, where they've never seen or worked with Muslims, or people from any other country. It's their blinded lives that need to change, not the openness of the United States.
168
It is a very, very sad time, indeed. I keep wondering what happened to the country I loved. We are becoming a xenophobic people curled in a fetal position, building walls, rejecting those yearning, tired masses. We are quickly moving from the shining "city on a hill" to the desperate, frightened people in a dark valley. America will not be great, but irrelevant.
42
Hi, Ms. Hislop -
I appreciate your post, but my feelings are directed elsewhere. The "xenophobic people curled in a fetal position" have always been there, as I've discovered driving from coast to coast five times in the last 25 years. It's an education in itself to leave one's coastal city and exchange views with people in the middle of the country. Their views are extraordinary.
My strong feelings, however, are directed towards the leadership of the Democratic Party since Bill Clinton's presidency all the way through Obama to Mrs. Clinton's campaign for having neglected middle America. What happened last November need not have happened, indeed would not have happened, had Senator Sanders been our candidate.
Now the Democrats must fight or disappear. So far the fight looks good. But the days of centrism, neoliberalism, triangulation, and catering to the professional elites in big urban areas must be done.
By the way, we were never a shining "city on a hill". Winthrop, who coined that phrase, also fulsomely thanked God for having sent a pestilence to wipe out the local native Americans. Were he alive today, he'd be a rock ribbed Republican.
I appreciate your post, but my feelings are directed elsewhere. The "xenophobic people curled in a fetal position" have always been there, as I've discovered driving from coast to coast five times in the last 25 years. It's an education in itself to leave one's coastal city and exchange views with people in the middle of the country. Their views are extraordinary.
My strong feelings, however, are directed towards the leadership of the Democratic Party since Bill Clinton's presidency all the way through Obama to Mrs. Clinton's campaign for having neglected middle America. What happened last November need not have happened, indeed would not have happened, had Senator Sanders been our candidate.
Now the Democrats must fight or disappear. So far the fight looks good. But the days of centrism, neoliberalism, triangulation, and catering to the professional elites in big urban areas must be done.
By the way, we were never a shining "city on a hill". Winthrop, who coined that phrase, also fulsomely thanked God for having sent a pestilence to wipe out the local native Americans. Were he alive today, he'd be a rock ribbed Republican.
1
Even the plutocrats paying for this freak show are building doomsday redoubts in the Rockies.
1
This is not the whole country Anne-Marie. Trump and his supporters are a challenge to resist.
1
As hideous as this refugee and immigrant ban is, the fact is that many American support it. This undermines Mr. Miliband's last point - the world does not look to the US for "enlightened leadership" - at least, not under Donald Trump and not under any Republican leadership. The Republican Party is a party of extremists. It has been evolving in this direction for decades and it has now reached its final and logical conclusion. Watching Nikki Haley threaten the UN and, through it, the entire world, fills me with disgust. But I am not surprised. The idea that the rest of the world is a problem has been percolating in the US for some time and reached a new level of hysteria and extremity after 9-11. If Osama Bin Laden were alive today, he would be overjoyed at how successful he has been in achieving his goals. With the departure of Obama, the US has returned to being the xenophobic, hateful place that it was under George W. Bush. For those of us in the rest of the world, we have only the American voter to thank - those who voted for an openly racist, misogynistic incompetent fool and those who didn't bother to vote at all.
11
George Bush seems like an enlightened intellectual compared to Trump.
Trump's action reflects the views of Americans who are tired of our government taking care of others before taking care of Americans themselves. Many Americans feel marginalized, and are struggling, and arguments about the vulnerability of refugees or their needs, are not likely to move them.
The values that America could represent for the world in a time when Americans were better off, and when more were realizing the American dream, may not be the same values of this very different era.
If there is one thing that seems true about what I've read about the views of people who voted for Trump, it's that they are tired of being told whom they should care about.
The values that America could represent for the world in a time when Americans were better off, and when more were realizing the American dream, may not be the same values of this very different era.
If there is one thing that seems true about what I've read about the views of people who voted for Trump, it's that they are tired of being told whom they should care about.
8
How much does his organization get paid per immigrant? Sadly, refugee resettlement is big business for the groups that do it. No longer is refugee resettlement run on shoestring and the goodwill of the people. It's a big business with the CEOs and management making big bucks at the expense of the taxpayer.
5
Sorry but we don't need any more poor, uneducated, conservative reactionary Muslims with values that are deeply hostile to western liberalism. We are under no obligation to take them. This is a good plan; let's hope it gets extended and broadened.
11
Then why do we need poor, uneducated, conservative, reactionary Christians with values that are deeply hostile to Western Liberalism? Perhaps they should go back to where they came from.
3
What makes you assume that the refugees are poor and uneducated? Do you have any idea how many of them are actually middle class and professionals? Regardless, we never applied an economic litmus test to immigrants from other countries. My family came here from Russia with nothing.
this president has taken many opportunities to heap shame upon this country, but few are so low as this: that he would refuse to offer even a meager amount of welcome to people who have endured the worst that other humans can put them through.
In the recent past, the United States has not been the most generous nation to refugees, but we have at least tried to meet crying human needs. Today, we are turning our backs on the world. Shame.
In the recent past, the United States has not been the most generous nation to refugees, but we have at least tried to meet crying human needs. Today, we are turning our backs on the world. Shame.
19
Shameful. A disgrace. A total disaster, signed on Holocaust Remembrance Day (of all days!) by America's biggest loser.
By refusing millions of people the right to enter the country, Trump's America is effectively signing many of their death warrants. This is not just racist and illegal-- it is a genocide.
Seeing how quickly our country has plunged into this fascist abyss leads me to ask: what was our country like a week ago? What were our values, that this sickness could have consumed our democracy so quickly? And is there anything we can do to stop this?
By refusing millions of people the right to enter the country, Trump's America is effectively signing many of their death warrants. This is not just racist and illegal-- it is a genocide.
Seeing how quickly our country has plunged into this fascist abyss leads me to ask: what was our country like a week ago? What were our values, that this sickness could have consumed our democracy so quickly? And is there anything we can do to stop this?
27
Of all the awful, sickening things Donald Trump has said and done in his first week as president, this is surely the worst. Religious discrimination has no place in a nation founded on the principle of religious liberty. This order demands prompt and vociferous protest.
23
I agree with your feelings, but one interesting fact is that the colonists who came here as religious refugees immediately began to persecute individuals of religions other than their own. It is simply part of our history.
Well, they are in my neighborhood. But mind you, this is Montreal, in Canada. Were I an American, I would worry much more about guns held by my fellow Americans than about refugees. Your chance of being killed by a gun in the United States is much higher, I'm sure, than that 1 in 3.64 billion chance the Cato Institute mentions....just checked: assault with a firearm is 1 in 24,974, that's a 1,400,000 times more likely. You chose, you're the American, but actuarily, there is only one choice.
21
The denial of basic realities creates ludicrous levels of cognitive dissonance.
The Syrian civil war is a product of competitive tribal population growth colliding with climate change.
Why does the US not actively support free contraception and abortion on demand?
The Syrian civil war is a product of competitive tribal population growth colliding with climate change.
Why does the US not actively support free contraception and abortion on demand?
7
Islam does not allow either.
1
Why don't we institute an export policy wherein we send away these native born Americans who don't "contribute" to make room for these refugees. Since so much of the opposition is about what people may or may not contribute. Get rid of these freeloading deplorable patriots who take their American freedom for granted and lack empathy for anyone else. That's a registry I'd like to see.
16
Such is the essence of liberals - anti-democratic, prone to despotism their way, and as dense as concrete. Thank the stars we ignore their bromides and elect their political opposites. Soon their fatigue, not to mention the breakup of their ossified political party, will see them with less national representation that the whigs.
3
The NYTimes periodically publishes op-eds by David Miliband, and they are all practically saying the same thing, so I no longer bother to read them. The International Rescue Committee that he heads should be busy arguing and lobbying for safe areas for refugees in the regions where their native culture and religion predominate.
The comments of the NYTimes liberal readers notwithstanding, the majority of Americans are strongly opposed to importation of people (be it refugees or immigrants) from Muslim countries. We all have met nice Muslim people, and do not object to them as individuals. So it's not about discrimination. It is about preventing serious problems down the road if their numbers here we to grow to high. Look to Western Europe to see what happens when you allow that to happen.
Countries that are mostly homogeneous, or have a strong dominant culture, tend to be more cohesive, and have much less discord and strife within. The US will become a very difficult place to live, or even fall apart, unless we start valuing, cultivating, and protecting our own strong dominant culture.
The comments of the NYTimes liberal readers notwithstanding, the majority of Americans are strongly opposed to importation of people (be it refugees or immigrants) from Muslim countries. We all have met nice Muslim people, and do not object to them as individuals. So it's not about discrimination. It is about preventing serious problems down the road if their numbers here we to grow to high. Look to Western Europe to see what happens when you allow that to happen.
Countries that are mostly homogeneous, or have a strong dominant culture, tend to be more cohesive, and have much less discord and strife within. The US will become a very difficult place to live, or even fall apart, unless we start valuing, cultivating, and protecting our own strong dominant culture.
13
Oh please! What universe do you live in. The United States has always been a country of immigrants and salad bowl of cultures. There is no monoculture here. In case you didn't know, the United States is part of larger world, one with many cultures and many points of view and that's how this nation has survived and grown economically. Trump and his team represented the smallest minds that the US has to offer.
7
"It is not right, it is not needed and it is not smart."
But it is boilerplate rabid, right-wing ideology. We can only expect more intellectual fraud now that the simple-minded zealots control the U.S. government. Welcome to the Trump era.
But it is boilerplate rabid, right-wing ideology. We can only expect more intellectual fraud now that the simple-minded zealots control the U.S. government. Welcome to the Trump era.
17
It makes me wonder how many of those refugees have been displaced as a direct result of US policy, direct military action, and indirect action supported by US arms sales. You'd think we'd have a moral obligation to help, solely from the perspective of cleaning up our own mess(es).
38
I was not a conspiracy theorist until we encountered this small minded man, but I still think that all of trumps acctions so far are in retaliation to Obama dissing him at the 2011 press roast. Trump doesn't have the skill set to disengage himself from his 5th grade persona1
20
Unfortunately times have changed as we take off I 2017. The U.S. cannot be an orphanage to the world. We cannot afford it. Our social services are strained. Both Medicare and the U.S. are insolvent. With terrorism we must vet people who come into this country. Syria is a country with ties to terror period.
9
Medicare and the US are not insolvent. That is a fabrication. Just not true. This countrie's principals are being trampled with such views.
"Extreme vetting" is what the American electorate should have done to Trump while he was running for president. There's still time though to prove that he's perpetrated election fraud in misrepresenting his wealth and conflicts of interest by forcing the release of his tax returns.
46
The world has changed since 1980. The US has taken far more than it's share of immigrants, refugees and illegal aliens than other countries.
The US people demanded that the benefits and costs be considered, and to put the interests of the US citizens and country above that of any other. This article and the position of the mainstream media, NYT and elite, open-borders fanatics, etc. can't understand that or accept it. Tough. It is now America first.
That is smart. That is enlightened leadership.
The US people demanded that the benefits and costs be considered, and to put the interests of the US citizens and country above that of any other. This article and the position of the mainstream media, NYT and elite, open-borders fanatics, etc. can't understand that or accept it. Tough. It is now America first.
That is smart. That is enlightened leadership.
12
Fair share. You are kidding, right. Consider Lebanon, a country of 4.5 million people that has taken in probably close to 1.5 million Syrians fleeing their civil war. At equivalent levels, the United States would have 107 million Syrian refugees by now.
I suggest you watch the film 4.1 Miles on the Times website and then explain how this policy is anything but inhumane.
I suggest you watch the film 4.1 Miles on the Times website and then explain how this policy is anything but inhumane.
3
Not true. Europe has taken in far more of the Syrian refugees than the US has. Our record is shameful, and becomes worse every day.
6
It is a small world. Human population exerts an osmotic pressure that drives diffusion right through barriers like Trump's inane wall on the Mexican border.
1
The theft of human capital under the guise refugee settlement. They are immigrants. Do you really believe they are heading back to Syria if this peace holds? Germany’s million or so will solve its low birthrate problem for the next two generations. The Law and custom of refuges is to provide safe haven in the first non-combatant country they arrive in; specifically, so as not to destroy the culture and allow one side or the other to depopulate the country of its enemy. Dispersing people 7,000 miles in all directions around the globe is destruction of a people and culture. Participating in the securing and building of refugee centers on the Syrian Coast, Lebanon, Jordon and Turkey is an obligation of the USA and all non-combatant countries. Taking President Assad’s enemies off his hands ensuring his victory and making a success of his civil war is participating in his crimes.
4
The hypocrisy of this administration knows no bounds. The following language is found in the executive order: "the United States should not admit those who engage in acts of bigotry or hatred (including "honor" killings, other forms of violence against women, or the persecution of those who practice religions different from their own) or those who would oppress Americans of any race, gender, or sexual orientation." I don't suspect that the Vice President was in the room when the language regarding oppression of Americans of any sexual orientation was written.
5
Do advocates see any limit as to how many immigrants the U.S. should accept? BTW Miliband is not a U.S. citizen. Based on Pew Research data, note:
1. 13.1% of the U.S. population is foreign born. That is some 41 million people. That is up from 4.7% in 1970 and is near the historic high of 14.8% in 1890.
2. The U.S. was rapidly expanding in geographic size during the waves of immigration in the nineteenth century. For example, when Emma Lazarus wrote about "huddled masses yearning" in 1883, there were only 38 states.
1. 13.1% of the U.S. population is foreign born. That is some 41 million people. That is up from 4.7% in 1970 and is near the historic high of 14.8% in 1890.
2. The U.S. was rapidly expanding in geographic size during the waves of immigration in the nineteenth century. For example, when Emma Lazarus wrote about "huddled masses yearning" in 1883, there were only 38 states.
7
Facts, facts, facts. You are destroying the open borders crowds narrative.
3
It's time to stop pretending our nation shares Christian values. The Bible is vague and cryptic on many things, however it is extremely clear on the treatment of those in dire need. We as a nation fail the most basic and simple test of compassion and charity. If we have a soul as a nation truly our treatment of refugees has earned it a deep ugly scar.
8
The Bible says nothing of taking in an enemy whose own religion requires one to kill or subjugate Christians. Funny how liberals scream that this country was not founded on Christianity and the proof is separation of church and state but in the same breath attempt to make Christians feel guilty using the Bible to beat over their head. Still wondering why Trump won the Electoral College?
3
When did your bible replace my US Constitution?
1
Trump has done the right thing here. There is nothing in the Constitution that says all Muslims wishing entry into the US must be admitted. One need only look at Europe to see the havoc wrought by Muslim refugees angry that European women are "too independent" and angry that they cannot impose their way of life on the continent. We don't need those kind of people here. Resources are finite and American citizens need jobs, health care and government assistance for those who are unable to fend for themselves. Trump must protect the rights of America and American citizens. America has done more than enough for refugees, it is time to focus on our own people.
6
The notion that these Syrian refugees can be properly vetted is ludicrous. Even if background records existed, are we to believe what broken and dysfunctional departments of a corrupt and despotic country tell us about someone trying to come over? Besides, who vouches for the authenticity and veracity of translation of any documents produced?
Also, I find it interesting how so many people abroad assume that immigrating to America to live and work is their natural right. It is not. It is a privilege bestowed on the few.
Also, I find it interesting how so many people abroad assume that immigrating to America to live and work is their natural right. It is not. It is a privilege bestowed on the few.
7
Trump's behavior is reprehensible, and I am ashamed of my country -- for electing him, for allowing him to take office, and for cheering him on as he makes a mockery of America's ideals and international standing. This is not sustainable, and at some point there must be a reckoning. I have a sinking feeling that, some years from from now, the rift that threatened to tear this country apart from 1862 to 1865 will be known as The First Civil War.
4
Toni Morrison, when remembering how racism felt as a child, once said, "I always knew I had the moral high ground."
The children of the Middle East, and the young, and those from Mexico are going to remember these executive orders - even if they are soon overturned in courts. They will be long remembered for the hateful, xenophobic proclamations that they are.
These young people will grow up to rebuild their countries. They have the future on their side, and now they have the moral force of the universe on their side. While the aging U.S. populace passively sits by and lets this superannuated, geriatric clown restructure its very fabric, the young people of the planet will take notice.
This does not bode well for the future of the U.S.A.
The children of the Middle East, and the young, and those from Mexico are going to remember these executive orders - even if they are soon overturned in courts. They will be long remembered for the hateful, xenophobic proclamations that they are.
These young people will grow up to rebuild their countries. They have the future on their side, and now they have the moral force of the universe on their side. While the aging U.S. populace passively sits by and lets this superannuated, geriatric clown restructure its very fabric, the young people of the planet will take notice.
This does not bode well for the future of the U.S.A.
9
Wow. I apologize to the rest of the world for the shortsighted, unintelligent, selfish, amoral racist man who thinks this country is his kingdom. My soul aches for those who think we don't care, for those who helped translate for our troops and assisted us during foolhardy conflicts and risked their lives but cannot seek refuge here because our president thinks they are enemies of the state. I apologize to those who will suffer due to the indiscrimate fear of "others". Who in the world are we, a country that took the land of natives to even establish this country have the audacity to behave in this way? I am not some sappy silly naive person who doesn't understand national security. I am an American who feels we should be a place of refuge and security especially when we vet candidates thoroughly. To the world, I can only say I am so woefully sorry.
5
Such irony. Leftist policy and a leftist president - Obama - were largely responsible for the refugee crisis in Syria by refusing to intervene in Assad's genocide. The opportunity to establish a no fly zone 4 years ago - which would have tipped the scales of the war and prevented Russian intervention - was blown by Ibsma and Clinton (the famous red line). That was part and parcel of the American leftist agenda to retreat from the world stage. To make matters worse Obama and leftists refused to acknowledge the obvious connection between terrorism and Islam (insulting most sensible Americans in the process) and the obvious dichotomy between Judeo-Christian and Muslim values. These are not the same immigrants from the turn of the century (European) who shared our core values and didn't have a rancid subgroup that wanted to kill us.
4
Ronald Reagan armed Iraq. The CIA trained bin Laden. Both came to hate America. Military meddling in the Middle East is a terrible idea. You can't pick winners and losers. Which Muslim group would you back in Syria? Refuge aid is the right choice.
1
Donald Trump is a spreading stain on the American presidency. He soils the presidency every day with his lies, solipsistic narcissism, and policy ignorance. His Constitutionally questionable executive order on immigration, and his disingenuous announcement on refugees, further befouls his presidency. Every day his verbal spatters smudge the reputation and respect for the United States.
9
This is not the world of 1980. It is time to stop absorbing the excesses of failed or terror-sponsoring states and more importantly, to make clear that this country, like Austrailia, New Zealand, Switzerland and Canada, will tightly control alien entry. Those voicing nonsensical, knee-jerk opposition have some other agenda - and it isn't a concern for the human condition. If that were so, these humanitarians would seek to bring suffering minority Chicagoans to their gilded palaces in Hollywood, or to the upper east side of their island of excess, or to their manicured neighborhoods of Newton, Scarsdale or Cherry Hill. But these Americans are seen as less than some mullah on a mission. The good news is with each passing day of opposition to this, opposition to that, that solves nothing, and all the other usual reasons liberals stick their heads in places where no light reaches, the populace sees once more how hollow, inert and useless their mouthings are.
4
Where are the voices of dissent? I cannot hear voices of reason from Democratic leaders or Republican leaders. Are they all in a trance? Is the threat of losing one's sphere of power so intoxicating, rendering everyone impotent? Not a single Democrat holding Federal Office (my opinion) is now fit to serve; not raising even a token objection to this- or any of the other monstrosities of "governance" witnessed the last seven days. We have turned into a rudderless ship with a power-drunk captain at the helm.
5
NYT...'Un-American" by whose standards? The United States has welcomed the “huddled masses yearning to breathe free" for well over a century, but it was a different time, a different era. At what point do we face reality and dim the light of Lady Liberty's Torch, particularly for millions of refugees from war-torn countries that have no intentions of embracing American values or abide by our Constitution. I submit the U.N., charged with the responsibility to enforce international law, security, economic development, social progress and human rights has failed miserably, and are not up to the task they've been assigned to do, in spite of the fact there are 193 country members.
5
Another thing that is a repudiation of American values is the dominant culture and religious tradition in the Middle East. With the troubles we have with our own domestic religious nuts, I see no value in keeping our doors open as widely and foolishly as Europe has to a culture that is centuries behind our hard won freedoms, and whose zealots have grown used to a sway far greater in government affairs than ours have.
The Muslim Middle East needs to learn to live with each other before they expect hospitality on someone else's house.
The Muslim Middle East needs to learn to live with each other before they expect hospitality on someone else's house.
11
This is another Trump edict based on lies? Iranian men and women are so significant members of the academic, medical, and scientific population in the US. Many still have families in Iran and this ban will be especially difficult for students with families still in Iran. Iranians are a significant proportion of the engineering and scientific community. This edict is irrational like many of Trump's policies. The truth is that many white Americans do not have the education needed to compete in rigorous academic programs. Immigrants on Trump's hit list are essential for the economic success of the country. Some of the most devastating killings in this country are committed by white Christians. There is no mention of a Sandy Hook, Charleston, and Colorado. The trial of the young man who murdered black worshipers barely made the news. This edict has a taint of white supremacy.
11
"This edict has a taint of white supremacy." CORRECT. White supremacist, Trump's puppet master, fascist Steve Bannon is Trump's White House senior strategist. Why does nobody pay attention to who really is running Trump's show? ? Steve's running helter skelter as fast as possible to impose Fascism on the USA. Or has nobody noticed?
2
That "young man" has a name. I know it; don't you?
And you don't seem to know that he was found guilty and sentenced to die.
And you don't seem to know that he was found guilty and sentenced to die.
1
Because of this executive order world's disruption is guaranteed. Trump is definitely playing with fire, fueling the flames of even more hatred towards the USA a "nation of immigrants" to quote JFK.
Irrationality; knee-jerk reactions; gut feeling; these are the words I think about most concerning his presidency. Can possibly a president rule the world by such tenets? A man of solid integrity, a man with a big heart, a generous provider, a beacon of hope and reach to desperate and weather tossed humanity in these times of great turmoils, are characteristics the most powerful man in the world should aspire to. What do you have instead? Illogicality; vindictive riposte; cynicism; distrust. Dejecting. And very worrying indeed.
Irrationality; knee-jerk reactions; gut feeling; these are the words I think about most concerning his presidency. Can possibly a president rule the world by such tenets? A man of solid integrity, a man with a big heart, a generous provider, a beacon of hope and reach to desperate and weather tossed humanity in these times of great turmoils, are characteristics the most powerful man in the world should aspire to. What do you have instead? Illogicality; vindictive riposte; cynicism; distrust. Dejecting. And very worrying indeed.
9
Welcoming people who are un-American in their outlook makes no sense.
The melting pot approach on which the US social modal was built makes sense.
Allowing people to continue traditions with respect to their cuisine and recipes makes sense.
Allowing people to continue traditions (honor killings, forced marriages, throwing gays off rooftops) that are non-food recipes makes no sense.
The melting pot approach on which the US social modal was built makes sense.
Allowing people to continue traditions with respect to their cuisine and recipes makes sense.
Allowing people to continue traditions (honor killings, forced marriages, throwing gays off rooftops) that are non-food recipes makes no sense.
6
Sigh.. More ignorance. I haven't heard any accounts of any honor killings taking place in the US, or of any gays being thrown off any rooftops here by immigrants, have you?
Donald Trump's policy is unfair, dishonorable, and inhuman … and it is American.
Every one of us owns it. Every one of us is responsible. Right, Left, Democrat and Republican every one of us in some way has contributed to what has happened to America and its ideals. We are all responsible for Trump and the ways he will remake our country into a despicable nation.
I find myself feeling hopeless and angry, mostly at liberals for letting it happen, they are the one who are out of touch with the people and seem to have no understanding of what politics really is. Politics is not about perfecting people and the last thing it is about is the truth. Trump is proof of that. How could liberals be so stupid as to think they could call America racist and sexist and have its people elect them to office. Conservatives evolved into Trumpists, but Trumpists came to power because liberalism lost its way and no longer knows how to speak to the American people.
Now, how, and how soon are we going to change this?
Every one of us owns it. Every one of us is responsible. Right, Left, Democrat and Republican every one of us in some way has contributed to what has happened to America and its ideals. We are all responsible for Trump and the ways he will remake our country into a despicable nation.
I find myself feeling hopeless and angry, mostly at liberals for letting it happen, they are the one who are out of touch with the people and seem to have no understanding of what politics really is. Politics is not about perfecting people and the last thing it is about is the truth. Trump is proof of that. How could liberals be so stupid as to think they could call America racist and sexist and have its people elect them to office. Conservatives evolved into Trumpists, but Trumpists came to power because liberalism lost its way and no longer knows how to speak to the American people.
Now, how, and how soon are we going to change this?
3
Having spent considerable amount of time in Europe, I can only applaud president Trump's decision.
There is no nation in the Western world where Sunni Muslims have integrated successfully.
On the contrary, Shiite Muslims from Iran have done extremely well in Europe as well as in the US.
I wish that journalists dig a little deeper. if Europe has so many difficulties with integrating people from those part of the world, isn't it a little pretentious to think we can integrate them better? Isn't it naive to believe that the melting pot will do its magic once again in the face of evidence pointing to the contrary? Don't you remember the massacres in Paris, Nice, Belgium and Berlin? Do you really think it cannot happen here? Why are journalists so sure about that? Can we really do better than the Germans - who have done everything to be perfect?
Personally I have witnessed the unending demands of the Muslim population in France, their refusal to respect local laws or traditions and their will to impose theirs. They ask for female doctors when they go to ER (which is free), they want special schedules for the swimming pools,special foods in University restaurants, they don't want to shake ends with female colleagues. Who needs this?
I am glad that President Trump is putting an end to the folly of the Obama's years.
There is no nation in the Western world where Sunni Muslims have integrated successfully.
On the contrary, Shiite Muslims from Iran have done extremely well in Europe as well as in the US.
I wish that journalists dig a little deeper. if Europe has so many difficulties with integrating people from those part of the world, isn't it a little pretentious to think we can integrate them better? Isn't it naive to believe that the melting pot will do its magic once again in the face of evidence pointing to the contrary? Don't you remember the massacres in Paris, Nice, Belgium and Berlin? Do you really think it cannot happen here? Why are journalists so sure about that? Can we really do better than the Germans - who have done everything to be perfect?
Personally I have witnessed the unending demands of the Muslim population in France, their refusal to respect local laws or traditions and their will to impose theirs. They ask for female doctors when they go to ER (which is free), they want special schedules for the swimming pools,special foods in University restaurants, they don't want to shake ends with female colleagues. Who needs this?
I am glad that President Trump is putting an end to the folly of the Obama's years.
57
"Unending demands" is a bit hyperbolic. Muslim women in Europe, like Christian and Jewish women in other countries, ask to be able to live in ways that align with their religious beliefs. I see no problem with the level of modesty Muslim women prefer. It's not my thing - but it's no different from the behaviors of Orthodox Jews all over the world.
In the United States there are far too many who want to impose their radical Christian values on our secular society: prayer in public schools and curtailing reproductive rights, for example.
But far more important, by demonizing all Muslims because tiny minority are radicals is to foster thousands more, who will have justifiable anger at the bigotry and hatred coming from the Trump administration.
In the United States there are far too many who want to impose their radical Christian values on our secular society: prayer in public schools and curtailing reproductive rights, for example.
But far more important, by demonizing all Muslims because tiny minority are radicals is to foster thousands more, who will have justifiable anger at the bigotry and hatred coming from the Trump administration.
2
Your response to this edict in which you repeat the Shia-Sunni calumny (which side is better?) just imports your internal battle for who has the true faith into the Western world, just like DT has done. Europe spent a bloody three or four hundred years killing each other in wars to decide whether Catholics or Protestants had the true "Christian" faith. A pox on all your hypocritical houses. The "faithful" faithless of God all too ready to kill the other guy. All too bloody likely.
2
Easy to sit in your A-list city on the west coast and complain about families living in refugee camps. If only it were as simple as you suggest. Read the comment from Debbie in the NYT picks above. Then square her story with your facile reasoning. (BTW- the swimming pool matter you mention ? That one litigant that sued lost in court. The rule of law, which we still have even after a week of DT, does prevail. )
2
A sad day for America, sad. The shining city on the hill, the beacon of hope decided to turn off the light and turned it back on the principle it was founded and gone with it the hope of millionths of displaced and persecuted families. When I was living in a refugee camp in early 1980s, every few days we would queued up in front a bulletin board checking for our name from the list of countries announcing for resettlement departure. I remember well, USA's list consistently has more pages and names. That was the first impression I had of American's generosity and openness.
It was not a good time to come to US, the country was in the mid of deep recession, unemployment were high, and interest rate high, but by the plane loads we came and every where we went - schools, church, factory, neighborhoods, we were accepted well.
This is not the time we should stop, reduce the number or make it difficult to accept refugees, instead we should accept more and make it easier. The country is in relatively good shape, interest rate is low, economy is growing, unemployment is still low compared to others, and definitely there is no CARNAGE here.
It was not a good time to come to US, the country was in the mid of deep recession, unemployment were high, and interest rate high, but by the plane loads we came and every where we went - schools, church, factory, neighborhoods, we were accepted well.
This is not the time we should stop, reduce the number or make it difficult to accept refugees, instead we should accept more and make it easier. The country is in relatively good shape, interest rate is low, economy is growing, unemployment is still low compared to others, and definitely there is no CARNAGE here.
10
While there may be good policy reason to allow in refuges from all countries the fact that we can be 100% sure that no terrorists will slip through is not one of them.
However this is one of the arguments made here, calling the idea that there is no proper security screening for refugees a "myth". To claim that since "The resettlement process can take up to 36 months and involves screenings by the Department of Homeland Security, the F.B.I., the Department of Defense, the State Department and the National Counterterrorism Center and United States intelligence community", we can therefore be 100% sure about who is coming into the country is being either dishonest or extremely naive.
And this is because the only thing the government can check is a name and see whether there is a matching name in a database of people associated with terrorism. So the sum total of the vetting is that the name of some person from Syria is not in the databases of any of the intelligence agencies.
The fact that the process can take up to 36 months is because that is how long it takes six different federal agencies to each complete their paperwork.
So the total amount of time spent actually vetting, that is entering the name into the various databases is probably less than 5 minutes total. And this goes without even mentioning that IS has taken over some Syrian passport offices, and can print passports to its heart's content.
However this is one of the arguments made here, calling the idea that there is no proper security screening for refugees a "myth". To claim that since "The resettlement process can take up to 36 months and involves screenings by the Department of Homeland Security, the F.B.I., the Department of Defense, the State Department and the National Counterterrorism Center and United States intelligence community", we can therefore be 100% sure about who is coming into the country is being either dishonest or extremely naive.
And this is because the only thing the government can check is a name and see whether there is a matching name in a database of people associated with terrorism. So the sum total of the vetting is that the name of some person from Syria is not in the databases of any of the intelligence agencies.
The fact that the process can take up to 36 months is because that is how long it takes six different federal agencies to each complete their paperwork.
So the total amount of time spent actually vetting, that is entering the name into the various databases is probably less than 5 minutes total. And this goes without even mentioning that IS has taken over some Syrian passport offices, and can print passports to its heart's content.
2
This article assumes that we have elected a rational president who is willing to weigh the pros and cons of a resettlement policy. Nothing that Donald Trump has done during his first week in office suggests that his is interested in a balanced refugee resettlement policy. On the contrary, his intention is to bully and punish the Muslim community. The old adage: "the enemy of my enemy is my friend comes to mind." The end result of Mr. Trumps incendiary world view of the Middle East could very well be a reconciliation between Sunnis and Shias, which would create a formidable force against US policies in the Middle East.
1
Trump's 'make America great again' needs translation. It means 'make America like Donald Trump.' - the narcissist con man and clown emperor. He suffers from profound insecurity and feelings of inadequacy, all grotesquely overcompensated - smearing his name like ordure across gilded towers. The outward form of this mental fragility is paranoia and belligerence. The pathetic bully will always find the weakest kid in the yard to pick on: undocumented Mexicans trying to make a living, refugees from the chaos we created in the Middle East, minorities, and especially minority women who depend on social support to hold families together. Trump is in the process of stripping the United States of any remain claims to moral or social leadership. A profoundly sad moment, but perhaps not without a flicker of hope! We wait with apprehension for a new voice that represents progressive moral reason and social empathy to emerge somewhere else in the world.
4
People fleeing a war are not refugees.
Who Is a Refugee?
"Article 1(A)(2) of the 1951 Convention defines a refugee as an individual who is outside his or her country of nationality or habitual residence who is unable or unwilling to return due to a well-founded fear of persecution based on his or her race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. Applying this definition, internally displaced persons (IDPs) – including individuals fleeing natural disasters and generalized violence, stateless individuals not outside their country of habitual residence or not facing persecution, and individuals who have crossed an international border fleeing generalized violence are NOT considered refugees under either the 1951 Convention or the 1967 Optional Protocol."
http://www.ijrcenter.org/refugee-law/
Who Is a Refugee?
"Article 1(A)(2) of the 1951 Convention defines a refugee as an individual who is outside his or her country of nationality or habitual residence who is unable or unwilling to return due to a well-founded fear of persecution based on his or her race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. Applying this definition, internally displaced persons (IDPs) – including individuals fleeing natural disasters and generalized violence, stateless individuals not outside their country of habitual residence or not facing persecution, and individuals who have crossed an international border fleeing generalized violence are NOT considered refugees under either the 1951 Convention or the 1967 Optional Protocol."
http://www.ijrcenter.org/refugee-law/
So what do we know so far?
We know that he is not normal; we know that he is intent on dominating other nations and people; we know that he speaks a strange language somewhat similar to English but distinctly different in that it is composed almost entirely of lies; we know that he craves power, condones torture and is not above stealing other people’s oil; we know that he has tiny hands and a very small heart; a face that frequently changes color; and a head that appears to have something growing out of it other than hair; and we know that he has the capacity to make promises, common ordinary decency and tax audits disappear.
So where do we go from here?
Cue John Williams and the London Philharmonic Orchestra playing music from The X-Files.
We know that he is not normal; we know that he is intent on dominating other nations and people; we know that he speaks a strange language somewhat similar to English but distinctly different in that it is composed almost entirely of lies; we know that he craves power, condones torture and is not above stealing other people’s oil; we know that he has tiny hands and a very small heart; a face that frequently changes color; and a head that appears to have something growing out of it other than hair; and we know that he has the capacity to make promises, common ordinary decency and tax audits disappear.
So where do we go from here?
Cue John Williams and the London Philharmonic Orchestra playing music from The X-Files.
7
I reject Trump's purported rationale for the need to temporarily suspend the U.S. Refugee Program and indefinitely bar the admissions of Syrian refugees. If the word "carnage" means anything, such would apply to the situation in Syria. Trump has no idea the lengthy vetting process potential refugees go through in order to be admitted into the U.S. He has not presented any tangible evidence that the screening process already put in place was not adequate to the desk. If anything, we probably know more about these refugees, mostly women and children, than Trump's own tax returns. Particularly troublesome is his plan to go forward with a total Muslims ban. This reminds me of the exclusion of the Chinese Alien Act the internment of Japanese Americans. For a man who is married to a Serbian woman, shame on him. Certainly this ban should be challenged in court.
5
Thank you for your comments. My wife and I have volunteered with refugee resettlement for 15 years. Our lives have been enriched, as well as our country's with the many individuals we have had the honor to meet and know. These individuals did not choose to have their lives turned inside out and flee their country. They had no choice and now we give them the "middle finger" , the richest, most powerful and "Christian " nation.
We are outraged, sickened and dismayed over Trump's latest executive order barring Syrian refugees indefinitely and shutting out country's doors to others for at least 4 months.
This action is mean spirited and is based on a manufactured fear with no factual basis that will only give permission for more hateful attacks on members of the Islamic faith in our midst.
Someday, our country will need the sympathy and helping hand of other nations. When that time comes, I fear that other nations will give us "the middle finger" and remind us of our triumphant "America first ". Shameful, shameful day.
We are outraged, sickened and dismayed over Trump's latest executive order barring Syrian refugees indefinitely and shutting out country's doors to others for at least 4 months.
This action is mean spirited and is based on a manufactured fear with no factual basis that will only give permission for more hateful attacks on members of the Islamic faith in our midst.
Someday, our country will need the sympathy and helping hand of other nations. When that time comes, I fear that other nations will give us "the middle finger" and remind us of our triumphant "America first ". Shameful, shameful day.
7
"I am only guessing that those advocating for these refugees will in no shape or form be living beside, working with or schooling their children with them."
You'd be guessing wrong. True Americans, especially American church communities, have a long history of welcoming and helping to integrate refugees, including non-Christians, into their own communities. The church in which I grew up did so in the aftermath of the Vietnam War, without once falling prey to the paranoid delusion that Vietcong sympathizers and spies might be hidden among the desperate just because they looked different, spoke another language, and worshiped differently. My mother took the lead with one family. And once they were settled and successful, more successful economically than my parents, that family sent her money, much needed, every birthday of her life, until she died nearly 40 years later. I am deeply ashamed of America, today. I am ashamed of you.
You'd be guessing wrong. True Americans, especially American church communities, have a long history of welcoming and helping to integrate refugees, including non-Christians, into their own communities. The church in which I grew up did so in the aftermath of the Vietnam War, without once falling prey to the paranoid delusion that Vietcong sympathizers and spies might be hidden among the desperate just because they looked different, spoke another language, and worshiped differently. My mother took the lead with one family. And once they were settled and successful, more successful economically than my parents, that family sent her money, much needed, every birthday of her life, until she died nearly 40 years later. I am deeply ashamed of America, today. I am ashamed of you.
5
Millions of native born Americans live in continual discouragement, unable to find good paying jobs and not having much of a clue what to do about it. The foreign born, in contrast, still see America as a land of open opportunity. Many have access to financial societies within foreign born communities to make direct loans to members to get them started on owning and operating businesses.
Go to almost any state in the US these days and you will find small motels along the roadways owned by people from southeast Asia, particularly from India. They buy properties, often rundown and out of the way, fix them up, put their families to work and keep the motels for years paying off their loans. Their children and grandchildren will have a better life with much more opportunity for education and higher paying jobs. This is how America itself worked for generations.
Mexican immigrants are willing to work very hard under difficult conditions because what they find here, better pay, is worth it to them. Plus, they also benefit when sending money back home, which involves billions of dollars, because the peso is worth less than the dollar. One person working here can build a house for a family back there and, in time, a second house to go back to.
There is a serious problem with letting too many people in too quickly. Slamming the door in the face of desperate refugees, however, will do very little, if anything, to make us safer. Let a hundred thousand law suits bloom.
Go to almost any state in the US these days and you will find small motels along the roadways owned by people from southeast Asia, particularly from India. They buy properties, often rundown and out of the way, fix them up, put their families to work and keep the motels for years paying off their loans. Their children and grandchildren will have a better life with much more opportunity for education and higher paying jobs. This is how America itself worked for generations.
Mexican immigrants are willing to work very hard under difficult conditions because what they find here, better pay, is worth it to them. Plus, they also benefit when sending money back home, which involves billions of dollars, because the peso is worth less than the dollar. One person working here can build a house for a family back there and, in time, a second house to go back to.
There is a serious problem with letting too many people in too quickly. Slamming the door in the face of desperate refugees, however, will do very little, if anything, to make us safer. Let a hundred thousand law suits bloom.
1
In 2008 Clint Eastwood released "Gran Torino" and is one of the best mainstream films using a refugee theme. My biggest takeaway from it was about how much family and common consideration, love, and concern make a huge difference in becoming a neighbor or fellow citizen of a city or town. The theme song is heart wrenching and Eastwood as Walt Kowalski a retired auto worker creates a character we should all aspire to acquire his qualities. We might disagree on some politics but I think he is one of just a handful of great directors of my life. Plus I had several years of Rowdy Yates, cattle drive scout.
2
"Men made up nearly three-fourths (73%) of Europe’s asylum seekers in 2015. Refugees from leading origin countries such as Syria (71%), Iraq (75%) and Afghanistan (80%) were also predominately male in 2015. By contrast, asylum seekers from other top origin countries, such as Gambia (97% male), Pakistan (95% male) and Bangladesh (95% male), were almost entirely male." (Pew Research).
Isn't it bizarre to see men become refugees and leave their womenfolk behind to face the ravages of war? Shouldn't it be the other way around? And asylum is based on the premise that a person faces persecution in the country of origin due to his or her status, such as being a Christian or Yazdi in Iraq. But how would it be that a Pakistani male faces such persecution but his female family members not? The Boston Marathon bombers made trips back to their native Russia after having been granted asylum in the U.S. on the grounds of facing persecution there due their being Chechens. It is not un-American to point out that something is clearly wrong with this.
Isn't it bizarre to see men become refugees and leave their womenfolk behind to face the ravages of war? Shouldn't it be the other way around? And asylum is based on the premise that a person faces persecution in the country of origin due to his or her status, such as being a Christian or Yazdi in Iraq. But how would it be that a Pakistani male faces such persecution but his female family members not? The Boston Marathon bombers made trips back to their native Russia after having been granted asylum in the U.S. on the grounds of facing persecution there due their being Chechens. It is not un-American to point out that something is clearly wrong with this.
15
" According to the Cato Institute, the chances that a citizen here will be killed by a refugee are one in 3.64 billion; an American is far more likely to be killed by lightning than by a terrorist attack carried out by a refugee."
I'm not religious, but Christian charity demands that we help. I find it puzzling that people who claim that religion, can't see that. One in 3,640,000,000 is not a lot of risk.
I'm not religious, but Christian charity demands that we help. I find it puzzling that people who claim that religion, can't see that. One in 3,640,000,000 is not a lot of risk.
12
Tell that to the victims families in New York, Orlando and San Bernardino.
1
We no doubt need legal immigration to grow our country and refugees is an admirable way to do so. For those New Yorkers who witnessed 911 and living in it's the aftermath of death, pain and fear, one realizes our security Homeland security takes precedence and the past 8 years has seen a 10 fold increase in domestic terrorism and illegal entry into our nation - our security apparatus doesn't work. Reevaluating our security requires ratcheting back refugees, closing our borders and evaluating our vetting processes - this latest policy allows us to pause while the incoming cabinet holders get a chance to weigh in on comprehensive security plans going forward, including new screening and tracking. It's never been automatic to gain entry to the US and refugees pose a huge challenge to our existing processes. Look to Germany to what"s occurred which is directly attributed to refugees.
2
Geno: I didn't realize New York sustained the only damage and death on 9/11. Last time I saw the Pentagon, it was in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It did not collapse entirely and given its design, it survived, but it was attacked on 9/11.
Don't believe the paranoid conspiracy theorists who claim there was little or no damage there. The damage was catastrophic. The people killed and maimed there are no less victims than those who died in New York.
The people on the four planes were from all over the US and the world. The people in the World Trade Center were from all over as well. New York isn't the only place that suffered on 9/11. We in Virginia live with the possibility of terrorism daily.
Last I heard, the 9/11 hijackers were primarily Saudis, financed by bin Laden, himself a Saudi. The Saudi ruling family remains the same now as then, but Trump has put no limits on Saudis traveling to the US. Trump has businesses registered in Saudi Arabia and has promised to protect the country.
I'm sick of self-righteous "christains" who think they have a direct pipeline to the Deity. The founding documents do not say anything about christains or their bible.
"They are endowed by their Creator. . . ." is as close to religion as you'll find. Don't forget: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion. . . ."
Don't believe the paranoid conspiracy theorists who claim there was little or no damage there. The damage was catastrophic. The people killed and maimed there are no less victims than those who died in New York.
The people on the four planes were from all over the US and the world. The people in the World Trade Center were from all over as well. New York isn't the only place that suffered on 9/11. We in Virginia live with the possibility of terrorism daily.
Last I heard, the 9/11 hijackers were primarily Saudis, financed by bin Laden, himself a Saudi. The Saudi ruling family remains the same now as then, but Trump has put no limits on Saudis traveling to the US. Trump has businesses registered in Saudi Arabia and has promised to protect the country.
I'm sick of self-righteous "christains" who think they have a direct pipeline to the Deity. The founding documents do not say anything about christains or their bible.
"They are endowed by their Creator. . . ." is as close to religion as you'll find. Don't forget: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion. . . ."
Not even a year has passed since the momentous Brexit vote, and the world has become a darker place. It's rather sad considering the peddling of fear played such a large part in validating a return to xenophobic attitudes.
It's also ironic that the two western democracies who blazed the path of tolerance and freedom, and the virtues of the rule of law, now feel they need to close their borders for fear of losing control.
Such displays of national weakness are beyond embarrassing and tarnish the reputations of both Britain and America.
When democracy is undermined by the weak and the craven, don't be surprised when authoritarianism rears its ugly headed.
It's also ironic that the two western democracies who blazed the path of tolerance and freedom, and the virtues of the rule of law, now feel they need to close their borders for fear of losing control.
Such displays of national weakness are beyond embarrassing and tarnish the reputations of both Britain and America.
When democracy is undermined by the weak and the craven, don't be surprised when authoritarianism rears its ugly headed.
5
I just talked with my dual-citizen (US SE) daughter who happens to be in Brussels at the moment. I was about to board Bus4You to Göteborg, which is where I sit while writing this. I told her that I had just read in the New York Times that Donald Trump has banned immigration from some predominantly Muslim countries, shut the door totally on Syrians, and probably more.
She, who right now is evaluating whether to live in the USA or Europe for the next couple of years was shocked. We could only talk for minutes but her reaction is, why would I want to return to a country that is returning to practice at other times in its history, banning people according to nationality and religion?
I too would ask the same question if I were young but at my age, 84, the US (New England and New York) is a good place to visit but not to live in. A country with a large fraction paralyzed, apparently, by fear (read the comments), fear for example of Syrians samples of whom would be hard to find since the US let in fewer than 3000 in 2016 whereas SE let in perhaps 50,000 or more. I know quite a few of those Syrians, even a couple who came in a rubber raft with motor. I am happy to know them and know that there is not much chance that a Syria to live in can be created for them in the next 5 or 10 years.
Walled off America is not going to be any longer the country I thought I grew up in.
Only-neverInSweden.blogspot.com
dual citizen US SE
She, who right now is evaluating whether to live in the USA or Europe for the next couple of years was shocked. We could only talk for minutes but her reaction is, why would I want to return to a country that is returning to practice at other times in its history, banning people according to nationality and religion?
I too would ask the same question if I were young but at my age, 84, the US (New England and New York) is a good place to visit but not to live in. A country with a large fraction paralyzed, apparently, by fear (read the comments), fear for example of Syrians samples of whom would be hard to find since the US let in fewer than 3000 in 2016 whereas SE let in perhaps 50,000 or more. I know quite a few of those Syrians, even a couple who came in a rubber raft with motor. I am happy to know them and know that there is not much chance that a Syria to live in can be created for them in the next 5 or 10 years.
Walled off America is not going to be any longer the country I thought I grew up in.
Only-neverInSweden.blogspot.com
dual citizen US SE
14
Really "The world looks to America for enlightened leadership"? Whilst I was a great fan of Obama the man, he showed no leadership what so ever when it came to foreign policy, he was the president in charge when an "American red-line" ceased to mean anything. What is more, I do not think that any of Trump's supporters - which at the moment at least includes all of the congressional GOP - care about the provision of global leadership. In fact I suspect that they think that providing such leadership only takes things away from them. Further, I can tell you that when Theresa May stood next to Trump yesterday and declared that the US and UK could lead the Western world that I for one thought "who died and made you Kind & Queen". As of today Anglo-Saxons have elected and voted for measures (Brexit) which seek to undermine and in the case of Trump dismantle what the "West" has stood for. The European continent, with all of its many flaws, is the last place where such values as not seen - at least by most - as signs of weakness, a desire to accommodate terrorists etc etc. I for one have zero expectations from the US and the Anglo-Saxon world in general when it comes to moral leadership, in one week you have forfeited all rights to claim such. The one silver lining is that I hope that all this will shake the European continent out of its torpor and that a serious start is made with reforming the EU. We are on our own now!
3
The risk of terrorism by settled refugees is miniscule. This pull back on refugees is a preposterous political appeal to the ignorant. It is being used by those now in office who know better but use it cynically to achieve even greater subversion. The President may not be among those in office who closely surround him that actually know better.
When put in perspective, we lose 35,000 people to vehicle accidents. 34,000 to gun violence and 480,000 to cigarette smoking, but we dismantle our Republic and surrender our ideals, by fear of what amounts to an average of 6 deaths a year due to terrorism post 9/11.
This argument is not meant to minimize the tragedy of the violence in the U.S. due to terrorism, but juxtaposed to other risks surrounding us every day, and our response to them, this collective behavior are a response to terrorism is not rational.
To add to this, our economy is not being damaged by illegal immigrants, and the loss of U.S. manufacturing jobs far, far more due to automation than trade compacts.
People with diabolical ambitions are using this insane phenomenon against us, our nation and our future.
When put in perspective, we lose 35,000 people to vehicle accidents. 34,000 to gun violence and 480,000 to cigarette smoking, but we dismantle our Republic and surrender our ideals, by fear of what amounts to an average of 6 deaths a year due to terrorism post 9/11.
This argument is not meant to minimize the tragedy of the violence in the U.S. due to terrorism, but juxtaposed to other risks surrounding us every day, and our response to them, this collective behavior are a response to terrorism is not rational.
To add to this, our economy is not being damaged by illegal immigrants, and the loss of U.S. manufacturing jobs far, far more due to automation than trade compacts.
People with diabolical ambitions are using this insane phenomenon against us, our nation and our future.
9
I am a Moslem American. I am proud to say that and nothing this racist Con-in-Chief and his hoodlums who invaded our White House will scare me and prevent me from saying that. I am willing to bet those who voted or were coned into voting for this psychopath that I, over the 53 years I lived in this glorious country of ours, contributed more to the betterment of my country than this liar setting in the White House. This man and all who are enabling him have no decency. They built their power on fear and lies and in the end I know form living through the fear and lynch mob mentality that lead us into the Iraq war that this will also pass. If this traitor to every principle this country ever stood for is really serious about our country and not only spreading fear among our citizens then just ask him how much taxes has he ever paid in support of our troops who are dying to protect him and his family. These executive orders, regardless of their inhumanity and illegality are a show just to divert people attention from his own life long illegal and unconstitutional actions. Donald, divest and show us your taxes if you really care about America.
15
What is so Un-American about this policy?
The US have a history of selling a dream that is inscribed in the Statue of Liberty.
But, at least for the past 60 or so years, this was but a marketing gag.
The US has started a number of wars that produced, among other things, millions of displaced people, migrants and even refugees.
Most of them never made it to the US and even those who did usually were not allowed entry.
Just look at millions of Vietnamese, current Afghanis of Middle East refugees or migrants.
The few that get into the US, after much vetting and lost of checks, are scarcely scraping the bottom of the barrel when compared their number to what e.g. Europe had to take in.
The only thing Trump has done here is name a spade a spade and continue what Obama has been doing right after his predecessors have done the same - for decades.
What is new is that these policies are based on the things Trump does not understand and therefore either despises or fears.
Trump has no idea what is going on outside his little inner circle, out there in the real world.
Which makes him a member of a large society, his voter who simply have the same extremely limited view of the world, mostly courtesy of such networks as FOX.
So don't just blame Trump, who can and will be blamed for other issues as well, but try to understand that looking at the world from a European perspective is hindered by much less filters than from a US perspective.
The US have a history of selling a dream that is inscribed in the Statue of Liberty.
But, at least for the past 60 or so years, this was but a marketing gag.
The US has started a number of wars that produced, among other things, millions of displaced people, migrants and even refugees.
Most of them never made it to the US and even those who did usually were not allowed entry.
Just look at millions of Vietnamese, current Afghanis of Middle East refugees or migrants.
The few that get into the US, after much vetting and lost of checks, are scarcely scraping the bottom of the barrel when compared their number to what e.g. Europe had to take in.
The only thing Trump has done here is name a spade a spade and continue what Obama has been doing right after his predecessors have done the same - for decades.
What is new is that these policies are based on the things Trump does not understand and therefore either despises or fears.
Trump has no idea what is going on outside his little inner circle, out there in the real world.
Which makes him a member of a large society, his voter who simply have the same extremely limited view of the world, mostly courtesy of such networks as FOX.
So don't just blame Trump, who can and will be blamed for other issues as well, but try to understand that looking at the world from a European perspective is hindered by much less filters than from a US perspective.
4
Demonizing the other only serves the forces of polarization and ignorance.
As if we didn't have enough of those already Trump stokes the fires of fear and hate.
Syrian refugees in particular have a long proud history here of success and integration into our society and it's culture. They are among the most westernized of middle eastern peoples and reflect their ancient civilizations values.
Salafalism taught in Mosques financed mainly by Saudis and Emirati money is the enemy we need to address. Radical militant Islamic terrorism develops from that source wherever it is allowed to occur. Follow that money... not the helpless refugee.
As if we didn't have enough of those already Trump stokes the fires of fear and hate.
Syrian refugees in particular have a long proud history here of success and integration into our society and it's culture. They are among the most westernized of middle eastern peoples and reflect their ancient civilizations values.
Salafalism taught in Mosques financed mainly by Saudis and Emirati money is the enemy we need to address. Radical militant Islamic terrorism develops from that source wherever it is allowed to occur. Follow that money... not the helpless refugee.
8
Trump said he "wants a great relationship with every country" to excuse his relationship with Russia.
Then he bars refugees from Muslim countries (and turns Mexico into an enemy.)
It's hard to get a handle on, because he combines ignorance, meanness, bigotry, immaturity, and more.
Today is Holocaust Remembrance day. Trump's slamming the door on Syrian refugees transcends irony. From a psychological perspective, it's sick. From a spiritual one, immoral. Trump may be unaware of the day's significance. Bannon isn't.
Barring immigrants from certain countries is also illegal. Trump's nominees for EPA will spike CO2, but if we elect wiser future leaders, we can overcome it. Trump's nominee for Labor will impoverish people, but wiser future leaders can help rescue them.
But Trump's Supreme Court nominee could destroy our democracy. They will permit his illegal immigration ban to become a permanent scar. They will allow massive voter suppression that ensures Republican one-party rule. Trump's many unconstitutional acts, and those of his agencies, won't be stopped by the Constitution's edicts.
Senate Democrats are a thin blue line, protecting U.S. democracy. Let's hope they have the backbone and stamina for the coming justice nomination.
Then he bars refugees from Muslim countries (and turns Mexico into an enemy.)
It's hard to get a handle on, because he combines ignorance, meanness, bigotry, immaturity, and more.
Today is Holocaust Remembrance day. Trump's slamming the door on Syrian refugees transcends irony. From a psychological perspective, it's sick. From a spiritual one, immoral. Trump may be unaware of the day's significance. Bannon isn't.
Barring immigrants from certain countries is also illegal. Trump's nominees for EPA will spike CO2, but if we elect wiser future leaders, we can overcome it. Trump's nominee for Labor will impoverish people, but wiser future leaders can help rescue them.
But Trump's Supreme Court nominee could destroy our democracy. They will permit his illegal immigration ban to become a permanent scar. They will allow massive voter suppression that ensures Republican one-party rule. Trump's many unconstitutional acts, and those of his agencies, won't be stopped by the Constitution's edicts.
Senate Democrats are a thin blue line, protecting U.S. democracy. Let's hope they have the backbone and stamina for the coming justice nomination.
230
"Elections have consequences..." BHO
1
Most of the Dems, and certainly the DNC, sold out to big donors long ago - or weren't you watching the primaries the past year or two?
In 1987, I spent a high-school year in the USA as an exchange student.
For an audition to the local drama club in the small Midwestern town where I lived I had to walk up on stage and sing:
"My country, ’tis of thee, Sweet land of liberty."
Even though I sang with a strong accent, the audience in the theater hall clapped and cheered and I was later accepted to the drama club.
From that moment on, I have always looked up to the United States as the one country where liberty and pursuit of happiness are truly possible - for people of all skin colors, backgrounds and accents.
Let us hope that the USA can remain the torchbearer of these beautiful universal values, because who else is left to perform this role?
This new refugee policy is a negation of these values, without making the country substantially safer in the bargain.
Might as well retire the term "soft power" with it - from now on all that counts in the new Trumpian world order is hard power.
For an audition to the local drama club in the small Midwestern town where I lived I had to walk up on stage and sing:
"My country, ’tis of thee, Sweet land of liberty."
Even though I sang with a strong accent, the audience in the theater hall clapped and cheered and I was later accepted to the drama club.
From that moment on, I have always looked up to the United States as the one country where liberty and pursuit of happiness are truly possible - for people of all skin colors, backgrounds and accents.
Let us hope that the USA can remain the torchbearer of these beautiful universal values, because who else is left to perform this role?
This new refugee policy is a negation of these values, without making the country substantially safer in the bargain.
Might as well retire the term "soft power" with it - from now on all that counts in the new Trumpian world order is hard power.
162
moral leadership implies the president has a moral sense. his views on torture dispute that.
5
Thank you Mr. Miliband for this thoughtful piece.
Your message is addressed to America as a whole (inasmuch as "America" denotes the U.S.A.). Roughly one half of the U.S. population may agree with your assessments - and to this segment you are preaching to the already converted - while the other half is likely to not now, or ever, agree with your proposals. Thus are the present demographics.
Various efforts from the U.S.A. under a "liberal" president led to "absorbing" some refugees, while millions of others remained in need of a safe haven.
Amnesty International estimates that there are now about 4.8 million Syrian refugees (all religions confounded), of which more than half never made it past Turkey, and another third never made it past Lebanon and Jordan.
The U.S. - a nation of 325 million people, and the land of the Statue of Liberty (Give me your poor and huddled masses ... etc) - has accepted around 12,000 Syrian refugees in 2016, (each and every one having been previously and thoroughly vetted as you described), and, in the best American tradition, their integration was achieved through grass-roots, voluntary efforts with very little cost to the U.S. taxpayers.
This is such an essential value to many Americans that some communities have clamored/asked to receive Muslim Syrian refugees in their midst.
Please do not lump all of the 325 million of us in a same bag.
Respectfully,
Your message is addressed to America as a whole (inasmuch as "America" denotes the U.S.A.). Roughly one half of the U.S. population may agree with your assessments - and to this segment you are preaching to the already converted - while the other half is likely to not now, or ever, agree with your proposals. Thus are the present demographics.
Various efforts from the U.S.A. under a "liberal" president led to "absorbing" some refugees, while millions of others remained in need of a safe haven.
Amnesty International estimates that there are now about 4.8 million Syrian refugees (all religions confounded), of which more than half never made it past Turkey, and another third never made it past Lebanon and Jordan.
The U.S. - a nation of 325 million people, and the land of the Statue of Liberty (Give me your poor and huddled masses ... etc) - has accepted around 12,000 Syrian refugees in 2016, (each and every one having been previously and thoroughly vetted as you described), and, in the best American tradition, their integration was achieved through grass-roots, voluntary efforts with very little cost to the U.S. taxpayers.
This is such an essential value to many Americans that some communities have clamored/asked to receive Muslim Syrian refugees in their midst.
Please do not lump all of the 325 million of us in a same bag.
Respectfully,
7
How many people were killed by the Boston marathon terrorists who were refugees? It would be interesting to know how that probability of one in 3.64 billion was developed.
Actually they were not refugees. They came to the USA on tourist visas, then applied for political asylum.
As to numbers - more people were killed in Newtown, Oklahoma City, and Aurora than in Boston. None of those terrorists were Muslims or refugees or immigrants at all...
As to numbers - more people were killed in Newtown, Oklahoma City, and Aurora than in Boston. None of those terrorists were Muslims or refugees or immigrants at all...
8
Not quite sure how the Cato Institute arrives as the odds of
1 in 3.64 Billion of a U.S. Citizen will be killed by a refugee as
there are only 350 Million U.S. Citizens. Has a refugee killed 1/10th
of a Citizen in the last year ?
Can someone explain why a similar policy applied to Cubans
seeking refuge by Obama did not bring similar outrage ?
A naive saying on the base of the Statue of Liberty is hardly worthy
of national policy - not to mention what did it do for Native Americans.
These people are facing death.
Can they find temporary refuge in Canada until they can enter the US. ?
1 in 3.64 Billion of a U.S. Citizen will be killed by a refugee as
there are only 350 Million U.S. Citizens. Has a refugee killed 1/10th
of a Citizen in the last year ?
Can someone explain why a similar policy applied to Cubans
seeking refuge by Obama did not bring similar outrage ?
A naive saying on the base of the Statue of Liberty is hardly worthy
of national policy - not to mention what did it do for Native Americans.
These people are facing death.
Can they find temporary refuge in Canada until they can enter the US. ?
4
Ignorance, fear and hatred. It is these which are governing our land and poisoning minds.
8
Who vetted the Ohio State student from Somalia? The one who, a couple of months ago, plowed his car into a group of students, and then got out of his car to go after them with a butcher knife. He was a refugee who had lived for a while in Pakistan. Was your group responsible for vetting him? How is it possible to thoroughly vet a person who comes from a region where everyone seems to be working against each other? Who do you believe?
6
Who vetted Donald Trump who has extensive ties to Russia?
Hm, and how about the many Americans, native and all, who kill one or two Americans in their own country . Lets compare the number of refugees coming to Germany in 2015 to the allegedly disastrous death toll they created. Remember the figure ? Any violent death is one too many. But you can create an atmosphere where you try to work together and help those who have nothing , not even a home, or where you say this is us, ours , and we won't share. Go away and die. What do you think this results in? Kids get this lesson about sharing very early on. Adults seem to forget it in time when critical thinking isn`t happening anymore.
What about just kids under 14 and women? That would speed up the war and decrease the suffering.
Isn't it quite a repudiation of what we call civilization when so many people can't find a safe place to live? I mean, what's really the problem? If half the planet is unlivable, is that the problem or the fault of the other half that is, supposedly? Maybe it should never have been habitated in the first place. Where's the balance in all of this? Aren't we just rewarding despots and giving them more power when we do so?
5
People are so stupid about human nature that they cannot acknowledge that competitive tribal population growth for control of territory is the oldest and most enduring cause of warfare among humans.
1
If 7 billion people are allowed to move to the US, the US will no longer be among the livable nations. The US ALREADY takes in more immigrants every year than any other country, and that is just counting legal immigrants. Our humane, progressive friends over the northern border actually have a much, much stricter immigration policy than we do, and they have immensely more open space.
1
Republican policies and a war enacted under GWB caused the refugee crisis in the middle east. How like these cowards, now led by a fascist, to correct their mistake by making a bigger mistake.
25
I think that it is too simple to be on a high horse blaming everyone who is against taking refugees. People need to take some leadership and responsibility first before blaming others. Take a refugee family into your home until their self sufficiency and without government subsidies, and sign a "responsibility agreement" that you will bear the burden if your refugees happen to be terrorist/criminals. Then you can talk.
5
Shame!
Here is the bigoted America Donald Trump promised his base.
Trump's ongoing enshrinement of bigotry, race hatred, unAmerican values to solidify his power.
Trump's a liar, a coward & now busies himself redrawing America as a land of racism, paranoia, beholden to any insane conspiracy theories that prop him up with his ignorant base - while he & Steve Bannon try to intimidate the media, castigating them as liars and enemies of the presidency. Trump has proven that he'll say anything, do anything, to cement his political power, with no regard for how he is damaging our country. Trump and Co. are blocking Muslim refugees from entering this country, using false claims of voter fraud to enact more laws that will suppress the vote, breaking ties with our friends, neighbors & allies using lies, bullying, threats, intimidation.
During the campaign, I was stunned when Trump commented that perhaps NRA supporters would 'take care' of Hillary Clinton if she was elected & tried to roll back access to guns. That was one of many moments we saw how thoroughly corrupt, evil & morally bankrupt Donald Trump is.
We did not heed the evidence that Trump was a sick, evil, dangerous, immoral man. Millions voted for this horrible man to be president.
Today is a dark day for this country - the first of many dark days of President Trump, bigot & madman.
Here is the bigoted America Donald Trump promised his base.
Trump's ongoing enshrinement of bigotry, race hatred, unAmerican values to solidify his power.
Trump's a liar, a coward & now busies himself redrawing America as a land of racism, paranoia, beholden to any insane conspiracy theories that prop him up with his ignorant base - while he & Steve Bannon try to intimidate the media, castigating them as liars and enemies of the presidency. Trump has proven that he'll say anything, do anything, to cement his political power, with no regard for how he is damaging our country. Trump and Co. are blocking Muslim refugees from entering this country, using false claims of voter fraud to enact more laws that will suppress the vote, breaking ties with our friends, neighbors & allies using lies, bullying, threats, intimidation.
During the campaign, I was stunned when Trump commented that perhaps NRA supporters would 'take care' of Hillary Clinton if she was elected & tried to roll back access to guns. That was one of many moments we saw how thoroughly corrupt, evil & morally bankrupt Donald Trump is.
We did not heed the evidence that Trump was a sick, evil, dangerous, immoral man. Millions voted for this horrible man to be president.
Today is a dark day for this country - the first of many dark days of President Trump, bigot & madman.
14
Shame on Congressional Republicans who fall in line with approval for the Trump/Breitbart orders for our new Nationalist state. The NeoLiberalists are supporting the fascists. They go along with this because these baseless clams by Trump just happen to work in their favor. What kind of Americans are those Republicans? We have some clues to Trump's motivation in this travesty in his personality and instability. What are the motivations of Congressional Republicans in this march to hatred and Nationalism? Why are Congressional Republicans willing to sell out the ideals and standards and self-respect of the United States?
2
"Founded on the myth that there is no proper security screening for refugees, the order thus thrusts into limbo an estimated 60,000 vulnerable refugees, most of whom have already been vetted and cleared for resettlement here."
It is important for Trump's White Supremacist core to posit the image of the violent criminal immigrant (recall, Trump announced his belief that Mexico sends us its "rapists" and "murderers") seeking to destroy our democracy (and, of course, to rob him of his Popular Vote majority).
His trope of the violent immigrant is a sturdy one and allows him to manipulate both fear and hate (a strategy that both he and the GOP have proven most adept at executing). It also provides the basis for further voter suppression efforts. But his characterization is as slippery as most stereotypes: his dark, shadowy figures streaming across our Southern Border by the Millions (like all those Muslims he saw celebrating 9/11) are at once uneducated, violent and yet able to coordinate hour history's most spectacular fraud by registering 5 to 10 million votes and all for Hillary Clinton. Through that same unknown supernatural medium, or magical thinking, Trump assures us that none of the millions of illegal votes were cast for him. Trump's familiar and very vulnerable boogeymen are at once childishly violent and criminal masterminds--and so it goes.
It is important for Trump's White Supremacist core to posit the image of the violent criminal immigrant (recall, Trump announced his belief that Mexico sends us its "rapists" and "murderers") seeking to destroy our democracy (and, of course, to rob him of his Popular Vote majority).
His trope of the violent immigrant is a sturdy one and allows him to manipulate both fear and hate (a strategy that both he and the GOP have proven most adept at executing). It also provides the basis for further voter suppression efforts. But his characterization is as slippery as most stereotypes: his dark, shadowy figures streaming across our Southern Border by the Millions (like all those Muslims he saw celebrating 9/11) are at once uneducated, violent and yet able to coordinate hour history's most spectacular fraud by registering 5 to 10 million votes and all for Hillary Clinton. Through that same unknown supernatural medium, or magical thinking, Trump assures us that none of the millions of illegal votes were cast for him. Trump's familiar and very vulnerable boogeymen are at once childishly violent and criminal masterminds--and so it goes.
8
Trump, in a week, has already violated the Constitution in more ways than Nixon had done when pressure from Congress and the fed-up American people forced Nixon to resign the presidency.
How long will Congress put up with this foul man? Maybe forever, since Congress is broken. The pressure to force Trump to change his ways or leave office must come from the people, from the street. Will the media help by revealing how depraved, dishonest, corrupt and unAmerican Trump is? Or will the media continue to chant "give him a chance" and try to normalize this awful man who is unfit to be president? The media's continual refusal during the 2016 campaign to expose everything that was wrong with Trump, while hammering Hillary Clinton, got us into this mess. The media, now castigated by Trump & Bannon as the enemy, actually gave Trump a pass - or more of a pass than he deserved. Most of the media was dazzled by the crazy Trump spectacular.
Warning signs of Trump's undermining of American democracy are everywhere, one week into his presidency. Will the media help to unmask how unfit Trump is?
How long will Congress put up with this foul man? Maybe forever, since Congress is broken. The pressure to force Trump to change his ways or leave office must come from the people, from the street. Will the media help by revealing how depraved, dishonest, corrupt and unAmerican Trump is? Or will the media continue to chant "give him a chance" and try to normalize this awful man who is unfit to be president? The media's continual refusal during the 2016 campaign to expose everything that was wrong with Trump, while hammering Hillary Clinton, got us into this mess. The media, now castigated by Trump & Bannon as the enemy, actually gave Trump a pass - or more of a pass than he deserved. Most of the media was dazzled by the crazy Trump spectacular.
Warning signs of Trump's undermining of American democracy are everywhere, one week into his presidency. Will the media help to unmask how unfit Trump is?
11
"How long will Congress put up with this foul man? ."
The Republican-controlled Congress will go along as Trump signs bills, and appoints judges, imposing the extreme right-wing agenda of the Republicans on an unwilling nation.
The majority of Americans, who clearly rejected Trump and his agenda, have to get to work registering voters, helping people without access to transportation get to offices needed to track down their old birth certificates and get voter IDs to overcome all barriers Republicans impose on democracy, and be ready to vote to elect Democrats to as many offices as possible in 2018
The Republican-controlled Congress will go along as Trump signs bills, and appoints judges, imposing the extreme right-wing agenda of the Republicans on an unwilling nation.
The majority of Americans, who clearly rejected Trump and his agenda, have to get to work registering voters, helping people without access to transportation get to offices needed to track down their old birth certificates and get voter IDs to overcome all barriers Republicans impose on democracy, and be ready to vote to elect Democrats to as many offices as possible in 2018
1
Two thoughts accompany one's reading of this eloquent op-ed piece. The first is the wish that its empathy and fact-driven common sense were echoed in the grim halls of the Trump Administration. Not much chance of that happening. The second is that its author -- the best and brightest of his generation of British public servants -- return home to rescue a Labour Party on the verge of self-destruction under its incompetent present leader, Jeremy Corbyn. Mr. Miliband would be supported in these efforts by an enormous number of his fellow Britons. For their American cousins, his would be a desperately needed counter voice to the sycophantic pandering that characterizes Prime Minister Theresa May's approach to Trump.
7
Four or five evenings a week, I stop at a little convenience store owned by a Syrian immigrant and buy a beer or two. Twice a month, I buy dinner for my family at a restaurant owned by Greek immigrants. And at least once a week, I get gas at a gas station owned by Indian immigrants.
I don't shop at these places because they're owned by immigrants. I shop at them because they are convenient, and the owners treat me well. They're good people, and all of them know me by name.
I'd like to point out the fact that - in Trump's America - only two out of the three would have been allowed into the country. And my life would have been just that much more difficult because of it.
I don't shop at these places because they're owned by immigrants. I shop at them because they are convenient, and the owners treat me well. They're good people, and all of them know me by name.
I'd like to point out the fact that - in Trump's America - only two out of the three would have been allowed into the country. And my life would have been just that much more difficult because of it.
18
"I'd like to point out the fact that - in Trump's America - only two out of the three would have been allowed into the country. And my life would have been just that much more difficult because of it."
Hardly. If there is a market for a service someone will fill it regardless of their nationality.
Hardly. If there is a market for a service someone will fill it regardless of their nationality.
1
We're creating enemies. Isis is going to use this policy as a recruiting tool. Refugees are people who are fleeing from terrorism. Someone should explain the difference to Trump.
14
Thank you for this, Ami. I was pondering what I might write in response to this article knowing that my response was not really to the article itself but to the abhorrent policies of the Trump Administration.
Regarding this particular immigration policy, I have to agree with your sentiment: we are creating enemies. Much like the war in Iraq which Trump claims he did not support even though he said otherwise on Howard Stern's radio show, this immigration policy has the potential to ignite anew a hatred of Americans by the extremists living abroad that will prove to undermine this asinine decision by a President who continues to govern to his base rather than to the American people.
If he were truly concerned about the American people and working on behalf of the American people then he would heed the fact that he lost the popular vote by a, to use a term he so clearly loves, landslide.
Regarding this particular immigration policy, I have to agree with your sentiment: we are creating enemies. Much like the war in Iraq which Trump claims he did not support even though he said otherwise on Howard Stern's radio show, this immigration policy has the potential to ignite anew a hatred of Americans by the extremists living abroad that will prove to undermine this asinine decision by a President who continues to govern to his base rather than to the American people.
If he were truly concerned about the American people and working on behalf of the American people then he would heed the fact that he lost the popular vote by a, to use a term he so clearly loves, landslide.
1
Recruit all they wish - just more terrorists that our new policies will rid the planet of. The more the merrier - can we induce Iranians, Minnesota Somalis and Michigan hatemongers to also flee these shores and join their brothers in allah's inferno?
I realize that we have to very careful about screening refugees who may have terrorists or potential terrorists in their midst. But considering the fact that our unnecessary & poorly thought-out military intervention in Iraq is a big part of the reason for the widespread instability & violence in the Middle East and the consequent influx of refugees into Europe & the U.S., shouldn't we, within the limits of sensible precaution, show then compassion & safe refuge as much as possible? Americans who enthusiastically supported starting much of this horrible violence ostensibly to give these people democracy, now just as vocally want to deny them access to that very thing in our country as well as their survival.
16
Look at the photo of that little Syrian boy washed up on the beach and pray for him, his family, and the United States of America now that we have abandoned a cherished precept of our nation - welcoming the oppressed and victims of violence. American ideals are high and rare ideals - and meant to bring out the best in us and this benighted world of ours. This fundamental claim to American exceptionalism is crashing around our feet, and I mourn for it.
20
I would like to ask Mike Pence to comment on the loss of innocent lives that will occur due to this action.
That little Syrian boy's family was working in Turkey for four years before attempting to travel to Europe for economic reasons.
3
Do you want 8 billion people to move here? Do you think other countries are stupid enough to have open borders? I say if we allow refugees from the middle east to move here. But then no one from Asia, Africa, or the Caribbean for 20 years. Deal?
1
Today is International Holocaust Remembrance Day 2017.Here is a short version of the story of the MS St. Louis. Some 900 Jews fled Nazi Germany in 1939 on the MS St. Louis in an attempt to gain entry into the United States. After being turned way, the passengers were forced to return to Europe, where a number of countries accepted them as refugees; 254 of them were killed in the Holocaust. This reminder of a dark chapter in American history when the country closed its doors to refugees should be the mirror we hold up today when our President chooses to close off access to our shores once again.
19
And you think everyone from the Middle East is sympathetic to Jewish families?
1
Canada's new Minister of Immigration and Refugees was himself a refugee from Somalia, Ahmed Hussen arrived on his own at the age of 16, and eventually became an immigration and human rights lawyer. Just the kind of guy you want to ban from your society.
12
The US takes in the most immigrants of any country on earth, far, far, far more than Canada does. https://citizenpath.com/countries-with-the-most-immigrants/ And the US has much, much, much less open land and fewer natural resources than Canada. Canada stands to gain from global warming, while much of the US will become uninhabitable, but somehow the US is the bad guy here?
Sorry, America first.
6
And what is America, but a beacon to hard-working dreamers from around the world as a Nation of Immigrants, who work hard, contribute, and make us strong.
Trump is un-American.
Trump is un-American.
2
If the US first wave of immigration in 18-19 century was from mid-East=>
>Today 250 years later this land would have been a totally muslim state with saturday night beheadings of gays, or stoning of random infidels.
Luckily this country is formed on Western European values,
and the public rightfully insists on preserving our cultural identity.
#1- this ban is temporary to sort things out
#2- the recent waves of refugees from midEast
coming to europe and US have shown to be
without much tolerance of the host culture (food and shelter provider)
while insisting on imposing their beliefs instead.
#3- considering their high birth rate, once settled,
and their extended families 'reunited',
they become a voting force for the government policy
that promotes welfare state, which is verry UNamerican.
#4- the 99% of refugees are economically motivated- to partake in the spoils of US system. They are not the educated or skilled or the free-spirit-enterpreneurs who made the US for what it is.
The free world has been scraping the bottom-of-the-barrel refugees lately.
>Today 250 years later this land would have been a totally muslim state with saturday night beheadings of gays, or stoning of random infidels.
Luckily this country is formed on Western European values,
and the public rightfully insists on preserving our cultural identity.
#1- this ban is temporary to sort things out
#2- the recent waves of refugees from midEast
coming to europe and US have shown to be
without much tolerance of the host culture (food and shelter provider)
while insisting on imposing their beliefs instead.
#3- considering their high birth rate, once settled,
and their extended families 'reunited',
they become a voting force for the government policy
that promotes welfare state, which is verry UNamerican.
#4- the 99% of refugees are economically motivated- to partake in the spoils of US system. They are not the educated or skilled or the free-spirit-enterpreneurs who made the US for what it is.
The free world has been scraping the bottom-of-the-barrel refugees lately.
6
All of your "points" are exactly what was written about the Catholic's, back in the day. Look it up, you quoted it all almost word for word! They (the "good Christian's) tried to ban the Catholic's from immigration here too.
Most Catholic's today have no idea how their immigration was targeted.
History is a good place to start when your ready to learn something new.
Most Catholic's today have no idea how their immigration was targeted.
History is a good place to start when your ready to learn something new.
So a Brit is lecturing the US on what's Un-American. The US has 40 million foreign-born, we're making a million of them a year citizens and taking in still more. 40 million is half the population of the entire British Isles. The US isn't about to stop welcoming immigrants any time soon. There may just be a few less from Syria and Somalia (the country where they killed our soldiers when we sent them help). The Brits just Brexited so go clean up your own mess, Mr. Miliband.
11
It's not just a freeze and a blackballing of citizens from certain countries. Conclusions under this provision could cause the program to shut down entirely: (b) The Secretary of State shall, within one year of the date of this order, provide a report on the estimated long-term costs of the USRAP at the Federal, State, and local levels.
3
We are witnessing the end of the American century in real, accelerated time. America has ceded the moral high ground in the world on every front imaginable, starting with our newly imposed dictator Trump, and most recently today with our new "ambassador" to the UN, Nikki Haley who very unoriginally paraphrased Bush 43's "you are with us or you are against us". As others have noted we have become an uneducated, simplistic nation of cowards and hypocrites, scared of our own shadows. Trump and his no-nothing supporters and sycophants, while not the beginning of our downfall as a nation, will most certainly bear witness to the end.
29
The US takes in more immigrants than any other country. It also has some of the lowest wages in the west. Any connection? https://citizenpath.com/countries-with-the-most-immigrants/
2
First of all the number of Muslims in America is nowhere near 5-10%. The number is more like 0.9%. A few thousand (even a hundred thousand) refugees is unlikely to chance that by much. Second, most immigrants eventually adapt to the culture of their new homes by the second generation, particularly if those children have decent opportunities for education and employment as is (or should I saw was) the case in America. The European experience is not a fair comparison - Europe's, frankly, racist post-colonial policies and failure to effectively integrate immigrant populations is largely to blame for the current problems. Finally, I find your fears for Western culture quite hilarious. What exactly does American culture have to do with Western culture? I don't think anyone from the renaissance would recognize gun-totting, anti-intellectual, Evangelical Christians as the natural heirs to rationality and the scientific method.
21
It doesn't take very long for populations to explode where having children is all there is to life.
1
Ask France if they should have stopped at less than 1% of their population being muslim. You might just see the first expression of unanimity in voting since Idi Amin's "elections".
1
The US takes in MANY more immigrants every year than Canada does, and the US has much, much, much less available open space/land than Canada. Canada actually has a much, much stricter immigration policy than the US, along with higher wages and a higher quality of life for working class people. Maybe someone in Canada understands that the laws of supply and demand apply to the available labor pool?
There has never been a terrorist attack by refugees from the states that President Trump is banning from the United States. Why he picked those over other countries, is anyone guess.
Last night I watched a professor at Tufts Fletcher school of democracy whose synagogue was sponsoring two Syrian families ready to get on a plane and come to the United States like so many refugees of the past. This man's anger was palpable: a Jewish synagogue--symbol of so many Jewish refugees turned away by the US during the holocaust and sent to their deaths in gas chambers because some cowardly president decided to send a ship of refugees back home--trying to do good under the reign of a cruel authoritarian president.
Shame on Mr. Trump! He is not worthy of the title of president. His ban will not make America any safer because most of the recent terrorist events have been from radicalized American citizens.
The United States might as well remove lady liberty from Ellis Island. Mr. Trump has pulled up the gangplank on America's ship of state, patrimony and values.
Once you destroy what made us great, you have lost your right to claim you are restoring our country to greatness.
Last night I watched a professor at Tufts Fletcher school of democracy whose synagogue was sponsoring two Syrian families ready to get on a plane and come to the United States like so many refugees of the past. This man's anger was palpable: a Jewish synagogue--symbol of so many Jewish refugees turned away by the US during the holocaust and sent to their deaths in gas chambers because some cowardly president decided to send a ship of refugees back home--trying to do good under the reign of a cruel authoritarian president.
Shame on Mr. Trump! He is not worthy of the title of president. His ban will not make America any safer because most of the recent terrorist events have been from radicalized American citizens.
The United States might as well remove lady liberty from Ellis Island. Mr. Trump has pulled up the gangplank on America's ship of state, patrimony and values.
Once you destroy what made us great, you have lost your right to claim you are restoring our country to greatness.
90
We need to give the Statue of Liberty back to France.
Please NYT, begin to call a spade a spade. The Far Right has taken over the United States government.
145
These are only the very first steps in a very detailed plan to radically reshape the US into a very-far right wing and morally repugnant country. Trump, Pence, Bannon, Conway, Kushner, and company have more up their sleeves than you can possibly imagine.
Safety nets will be pulled out from under vulnerable populations, the rights of women and minorities, including civil and voting rights, will be severely attacked and significantly undermined (Roe v Wade has perhaps never looked more vulnerable), separation of church and state will be weakened, the freedom of the press will be attacked relentlessly any time this or any other publication criticizes Trump or his henchpeople, the environment will be raped, and climate change will be denied and ignored, the consequences be damned.
It is not too early for patriotic Americans -- and I am not referring to Tea Party radicals -- to begin contemplating national movements -- protests, work stoppages, and other actions to slow Trump's alleged movement.
Without resistance, our American democracy and the country many of us love and cherish, could easily be unrecognizable in four or more likely eight years (if you think Trump will leave the White House voluntarily if he loses in 2020 without first alleging election fraud, filing countless lawsuits, and even barricading the doors, you are in for a big surprise).
The American Resistence must begin now.
Safety nets will be pulled out from under vulnerable populations, the rights of women and minorities, including civil and voting rights, will be severely attacked and significantly undermined (Roe v Wade has perhaps never looked more vulnerable), separation of church and state will be weakened, the freedom of the press will be attacked relentlessly any time this or any other publication criticizes Trump or his henchpeople, the environment will be raped, and climate change will be denied and ignored, the consequences be damned.
It is not too early for patriotic Americans -- and I am not referring to Tea Party radicals -- to begin contemplating national movements -- protests, work stoppages, and other actions to slow Trump's alleged movement.
Without resistance, our American democracy and the country many of us love and cherish, could easily be unrecognizable in four or more likely eight years (if you think Trump will leave the White House voluntarily if he loses in 2020 without first alleging election fraud, filing countless lawsuits, and even barricading the doors, you are in for a big surprise).
The American Resistence must begin now.
1
"The Far Right has taken over the United States government."
Not yet. There's still a ways to go.
Not yet. There's still a ways to go.
Even the conservative David Brooks sees this for what it is.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/27/opinion/the-politics-of-cowardice.htm...
I have listened to interviews with Trump supporters the past week, and one theme does stand out, fear of immigrants. On would think those Mexicans harvesting broccoli int he Salinas Valley were all set to attack the rest of us.
The rejection of Iraqis who aided the U.S. in the invasion and occupation of Iraq is particularly cowardly. Trump and his supporters are the purveyors of cowardice, that is from where they get their followers.
They need a wall to keep those criminals from that he and Rep King of Kansas are so quick to demean, We have a large population of those with ignorance and avarice. We saw the Berlin wall and what it was for, not only to keep the East Germans from defecting, but to keep the west from introducing them to freedom.
The U.S. very responsible for the creation of ISIS with the Bush dismissal of the Iraqi Sunnis, refusing to take some of the refugees created by this. It is an act of cowardice. How sad that the chief of our troops is a coward, I worry about my grandson who is in the artillery, there is a good chance he will be sent to Korea to bolster Trumps fragile ego, the ego of a narcissist.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/27/opinion/the-politics-of-cowardice.htm...
I have listened to interviews with Trump supporters the past week, and one theme does stand out, fear of immigrants. On would think those Mexicans harvesting broccoli int he Salinas Valley were all set to attack the rest of us.
The rejection of Iraqis who aided the U.S. in the invasion and occupation of Iraq is particularly cowardly. Trump and his supporters are the purveyors of cowardice, that is from where they get their followers.
They need a wall to keep those criminals from that he and Rep King of Kansas are so quick to demean, We have a large population of those with ignorance and avarice. We saw the Berlin wall and what it was for, not only to keep the East Germans from defecting, but to keep the west from introducing them to freedom.
The U.S. very responsible for the creation of ISIS with the Bush dismissal of the Iraqi Sunnis, refusing to take some of the refugees created by this. It is an act of cowardice. How sad that the chief of our troops is a coward, I worry about my grandson who is in the artillery, there is a good chance he will be sent to Korea to bolster Trumps fragile ego, the ego of a narcissist.
39
Maybe the pickers from the Central Valley, will attack with heads of cabbage!
You’d think the destruction of Britain’s Labour Party would be enough of an accomplishment in wrongheadedness for one man’s lifetime without seeking yet another. Uh … wait a minute. That was the OTHER white meat, wasn’t it?
It’s a dreadful blow to the aspirations of millions, but the truth is that we don’t feel an obligation to risk embedded jihadist terrorists just to satisfy ONE Brit’s sense of the rightness of open borders – or even of millions of Americans who flog the Kumbaya of open borders. In the end, much of America will support Trump’s decision because it will make us safer. The global refugee pandemic needs to be addressed by an international effort that seeks to re-stabilize failed and near-failed societies gouting refugees by the tens of millions, but that effort won’t be one that absorbs large numbers of them into stronger societies to destabilize THEM. People should re-boot shattered lives AT HOME, with help – and seek to do something about the cultures that caused the problems in the first place.
As to the religious aspects of Trump’s decisions, that’s unfortunate, but the West is not under attack by Swedish Lutherans. It’s perhaps about time we recognized that.
Last I noticed, Mr. Miliband’s own Britain narrowly rejected his generous sense of the politically correct by voting to “Leave”, largely on this and related issues.
Absorbing millions of refugees while not fixing the societal problems that MADE them refugees is not a viable, sustainable solution.
It’s a dreadful blow to the aspirations of millions, but the truth is that we don’t feel an obligation to risk embedded jihadist terrorists just to satisfy ONE Brit’s sense of the rightness of open borders – or even of millions of Americans who flog the Kumbaya of open borders. In the end, much of America will support Trump’s decision because it will make us safer. The global refugee pandemic needs to be addressed by an international effort that seeks to re-stabilize failed and near-failed societies gouting refugees by the tens of millions, but that effort won’t be one that absorbs large numbers of them into stronger societies to destabilize THEM. People should re-boot shattered lives AT HOME, with help – and seek to do something about the cultures that caused the problems in the first place.
As to the religious aspects of Trump’s decisions, that’s unfortunate, but the West is not under attack by Swedish Lutherans. It’s perhaps about time we recognized that.
Last I noticed, Mr. Miliband’s own Britain narrowly rejected his generous sense of the politically correct by voting to “Leave”, largely on this and related issues.
Absorbing millions of refugees while not fixing the societal problems that MADE them refugees is not a viable, sustainable solution.
24
"Absorbing 'millions' of refugees"...
This is a prime example of the racist tripe we see constantly see from the alt-right.
But, then again, math has never been a strong suit for alt-right types who think 10 or 20 thousand refugees emigrating to our country constitutes a swarm of "millions".
....but that is what you get when blind hysteria is allowed to run rampant and turn once sensible people into mobs looking for that "other" to lynch.
This is a prime example of the racist tripe we see constantly see from the alt-right.
But, then again, math has never been a strong suit for alt-right types who think 10 or 20 thousand refugees emigrating to our country constitutes a swarm of "millions".
....but that is what you get when blind hysteria is allowed to run rampant and turn once sensible people into mobs looking for that "other" to lynch.
2
A foolish response. I am sure you would have turned back Jewish refugees in 1939. Syrian refugees have endured 2-3 years of extreme vetting. They don't want to kill us, they want peace. They have been the victims of Russia and assad, just as the Jews were in Hitler's regime. It is NOT TENS OF MILLIONS. THAT IS A LIE! Brexit, Trump are destabilizing the Western Civilization. Your lies only enforce that destructive narrative. Stabilizing Syria? With Turkey, Assad and Putin in the drivers seat? You, sir are a traitor to the American ideal. Justice for one and justice for all.
1
You lost me at "Absorbing millions of refugees". I get it. "Alternative Reality" right?
1
I saw some scenes on MSNBC from the newly liberated part of Mosul east of the Tigris. They showed children returning for the first time to schools that had been closed under ISIS occupation. Who is trump to portray people like them or their families as a threat?
Doesn't it occur to the trumpistas that the vast majority of victims of Islamic terrorists are themselves Islamic? Or that those terrorists are exactly what they are seeking refuge from?
Doesn't it occur to the trumpistas that the vast majority of victims of Islamic terrorists are themselves Islamic? Or that those terrorists are exactly what they are seeking refuge from?
96
If children are running free in newly liberated mosul then they need not come here as refugees. So what's your point then?
1
The point is that they are the lucky ones.
They are terrorized by religious extremists, and we are governed by religious extremists.
It is time to invite Christo, who wrapped the Berlin Reichstag and the Pont
Neuf, to wrap the Statue of Liberty in black. The America of his glorious,
shimmering saffron "Gates" in Central Park is fast disappearing as the
new administration slams shut the "golden door" and snuffs out the torch
that has served as a beacon of hope for so many for the last century.
Neuf, to wrap the Statue of Liberty in black. The America of his glorious,
shimmering saffron "Gates" in Central Park is fast disappearing as the
new administration slams shut the "golden door" and snuffs out the torch
that has served as a beacon of hope for so many for the last century.
81
Most people in NYC hated that gates nonsense.
1
What about reality is so terrifying? How can u claim US refugee policy is even vaguely related to morality;
We offered nothing to the Christian, Yazzidi during their genocide
We offered nothing to Christian Sudanese during their genocide
We offered nothing to Rwanda
On the flip side
We have a program for so called Bosniaks they now make up whole neighborhoods in the midwest
Somalias after their countrymen defile the bodies of soldiers sent to secure their humanitarian relief got their own special Congressional act. They now have their own state assembly woman in MN and no one notices she seems to be married to two men concurently (with another two before them)
Muslim Syrians thx to Obama got a fast track and a handful of Christians got to ride along. A Syriac nun due to testify before Congress on their behalf was blocked by Hillary's state dept. Calls by Nineveh christians for small arms for self protection go unanswered and un returned.
Everybody knows what's going on it's no secret. The Saudi's paid for 20% of Hillaries campaign. Money talks but apparently not loud enough- thank god. This paper and this author should take the occasion of the new zeitgeist to examine why all you offer are the same tired banalities. You have passed from tragedy to farce months ago it's not to late to scramble back to relevance.
We offered nothing to the Christian, Yazzidi during their genocide
We offered nothing to Christian Sudanese during their genocide
We offered nothing to Rwanda
On the flip side
We have a program for so called Bosniaks they now make up whole neighborhoods in the midwest
Somalias after their countrymen defile the bodies of soldiers sent to secure their humanitarian relief got their own special Congressional act. They now have their own state assembly woman in MN and no one notices she seems to be married to two men concurently (with another two before them)
Muslim Syrians thx to Obama got a fast track and a handful of Christians got to ride along. A Syriac nun due to testify before Congress on their behalf was blocked by Hillary's state dept. Calls by Nineveh christians for small arms for self protection go unanswered and un returned.
Everybody knows what's going on it's no secret. The Saudi's paid for 20% of Hillaries campaign. Money talks but apparently not loud enough- thank god. This paper and this author should take the occasion of the new zeitgeist to examine why all you offer are the same tired banalities. You have passed from tragedy to farce months ago it's not to late to scramble back to relevance.
30
For the less educated, Bosniaks is the Latin word for Bosnians, the nation that has existed for more than a millennium.
1
Please: learn to write coherently in what, I fear, is your native language.
You offer tired right-wing banalities.
About Syrian refugees - according to the CIA Factbook, Christians are just 10% of the population - a handful. So, do you have extensive documents showing the breakdown by faith of the Syrians escaping war that we've allowed to trickle into our nation?
Yazidi? They aren't Christians, but that isn't a reason to deny them aid, even in a foreign country we didn't declare war against - so - you missed this:
"US troops land on Iraq's Mt Sinjar to plan for Yazidi evacuation"
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/13/us-ground-troops-direct-ro...
You fail to mention Bosnians were Muslims subject to "ethnic cleansing" which include the Srebrenica massacre of 9,000 men and boys because they were Bosnian Muslims - they weren't fighting.
Hopefully America will not allow the open racism Trump benefited from to be treated as more than as racism or pointless attempts at supposed religious supremacy.
Your comments are tragedy. Even during the colonization of the English-controlled part of the colonies of what's now America, many settlers were religious refugees from persecution overseas.
About Syrian refugees - according to the CIA Factbook, Christians are just 10% of the population - a handful. So, do you have extensive documents showing the breakdown by faith of the Syrians escaping war that we've allowed to trickle into our nation?
Yazidi? They aren't Christians, but that isn't a reason to deny them aid, even in a foreign country we didn't declare war against - so - you missed this:
"US troops land on Iraq's Mt Sinjar to plan for Yazidi evacuation"
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/13/us-ground-troops-direct-ro...
You fail to mention Bosnians were Muslims subject to "ethnic cleansing" which include the Srebrenica massacre of 9,000 men and boys because they were Bosnian Muslims - they weren't fighting.
Hopefully America will not allow the open racism Trump benefited from to be treated as more than as racism or pointless attempts at supposed religious supremacy.
Your comments are tragedy. Even during the colonization of the English-controlled part of the colonies of what's now America, many settlers were religious refugees from persecution overseas.
1
What part of what Daesh told the world "We are sending sleeper cells as refugee's," that American's don't understand? Yes it is a supposed 2 year process but who does the vetting, the Syrian government,daesh, al-Qaeda,Abu Sayyaf,Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami, or maybe Hizbul Mujahideen? When a suicide bomber eventually sets of their vest in a crowded New York or DC Mall maybe than Americans will understand their is a evil in the world that needs to be eradicated, by no easy means but to stop people from coming in from where we know they are located is a first step. Than we at the same time must demand from the rulers and religious leaders we are serious, if they want to be part of our world things must change, or stay in yours.
27
Why is it that Trump supporters are so incapable of good grammar, spelling and punctuation? It makes their posts incredibly difficult to read.
7
I have never been more embarrassed for my country. It is not the country I fought for. I don't even recognize it anymore. Worse than sad.
255
Sounds like time for you leave. Try a Muslim country and see how you're treated.
2
May I suggest you try to find a Resistance meeting in your area, and see if you can pitch in. It feels like a small thing but I have a feeling it will all add up to a very big thing, soon (or at least in our next election cycle).
We can help refugees by helping to create refugee camps near their homeland. Bringing refugees here to the US is not viable.
54
Never met a Palestinian who thought that was a good idea.
Your own town, Shaker Heights, was named for a religious group that fled persecution in England. Where is your sense of responsibility as a global citizen?
1
Average stay in a refugee camp is 17 years. Not really a solution.
I just made an arm banner with CM on it in red, white and blue. It stands for Christian Muslim - I'm wearing it in honor of Muslim refugees ..... I stand for America and cannot remain silent while our President labels all Muslims. I don't want my country to repeat the actions taken during World War II when we turned away from the Jewish people in Germany.... will you join me?
100
Only if you admit that FDR was the reason Jews were allowed into this country in WW2.
Sorry NYT.Europe is bleeding thanks to refugees including Syrians who have attacked us.Sweden has been sufferring for years from this problem.I hope you guys learn the hard way.Immigration is good but needs to be managed well and limited based on skills.The refugees need to supported in their own regions
66
Our nation is populated by people who fled your continent or others, or who came for opportunity, or who escaped from other places to a place they could make a living among many different peoples.
By "suffering" I take it to mean that Sweden's economy would survive a declining population in a tax-heavy environment without immigration. You take in many refugees - I wish the US was as welcoming - but honestly, do economies suffer more from declining populations or from assimilating new workers?
I do agree, though, about your point of supporting refugees in their own regions to a certain extent - but how much aid have we all sent to Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon and other nations in the area so they can host their millions of refugees?
Again, the US should be accepting more refugees, not fewer. Our oil addiction put our military into places it would otherwise ignore, and destabilized areas that weren't stable to begin with. Europe has an older history of colonies gone wrong, so this mess, like so many others, is going to go a long time.
"Suffering" from immigration benefited us here - from some of my Irish ancestors fleeing an induced famine - to the vigor from people leaving Europe to escape the Reich, Asians coming for education and work - face it, I can't lay out all the benefits we've had from the times we lived up to the idea of the welcoming Statue of Liberty - we need a second on the Pacific, for we've benefited from that direction, too.
By "suffering" I take it to mean that Sweden's economy would survive a declining population in a tax-heavy environment without immigration. You take in many refugees - I wish the US was as welcoming - but honestly, do economies suffer more from declining populations or from assimilating new workers?
I do agree, though, about your point of supporting refugees in their own regions to a certain extent - but how much aid have we all sent to Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon and other nations in the area so they can host their millions of refugees?
Again, the US should be accepting more refugees, not fewer. Our oil addiction put our military into places it would otherwise ignore, and destabilized areas that weren't stable to begin with. Europe has an older history of colonies gone wrong, so this mess, like so many others, is going to go a long time.
"Suffering" from immigration benefited us here - from some of my Irish ancestors fleeing an induced famine - to the vigor from people leaving Europe to escape the Reich, Asians coming for education and work - face it, I can't lay out all the benefits we've had from the times we lived up to the idea of the welcoming Statue of Liberty - we need a second on the Pacific, for we've benefited from that direction, too.
1
Did chef and writer Marcus Samuelsson have "skills" when he and his sister were adopted as small children by a loving Swedish couple and raised in Sweden? He was a child in need of a good home, and your country provided it. How in the world will a war-torn area support its own families and children? How can you make such a blanket statement?
1
@ Mik Stockholm - Spoken like a true member of the SD party and getting lots of reader recommends for doing so. You mix Europe with Sweden but let's stick with Sweden. Tell me what Syrian has attacked you/us in Sweden. Sweden is not suffering but it is struggling with providing living quarters, counseling, and schooling for the 180,000 asylum seekers who came here last year to a country of 10,000,000.
It appears you do not know that the US pop 323,000,000 took in fewer than 3000 Syrians in 2016 so you would have a hard time finding one if you were there. Since I have been a volunteer at the Red Cross for 18 years and know 100s of now Swedish citizens I know the other side of the story. I also am well aware of the problems.
As for supporting the refugees in their own regions, do you know anything at all about Syria. All you have to do is read DN or other paper and look at SVT news. Even better get yourself a copy of Åsne Seierstad's Två Systrar and read about these two Somali-Norwegians who have been living in Syria as supporters of Daes and read the sorrowful tale of their father. All the Syrians I know are only a fortunate few who escaped. Perhaps you would like to send them back to Mosul?
I have lived for 21 years in Sweden in Linköping and know so called ethnic Swedes and countless nya svenskar living in parts of the city that range over several social class levels. Lot better over all here than in my USA cities.
Only-NeverInSweden.blogspot.com
Dual citizen US SE
It appears you do not know that the US pop 323,000,000 took in fewer than 3000 Syrians in 2016 so you would have a hard time finding one if you were there. Since I have been a volunteer at the Red Cross for 18 years and know 100s of now Swedish citizens I know the other side of the story. I also am well aware of the problems.
As for supporting the refugees in their own regions, do you know anything at all about Syria. All you have to do is read DN or other paper and look at SVT news. Even better get yourself a copy of Åsne Seierstad's Två Systrar and read about these two Somali-Norwegians who have been living in Syria as supporters of Daes and read the sorrowful tale of their father. All the Syrians I know are only a fortunate few who escaped. Perhaps you would like to send them back to Mosul?
I have lived for 21 years in Sweden in Linköping and know so called ethnic Swedes and countless nya svenskar living in parts of the city that range over several social class levels. Lot better over all here than in my USA cities.
Only-NeverInSweden.blogspot.com
Dual citizen US SE
1
What benefit are refugees to President Trump? If he could use t hem, he would use them. His soul must be starving. I am thankful I don't walk in his shoes.
48
He is truly a disturbed individual. He can't be trusted to do anything. Even his voters will find that out--- eventually.
1
There are not enough derogatory adjectives for adequately describing this soulless and pathetic excuse of a human being.
And it's only been a week.
And it's only been a week.
404
Sadly, there may never be a perfect temporary or permanent solution, but the relatives and friends of victims have probably thought the same thing about terrorists.
"The Orange Clown" comes to mind. True that is an appellation and not an adjective.
But what is the matter with the whole US? The living are frozen in the purported values of the dead.
Don't worry, Trump supporters. By the time your president is through with this country, even refugees from war-torn Syria and families fleeing cartel violence in Mexico won't want to come here.
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"Don't worry, Trump supporters. By the time your president is through with this country, even refugees from war-torn Syria and families fleeing cartel violence in Mexico won't want to come here."
Good. That would be most welcome. They'll be happier living in adjacent, more culturally aligned countries anyway, where their first language is the language mainly spoken.
Good. That would be most welcome. They'll be happier living in adjacent, more culturally aligned countries anyway, where their first language is the language mainly spoken.
We hope so ! That would be the idea !
1
My suspicion is that the border wall will eventually be used to keep American citizens in.
The media should focus on successful immigrants and refugees. Few know Steve Jobs is Syrian - America's richest company would not exist under Donald Trump's America.
55
Steve Jobs was American, born and raised. His biological father is a Syrian-American immigrant. His biological mother is not Syrian. Also, his biological father was from a wealthy Syrian family with connections and education.
1
Steve Jobs was an American. He was born in San Francisco.
1
His biological father who abandoned him was Syrian- yes.
1
I am only guessing that those advocating for these refugees will in no shape or form be living beside, working with or schooling their children with them.
51
I lived in a small, urban Middle Eastern neighborhood for years. No problems, ever.
My friend in Amsterdam was very active with the large welcoming effort for Syrian refugees in the Netherlands. She would meet them at the train station with flowers and show them around town, then help them adjust to a new life. She had several of the refugees live in her house at one time or another. They were all grateful and polite. She (she's white, blond, and Australian BTW) is currently dating a young man who was one of the refugees who lived with her.
Don't fear the unknown. Some of us are close to Muslim immigrants and have become friends or family with them. This integration is best for everybody.
Isolation and oppression are a breeding ground for radicalization. And by and large these people have a lot to contribute to our society.
My friend in Amsterdam was very active with the large welcoming effort for Syrian refugees in the Netherlands. She would meet them at the train station with flowers and show them around town, then help them adjust to a new life. She had several of the refugees live in her house at one time or another. They were all grateful and polite. She (she's white, blond, and Australian BTW) is currently dating a young man who was one of the refugees who lived with her.
Don't fear the unknown. Some of us are close to Muslim immigrants and have become friends or family with them. This integration is best for everybody.
Isolation and oppression are a breeding ground for radicalization. And by and large these people have a lot to contribute to our society.
2
This statement is very wrong. I send my children to, and volunteer several days a week in, a school with many refugees. I shop in stores where they shop and work. I live in a city known for its refugee populations.
Refugees need our support, not our hatred. They are working hard to build new lives in new countries. They are remarkable, resilient people, and we are a better nation for having them.
Refugees need our support, not our hatred. They are working hard to build new lives in new countries. They are remarkable, resilient people, and we are a better nation for having them.
2
@AH DC - AH you are speaking only for yourself providing a perfect example of what I recognized months ago in Times comment land, the new normal, one-third or more comments from anonymous, very likely college educated Americans declaring a 100% Trump view without every naming Trump. If Times columnists had read the comments they would have realized the level of support for Trump, even here.
I a dual citizen write from Sweden where I was at Wayne's coffee yesterday. The baristas are Assyrians (Christians) from Iraq. Close by was a family speaking Arabic. A friend came in, an elderly Kurd from Iraqi Kurdistan.
As for associating with the people you fear, I rented an apartment in my home in Linköping to 3 sisters born in Eritrea. We are close friends and they are now MD, RN, RN, all married and with children, all contributing to making Swedish (and Australian for the 3d) medical care better.
We at the Red Cross in Linköping work every day with those you fear, and we enjoy that as much as anything we experience each week. You even would be welcome and perhaps, after spending an hour conversing with the people we converse with, you would have to admit that on the humanity scale they are quite a bit above you.
Only-NeverInSweden.blogspot.com
I a dual citizen write from Sweden where I was at Wayne's coffee yesterday. The baristas are Assyrians (Christians) from Iraq. Close by was a family speaking Arabic. A friend came in, an elderly Kurd from Iraqi Kurdistan.
As for associating with the people you fear, I rented an apartment in my home in Linköping to 3 sisters born in Eritrea. We are close friends and they are now MD, RN, RN, all married and with children, all contributing to making Swedish (and Australian for the 3d) medical care better.
We at the Red Cross in Linköping work every day with those you fear, and we enjoy that as much as anything we experience each week. You even would be welcome and perhaps, after spending an hour conversing with the people we converse with, you would have to admit that on the humanity scale they are quite a bit above you.
Only-NeverInSweden.blogspot.com
4
We have 15 MILLION+ "refugees"/illegals from Mexico and Latin America. They have low-skills and compete with lower-skill Americans, who have already been gutted by NAFTA.
Enough is enough. We have a choice. It's a knowledge economy but we don't do STEM well at home. So let's use some common sense and choose the scientists and engineers from around the world, not the low-skill illegal/refugee.
Enough is enough. We have a choice. It's a knowledge economy but we don't do STEM well at home. So let's use some common sense and choose the scientists and engineers from around the world, not the low-skill illegal/refugee.
38
I agree. Let's make eVerify required across the US and make Americans work in agriculture, clean hotels, stand outside Home Depot and work in Nebraska's slaughter houses.
Enough exploiting illegal immigrants.
Enough exploiting illegal immigrants.
2
Take your whine to those building contractors, landscapers and others who hire these migrants because they can pay them little, and threaten them with deportation if they complain. I grew up in the Central Valley years ago; I remember Mexican migrants doing stoop labor in the fields during long, hot summers. They picked fruit in the orchards. They did stoop labor in the tomato and asparagus fields in the Delta. Often, they did not even get enough water; they were housed in shacks, and the money orders they thought they were sending home were taken and cashed here when a labor contractor could get away with it. No one leaves home to be used, paid little and discriminated against unless he is so poor he has no other option. FYI: we destroyed the Mexican corn farmers when we dumped excess corn on Mexico before the fraudulent ethanol scandal was exposed.
3
the undocumented are not the same as refugees. Refugees have multiple security and health screenings that go on for years..the undocumented are..undocumented..big legal difference.
1
If "The world looks to America for enlightened leadership," President Trump has shown in 1 week that the world should look elsewhere for that commodity. I keep checking news reports for anything that might count as a sensible position on any issue, but Trump and his trumpeteers have yet to say or do anything that would enhance America's position in the world, much less count as enlightened leadership. Kyrie, eleison.
30
The world stopped looking to America for leadership of any kind eight years ago. Nothing Trump could do would lower the world's opinion of America.
Mr. Trump has no shame. This man appears to lack any empathy. He is incapable of viewing the US in historical context. But it goes deeper than this. It is the lack of curiosity and willingness to analyze and learn. His world view is borderline delusional and void of facts. With the power of the presidency he could have saved thousands of lives and helped to turn refugees into hard working citizens; he has chosen to let them die instead.
53
He has empathy for the victims of radlical islamic terrorism and for American citizens.
1
Trump is a wise , handsome and intelligent leader . He knows a snake when he sees one .
18
birds (snakes) of a feather...
2
When he looks in the mirror
2
max -- Good one!
1
Nonsense from yet another leftist ...this time from overseas. Why are Muslim refugees being settled here in the USA instead of Muslim nations not at war such as Indonesia or Turkey ? Why are Christians-----who are being slaughtered like chickens not being settled in the United States? Mr. Miliband and his brethren have no answer----they just want to feel virtuous while leaving the taxpayer to pick up the tab.
60
If you care about the answers to these questions, it's not hard to find them. For example: the vast majority of refugees are being housed in Muslim countries. Over 4 million refugees have been taken in by Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Jordan alone.
As the article stated, Christian refugees are being settled in the US and they will continue to be.
A few thousand of the most vulnerable Syrian refugees have been resettled in the US, which is a tiny fraction of the overall total. David Miliband's organisation notes that 85% of the refugees they work with find employment within 180 days of arrival. There are many who go on to start their own businesses and give back to the local economy. No-one is expecting, or wanting, the taxpayer to pick up the tab.
As the article stated, Christian refugees are being settled in the US and they will continue to be.
A few thousand of the most vulnerable Syrian refugees have been resettled in the US, which is a tiny fraction of the overall total. David Miliband's organisation notes that 85% of the refugees they work with find employment within 180 days of arrival. There are many who go on to start their own businesses and give back to the local economy. No-one is expecting, or wanting, the taxpayer to pick up the tab.
2
Quite galling that the US would be the ringleader in destabilizing the entire region (effectively starting the domino effect that's led to these people fleeing their countries) and then turn its back to them in their time of need.
1
Please don't look at refugees through the prism of religion. That itself is the biggest flaw in the current thinking of the President. Why can we not look at refugees simply as human beings. And don't we all have a moral obligation to human beings that are fleeing not just tyranny but the most horrible and unsafe conditions on this planet. And how about basing the thinking process on facts, not just emotions (when was the last time that a refugee committed an act of terror on American soil).
2
Even from a "America First" view point this is absurd consider the "thousands of Afghans and Iraqis whose lives are at risk because of assistance they offered American troops stationed in their countries." How can our military function in future conflicts if the local population sees that collaborating with the Americans means being abandoned to a likely death sentence if and when our strategic priorities change?
36
Why is there an assumption that our military should be involved in future conflicts in other countries? Hasn't that been the problem of the last 50 years, beginning with unauthorized CIA coups of democratically elected governments and then LBJ's lies to expand Vietnam, a country that never attacked the US? Same playbook for Bush-Cheney in Iraq. It has made the arms merchants rich but has it made the world more safe? If America is attacked on US soil, by all means we are then at war. But we need to stop playing global policeman and looking for foreign dragons to slay.
Un-American values??! Say that to the victims of 9/11, the Boston Marathon, and the many other terrorist acts that have happened in our nation and NOT ONE of their own folks raised a finger to report their plans that focus on destroying the dynamic of this nation. Muslims are so loyal to their religion that they will never turn against their "brothers". Finally Trump does something worth praising. How about we let someone else pick up the slack--Europe for example...but oh wait, we already know how that turned out.
54
The 9/11 attackers were from Saudia Arabia Trump isn't limiting their immigrants. The Boston marathon attackers were American citizens. Your point??
5
You might want to do some reading about how much the Muslim community has been aiding the anti-terrorist efforts here in the US all these years before you say such things. Don't follow Trump's example; ignorance is not bliss. It's just ignorance.
2
But wait, he didn't ban people from Saudi Arabia the source of the 9-11 attackers.
Did Iraq ask to be invaded by the Bush clan? Don't we have a debt to the people we have made promises to and to whom we have brought personal danger?
Did Iraq ask to be invaded by the Bush clan? Don't we have a debt to the people we have made promises to and to whom we have brought personal danger?
The author neglects to point out the security screening done, or why the Administration sees it as improper. Why? Calling it a "myth" without providing examples is disreputable, and dishonest.
The author neglects to mention the horrors perpetrated by refugee Muslim men aged 18-30 in Sweden and Germany and Britain. Why? Perhaps the author should point out to the women raped in Germany by Muslim refugees that they were far more likely to have been struck by lightning. I'm sure that will make them feel better.
Pointing to the negative side of "resettlement" does not help the author's desire to see Americans and our wealth sacrificed for the sake of being a "humanitarian leader".
The author neglects to mention the horrors perpetrated by refugee Muslim men aged 18-30 in Sweden and Germany and Britain. Why? Perhaps the author should point out to the women raped in Germany by Muslim refugees that they were far more likely to have been struck by lightning. I'm sure that will make them feel better.
Pointing to the negative side of "resettlement" does not help the author's desire to see Americans and our wealth sacrificed for the sake of being a "humanitarian leader".
41
The author also neglects to mention the pretty-much weekly mass murders happening in the United States, by natural-born citizens who would nominally classify themselves as Christian, since that's the majority faith here.
And your Breitbart-scare mentions of threats to the purity of white European women (without meaningful statistics) is another missing part of your own story.
I'm sure that women raped in the US would feel relieved to find that the faith of the rapist was very likely to be Christian and that the Republicans are making sure that birth control or the morning-after pill will be more difficult to get - because the Republican men in charge of this kind of stuff know that women's bodies can just shut that kind of stuff down.
And your Breitbart-scare mentions of threats to the purity of white European women (without meaningful statistics) is another missing part of your own story.
I'm sure that women raped in the US would feel relieved to find that the faith of the rapist was very likely to be Christian and that the Republicans are making sure that birth control or the morning-after pill will be more difficult to get - because the Republican men in charge of this kind of stuff know that women's bodies can just shut that kind of stuff down.
"Women raped by Muslim refugees"? Why don't you just add the word "carnage" as well?
Germany has been way more welcoming to refugees than we apparently are. And not one of my friends or relatives in Berlin has changed in that regard, despite the Christmas market attack.
Germany has been way more welcoming to refugees than we apparently are. And not one of my friends or relatives in Berlin has changed in that regard, despite the Christmas market attack.
1
Don't you realize that you are condemning the American system by citing examples from OTHER countries. Your inability to point to examples of the American system not working suggests there was nothing wrong with it in the first place. Why are Rump followers like you always looking to denigrate America and make us look worse then we are?
1
Well......it may be a "little to late to do the right thing now," (our anti-Semitism pre, during and post WWII help in a huge way to establish Israel. Yes, of course, there was the catastrophic blunder by Truman. In any case, our anti-Semitism has been haunting us for 70 years in ever more increasing terrorism.
Anyway, I would rather take in a well educated, functional individual - the Jews for example - rather than Third World discards.
Cold? Perhaps. But neither you nor I can afford to support those pounding on our doors. We aren't even willing to support and educate our own citizens.
Anyway, I would rather take in a well educated, functional individual - the Jews for example - rather than Third World discards.
Cold? Perhaps. But neither you nor I can afford to support those pounding on our doors. We aren't even willing to support and educate our own citizens.
21
Do a bit of research and read about how refugees all over the world are some of most hard working, fearless, creative, innovative, contributive citizens. (Steve Jobs was the child of a Syrian refugee.) Sad.
1
Sazerac, "cold" you ask? I think your reference to "third world discards" deserves a stronger word than that. "Chilling" comes to mind.
2
We could do both, but the same republicans also don't want to educate the citizens or support them with something like a minimum wage. So now we turn away refugees from a war torn area, and still don't do anything to support anybody but the already rich.
And by calling them third world discards, you have proven that you are truly a deplorable person.
And by calling them third world discards, you have proven that you are truly a deplorable person.
3
I'm a Canadian but my grandparents came to America as a young couple in 1910, and my father was born in New York City a hundred years ago. Like millions of others my grandparents were seeking a better life, fleeing a turbulent and increasingly war torn world. They were not turned away. Today Lady Liberty must be weeping.
146
She sure was on 9/11.
Trumps decision is not UN-American, just the opposite, He wants to do what Obama wouldn't, protect the citizens. An intelligent person would ask, why do lib's want less safety, why do lib's support open borders when it exacerbates drugs, human trafficking, the only answer is, the lib's are nothing more than anarchists.
42
Syrian refugees, trying to flee the horrors of their country, are not terrorists.
139
Why are you so unable to see or understand that our greatest threats are homemade and, most likely, White and male. White "Christian" males have executed more terror on the American people on our own land over the last 20 years than than any Muslim American or foreign. Just research school, workplace, or Planned Parenthood shootings. Maybe McVeigh or the Unibomber will ring a bell, but I guess blaming scapegoats is always easier.
11
How did your people come here?
6
I speak with refugees abroad for my work. I have never come across a group of people so fearless, kind hearted, hopeful, and eager to show that they are so much more than the tragedy they leave behind. And yet everywhere they turn they are met with fear, discrimination, and intolerance from people who don't know them, who can't imagine what sadness they've experienced, and don't care either way.
That is not who we are. We do not presume violence from those fleeing it. We do not judge a person's character through a questionnaire. We do not slam the door in the face of our neighbors. We do not allow fear to dictate our actions against those who use hope to dictate theirs. We are not scared of those who only want to share in our society, to make it better, to see what its like living in a diverse country where all are accepted regardless of their background.
And make no mistake, the war from which refugees flee is just that: background. They do not take it with them. To be afraid of refugees is to be afraid of what made America great: the ability to not only hope for a better life, but to pursue it no matter the cost. If we shut that out in them, we shut it out in ourselves.
A sad day for all of us.
That is not who we are. We do not presume violence from those fleeing it. We do not judge a person's character through a questionnaire. We do not slam the door in the face of our neighbors. We do not allow fear to dictate our actions against those who use hope to dictate theirs. We are not scared of those who only want to share in our society, to make it better, to see what its like living in a diverse country where all are accepted regardless of their background.
And make no mistake, the war from which refugees flee is just that: background. They do not take it with them. To be afraid of refugees is to be afraid of what made America great: the ability to not only hope for a better life, but to pursue it no matter the cost. If we shut that out in them, we shut it out in ourselves.
A sad day for all of us.
346
There is no more annoying characteristic of progressives than their smug pronunciations of "who we are"
1
France should ask for the return of its statue and move it to Canada, Germany, or Jordan, all of whom are presently following the ideals it represents more than the US.
And the sorrow that I feel in making this observation is beyond words.
And the sorrow that I feel in making this observation is beyond words.
481
Better yet France should take in Syrians. Ask France how great it is having so many muslims.
1
France is too busy dealing with its own Muslim problem. Have you already forgotten Hebdo, Nice, Bataclan, the Normandy Church Attack, the beheadings, the stabbings?
2
Excellent comment!
1
During a family visit over the holidays, my religious and conservative father read aloud an article from some right-wing rag. It insisted that schools across the country weren't allowed to teach Christianity or pray but were required to educate children extensively in Islam. He also made some additional references to things he'd seen on Fox. I just stared at him dumbfounded. He is a smart man with an advanced degree. But, like many Trump supporters, he pines for an America of the past, where his values weren't challenged. I'm no longer religious, but the values that were taught to me as core tenets of Christianity seem very at odds with what I'm seeing from so many of those who profess to be Christian but act as though "love thy neighbor as thyself" is just a casual suggestion.
252
This is my exact same experience going home. Solidarity in our sadness and disappointment. Hopefully you're with me, also, on the front lines fighting this bigotry and misinformation.
3
Most schools don't have prayer. And many teach "diversity" and pretend that Islam is not what it is. An oppressive, backward, intolerant, religion.
Stop at nothing to win your father back from Rump. Some suggestions: discuss with him the rapist who created Fox (Roger Ailes) and read to him the graphic descriptions of what this man did; ask him if he was aware that Bill Reilly just settled another sexual assault lawsuit; ask him if he can point to one thing that Rump did for anyone but himself; ask him if he considers John McCain, who was tortured in a North Vietnamese prison and almost died when his plane was shot down, to be an American hero.
2
The news gets more tragic and more difficult to read every day. Since Friday, each day brings a fresh onslaught of unimaginable horror. I want to keep reading but it's just so sad.
217
Oh yes, I strongly believe you.
I am retired so I do have time to read online.
When I finish with feeding our cat, my breakfast ... and log on to my computer. Almost every morning, after reading the NYT, WAPO and several newsletters ... at some point I think OH MY GAWD and how on earth did we get here? NOT thank you to low information voter and Fox indoctrinated viewers. It is depressing for this Progressive, for someone who has fought for social justice for most of my life ... starting when I was about 24 years old (I'm 77) and working with the NAACP on a housing study to pressure the CA legislature to pass an anti-discrimination housing law. I was around during the fight for women's rights ... remembering the terrible outlooks for women during the fight for women's reproductive rights. No government should rule women's wombs.
I am a 3x survivor of breast cancer, wife, mother, grandmother, and for what it is worth ... white.
I am retired so I do have time to read online.
When I finish with feeding our cat, my breakfast ... and log on to my computer. Almost every morning, after reading the NYT, WAPO and several newsletters ... at some point I think OH MY GAWD and how on earth did we get here? NOT thank you to low information voter and Fox indoctrinated viewers. It is depressing for this Progressive, for someone who has fought for social justice for most of my life ... starting when I was about 24 years old (I'm 77) and working with the NAACP on a housing study to pressure the CA legislature to pass an anti-discrimination housing law. I was around during the fight for women's rights ... remembering the terrible outlooks for women during the fight for women's reproductive rights. No government should rule women's wombs.
I am a 3x survivor of breast cancer, wife, mother, grandmother, and for what it is worth ... white.
"There are also thousands of Afghans and Iraqis whose lives are at risk because of assistance they offered American troops stationed in their countries."
I agree with 98% of your column. But let's be fair. Many of these Iraqis and Afghans were abandoned by Presidents Bush and Obama who did not keep promises to those who aided the US in the war efforts in their countries.
As for President Trump, nearly everything he has done in his life, except make noise, has been anti-American. From building hotels here with Chinese steel, to selling Trump branded products made in more than 12 countries around the world, to convicting the "Central Park Five" even after DNA tests had exonerated them, he has not lived by American values.
Most of his American construction projects are in Manhattan, which voted 90% to 10% for Hillary Clinton. These are the citizens who know him best.
This executive order, unfortunately, is his latest NY construction project--taking a wrecking ball to the Statue of Liberty.
I agree with 98% of your column. But let's be fair. Many of these Iraqis and Afghans were abandoned by Presidents Bush and Obama who did not keep promises to those who aided the US in the war efforts in their countries.
As for President Trump, nearly everything he has done in his life, except make noise, has been anti-American. From building hotels here with Chinese steel, to selling Trump branded products made in more than 12 countries around the world, to convicting the "Central Park Five" even after DNA tests had exonerated them, he has not lived by American values.
Most of his American construction projects are in Manhattan, which voted 90% to 10% for Hillary Clinton. These are the citizens who know him best.
This executive order, unfortunately, is his latest NY construction project--taking a wrecking ball to the Statue of Liberty.
103
As you state so well "support for refugees is not charity; it is a contribution to the global stability on which all nations depend — and this is especially important at a time when the world faces a heightened threat of terrorism." I hope Americans will stand up and hold this administration responsible for this shameful policy.
167
Building political capital by attacking the oppressed, bald-faced lying by the President, hypocrisy on health care, all supported by a political class addicted to power - the blame here lies with the Republican party - the party of faux Christians. Shame on them.
313
Like abortion and guns, refugees have become just another wedge issue - designed to peal votes away from democrats. Lightning strikes may be more dangerous than refugees but fare less dangerous than guns. And America's own extreme right is far more dangerous than any Middle-Easterner. Like so much of Trump's rhetoric, the refugee issue is just another way of not talking.
194
Many Democrats support the Second Amendment and own guns. (I've had guns all my life and have yet to shoot anyone.)
Stick to the issue. The issue is Donald Trump. Call your Senators and Representative and calmly state your objections. Avoid red herrings.
Stick to the issue. The issue is Donald Trump. Call your Senators and Representative and calmly state your objections. Avoid red herrings.
1
Words matter. President Trump throughout the text of the Executive Order, the rhetoric of the campaign and his most recent interviews with the media, has normalized fear and suspicion of refugees, Muslim Americans, and Muslims across the world. Muslims Americans serve in our US military, have died for this country. There are Muslims in the Middle East working with our military, and putting their lives on the line every day, for a country that is not even their own country. It may be harder after today, for the US to continue to expect their support.
Refugees reflect back to us, the struggles our own families faced, when they arrived to the United States many generations ago, just as President Trump’s grandfather did when he arrived from Scotland. This struggle, intertwined with the agency of hope is the very fabric that has sustained this country for almost 250 years. We cannot turn back.
Refugees reflect back to us, the struggles our own families faced, when they arrived to the United States many generations ago, just as President Trump’s grandfather did when he arrived from Scotland. This struggle, intertwined with the agency of hope is the very fabric that has sustained this country for almost 250 years. We cannot turn back.
326
Since 9/11: 14 Muslims have given their lives while serving in the US military—true American heroes.
On 9/11: 19 Muslim immigrants killed almost 3,000 people and injured 6,000 more. Since then, more lives have been claimed in other domestic terror attacks perpetrated by Muslim immigrants.
A sane and safe immigration policy in no way discredits good Americans, Muslim or otherwise—indeed, it protects them.
On 9/11: 19 Muslim immigrants killed almost 3,000 people and injured 6,000 more. Since then, more lives have been claimed in other domestic terror attacks perpetrated by Muslim immigrants.
A sane and safe immigration policy in no way discredits good Americans, Muslim or otherwise—indeed, it protects them.
FYI, I believe that Trump's background is actually German.
Reply to RJJ:
We honor all Muslim-Americans who serve in our armed forces. But let's stick to facts: Muslims make up 1.0% of the US population but only 0.27% of our military. That leaves it to other demographic groups to make up the difference.
Also, the vast majority of refugees from the Mid-East have been military age males who have left rather than provide resistance to ISIS, once again leaving the tough job to others.
We honor all Muslim-Americans who serve in our armed forces. But let's stick to facts: Muslims make up 1.0% of the US population but only 0.27% of our military. That leaves it to other demographic groups to make up the difference.
Also, the vast majority of refugees from the Mid-East have been military age males who have left rather than provide resistance to ISIS, once again leaving the tough job to others.
1
What does moral leadership have to do with Donald Trump? Did I miss something?
12
The US should not be in the refugee business unless we get something out of it. Accepting Cubans effected a brain drain on the Castro regime. What do we get for accepting Syrians? Nothing. Pass.
13
QED, Steve Jobs was the son of a Syrian immigrant.
That said, your need for quid pro quo in deciding who to help, doesn't appeal to me one bit.
That said, your need for quid pro quo in deciding who to help, doesn't appeal to me one bit.
8
The knowledge that we have done the right thing.
4
Take the IRT down to Battery Park, go out to the Statue of Liberty and take it all in. Maybe you too could learn something.
4
The strongest fear felt short of trying to out run a lion or a tiger is that of the unknown, and that is what makes Trump's ill-considered decision resonate with so many of the people from who he received support, they don't know enough about refugees not to be afraid of them. Frankly, Trump did what amounts to fishing for issues amongst his audiences and when they responded he remembered and tried them over and over to determine to what they reacted. I do not think that either Trump nor his supporters have any real knowledge about the real risks that they face from undetected terrorists originating from any particular groups, it's mob mentality, nothing more, nothing less.
14
Thanks for opening a comment section on this story. Now comes the flood of rants about how Islam is the scourge of humanity, Muslims always want to kill us, Muslims won't assimilate, all Muslims support terrorism, you can't trust a Muslim refugee, globalism is evil, you're British and you don't put America first..
Some people are utterly predictable. I think I got most of their talking points in, so why bother printing any repetitions?
Some people are utterly predictable. I think I got most of their talking points in, so why bother printing any repetitions?
20
I forgot--they're taking over Europe and Sharia law.
There. I think that's all of them.
There. I think that's all of them.
13
What do you see mosques in the US? The Muslims don't assimilate. How Shinto temples do you see?
2
And of course the virtue signaling by liberal men happy to give women's rights away.
2
"The new policy urgently needs rethinking." __
Unfortunately the new policy did not have any thinking in the first place. It is not based facts or metrics but on fear-laced-campaign rhetoric (Terrorists are pouring in).
The immoral and inhumane implications of this order completely escape President Trump.
He does not understand that America's greatness is based on its moral character not piles of $.
This action stacks up nicely with Trump's irrational calls to "take the oil", "waterboarding works", and "build the wall".
Unfortunately the new policy did not have any thinking in the first place. It is not based facts or metrics but on fear-laced-campaign rhetoric (Terrorists are pouring in).
The immoral and inhumane implications of this order completely escape President Trump.
He does not understand that America's greatness is based on its moral character not piles of $.
This action stacks up nicely with Trump's irrational calls to "take the oil", "waterboarding works", and "build the wall".
17
I continue to try to get NYT opinion makers to grasp a basic, to little avail.
Here, the election is
O
V
E
R.
Now, go Monday morning quarterback with Krugman about how things might have been different. I know, not a chance of that. Time for more of the same that got us here.
Here, the election is
O
V
E
R.
Now, go Monday morning quarterback with Krugman about how things might have been different. I know, not a chance of that. Time for more of the same that got us here.
19
This opinion piece was not about the election. It was about policy. We're still allowed to critique government policy. For now.
30
Yes, the election is over.
And so is the time where we listen to people like you.
And so is the time where we listen to people like you.
29
Right, because conservatives did absolutely no criticizing of President Obama or his policies after he won. Lol.
6
It is shameful the hypocrisy of both the US and UK in this crisis,
They both created this refugee crisis by invading Iraq ( I am sure that
most would agree ), and they are the first to run away and leave the problem to responsible countries. How come Sweden and Germany, accept over a million refugees and the US and UK, separated by water, absolve themselves from any guilt.? The Russian Foreign Minister was right when he said that for the last two centuries the Anglo-Saxon countries have been saying was is right and wrong in the world. Ignorant arrogance that must be paid by the rest of the world.
They both created this refugee crisis by invading Iraq ( I am sure that
most would agree ), and they are the first to run away and leave the problem to responsible countries. How come Sweden and Germany, accept over a million refugees and the US and UK, separated by water, absolve themselves from any guilt.? The Russian Foreign Minister was right when he said that for the last two centuries the Anglo-Saxon countries have been saying was is right and wrong in the world. Ignorant arrogance that must be paid by the rest of the world.
17
I wouldn't agree that the US and UK caused the refugee crisis through the Iraq War.
The refugees are mostly from Syria. They were displaced due to the destruction of their homeland by Putin and Assad.
That Russian foreign minister needs to take responsibility for his country's role in the refugee crisis.
But he never will. And neither will you, whom I presume is one of his employees.
The refugees are mostly from Syria. They were displaced due to the destruction of their homeland by Putin and Assad.
That Russian foreign minister needs to take responsibility for his country's role in the refugee crisis.
But he never will. And neither will you, whom I presume is one of his employees.
6
Ben, Ben,,, George Bush's decision to invade Iraq, a country that did not attack us, has destabilized the entire Middle East. Can you not see that that has reifications that led to where we are now? The refugee crisis is a direct outgrowth of that bad war and all the bad decisions that were made following 9/11.
10
Calling the Syrian Civil War a ramification (reification is something else, time for more English lessons in St. Petersburg) of the Iraq War is ridiculous. People were fighting the Assad regime for years.
This is straight up propaganda trying to blame the USA for the pathetic mess in Russia's client state. I know what you're trying to do, comrade.
This is straight up propaganda trying to blame the USA for the pathetic mess in Russia's client state. I know what you're trying to do, comrade.
1
Cowardice and senility are the two main virtues directing this president’s administration. On Holocaust Remembrance Day, he does this! On a day where we’re suppose to solemnly reflect on history’s crimes and say “never again!” he does this!
This is more than un-American, it’s absolutely perverse. Countless Holocaust survivors have spoken out against a ban on Syrian refugees, likening it to the restrictions imposed in the USA during the 1930s. But Trump doesn’t listen to them. He doesn't learn his history lesson. Instead, he takes the side of the executioners.
Well, a better person than I once remarked that it’s the job of thinking people not to be on the side of the executioners. And “we must take sides,” as Elie Wiesel said. For “neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented."
This is more than un-American, it’s absolutely perverse. Countless Holocaust survivors have spoken out against a ban on Syrian refugees, likening it to the restrictions imposed in the USA during the 1930s. But Trump doesn’t listen to them. He doesn't learn his history lesson. Instead, he takes the side of the executioners.
Well, a better person than I once remarked that it’s the job of thinking people not to be on the side of the executioners. And “we must take sides,” as Elie Wiesel said. For “neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented."
42
Unfortunately, Mr. Miliband has not been paying attention. President Trump is America's new truly patriotic, enlightened leader. Because I live on the coast, in a city and support a humane and welcoming refugee policy, I have been branded as UN-American, selfish, greedy and possibly immoral.
The tides have turned and boats will not be able to make it to our shore. Trump's true America is tired of being taken advantage of. Our true new ideal is 'America First'. And that also means that I and my fellow coastal 'elites' would do well to hop in a boat and be gone as well.
I'm sorry sir, but the America that I am proud of is drowning in a sea of fake lies, alternate patriotism, shortsighted hatred born of irrational fear, lack of compassion and divisive rhetoric.
The current imbalance of power means that we have to rescue ourselves first while remaining committed to taking back our country.
The tides have turned and boats will not be able to make it to our shore. Trump's true America is tired of being taken advantage of. Our true new ideal is 'America First'. And that also means that I and my fellow coastal 'elites' would do well to hop in a boat and be gone as well.
I'm sorry sir, but the America that I am proud of is drowning in a sea of fake lies, alternate patriotism, shortsighted hatred born of irrational fear, lack of compassion and divisive rhetoric.
The current imbalance of power means that we have to rescue ourselves first while remaining committed to taking back our country.
32
Wow! Every Fox News/Breitbart alternative fact packed into a single comment!
Congratulations.
Congratulations.
3
While the reversal in policy is inhumane and regrettable, the simple fact is resettlement is not a solution for the unprecedented numbers of affected families and individuals. "Refugees" are no longer distinct small subgroups facing oppression and worse; the entire, or at least majority of, the population in many entire countries and regions are suffering from war, oppressive regimes, famine, ....The solution isn't and can't be to bring them all here (which solves the problems for some individuals but not without creating others) And, while "national security" is a red herring, simply saying that the majority of "approved" refugees are women and children means nothing, It is merely an artifact of the enormous family sizes involved (eg one grown man, one or more wives, and four to ten children)
21
wait 10 years when those lost angry children mature a bit..
1
Future battlefield casualties. Next problem you'd like solved?
I believe that Trump suffers from Borderline Personality Disorder and believes that all of these frantic, defensive changes in our relationships with the rest of the world actually come across as strong. When criticized, BPD sufferers don't understand how their behaviors come across and don't know they are hurting others--in their minds they are protecting themselves from harm. They don't trust others not to abandon them; they feel defenseless.
Criticizing a Borderline is pointless; as we have seen with Trump, they don't understand the criticism or the harm they are causing. They feel constantly under attack, so when they are criticized they take it as an attack and feel perfectly justified in doubling down and striking back forcefully. Thus, rational discourse will never change this man's course, only worsen the situation.
The only solution with Borderlines is not to back down, lay down clear guidelines of right and wrong, and take control. As with Nixon, we will have to lay down the law and force him out. We must change Congress in the midterms so we can either invoke Article 25 or impeach and try him.
Borderlines do not change on their own. They must be taken into therapy, and the harm they do must be limited by taking away their access to control of situations.
Criticizing a Borderline is pointless; as we have seen with Trump, they don't understand the criticism or the harm they are causing. They feel constantly under attack, so when they are criticized they take it as an attack and feel perfectly justified in doubling down and striking back forcefully. Thus, rational discourse will never change this man's course, only worsen the situation.
The only solution with Borderlines is not to back down, lay down clear guidelines of right and wrong, and take control. As with Nixon, we will have to lay down the law and force him out. We must change Congress in the midterms so we can either invoke Article 25 or impeach and try him.
Borderlines do not change on their own. They must be taken into therapy, and the harm they do must be limited by taking away their access to control of situations.
21
I'm not a fan of Trump; I believe he's incompetent, and reprehensible. This executive order is antithetical to everything America stands for, particularly as related to persecuting people based on their religious beliefs or affiliations. But, he doesn't have borderline personality disorder. That's armchair psychobabble. I might be on board with a diagnosis of narcissistic personality disorder but without interviewing the man in person no assessment of anyone's personality characteristics can be made from media representations. ~dr. tel
2
Generally, we expect our immigrants to adapt and assimilate. When there are factions that do not want to adapt and assimilate, and would cheerfully chop off the head of people who differ, then yes, we have to stop that.
Last year it was reported that Isis had gotten control of Syrian passport facilities and had created many "genuine" Syrian passports. When the process has been corrupted then you cannot trust the outcome.
We need to use diligence in verifying refugees, and we would not be alone in doing that. Other countries verify as well.
I want to be able to exercise my freedom - foreigners who want to do the same in the US should expect to be subject to scrutiny before being allowed to join us.
Last year it was reported that Isis had gotten control of Syrian passport facilities and had created many "genuine" Syrian passports. When the process has been corrupted then you cannot trust the outcome.
We need to use diligence in verifying refugees, and we would not be alone in doing that. Other countries verify as well.
I want to be able to exercise my freedom - foreigners who want to do the same in the US should expect to be subject to scrutiny before being allowed to join us.
38
And that is the way it is done for those who come here legally. Countless expensive medical exams, education, you have to prove you will be an asset to this nation, not a burden. But then you have Cubans and other refugees escaping their horrible dictators and inhumane standards of living, and we welcome them with open arms. Might as well do the same for the other millions of illegals crossing our border who are fleeing for the same reasons. Anyone who says we should welcome them CLEARLY doesn't know these folks and their background except what they're telling you. You have no idea what you're asking for.
Reported by who? Where? Have we ever had an actual ISIS fighter come here and commit a terrorist act. You are changing AMERICAN policy based on a made-up view that ISIS is stronger than they are. Why are you Rump followers consistently painting America as weak and stupid and building up ISIS with your phony views of their capabilities. And oh by the way, we don't need Soviet help to fight ISIS. Stop suggesting your country is weak and needs to suck up to Communists for help.
12
refugees go through years and multiple layers of security and health screenings.. it goes way beyond due diligence..bio-metrics are involved....it is a long process involving sometimes years of screenings. Most of the 9/11 murderers were here on educational Visas and most of them were from Saudi Arabia..which is not on Trump's no no list.
7
Perhaps better said a New American policy. In the past we did not face radical Islam as we do today, our country was lightly populated and physical labor was much more important. So we allowed and encouraged immigrants. Even then we rejected some for various reasons visit Ellis Island to see this. Now I don't want any additional citizens unless they contribute something special to our country. We have plenty of unskilled labor. Now perhaps Gitmo can be expanded for a safe place for some who live in dangerous countries until they can return. They will have to work and not expect to become a citizen.
12
The Trumpet has no clue why the "huddled masses" migrate to "free" countries for their safety, health, and well-being. The sacrifices families make are daunting, and too often meet with tragedy before refuge becomes reality.
How long, O Lord.....?
How long, O Lord.....?
12
"The new policy urgently requires rethinking".
No, Trump campaigned and then followed through on his promise to place a moratorium on the refugees from certain countries. It is not un-American, it makes sense. The fact that Miliband doesn't like it is too bad. Should we call Milibrand un-American for opposing this policy?
No, Trump campaigned and then followed through on his promise to place a moratorium on the refugees from certain countries. It is not un-American, it makes sense. The fact that Miliband doesn't like it is too bad. Should we call Milibrand un-American for opposing this policy?
28
But not Saudi Arabia -- where the 9/11 terrorists came from. Any idea why?
5
Yes, the world looks to America for enlightened leadership. But, however much a majority of Americans may want that as well, that is not what we have now.
We have a president whose political (not to say personal) views are a moral failure. There is little hope for much positive from the Congress. And Theresa May saying Trump's election strengthened America can fairly be called craven.
I wish I could see a positive way forward. As a start, we need some leadership to articulate views about what we should be doing, and calling out Trump not just for his lies, but for the delusions he spreads. But we also need consistent political pressure within the U.S. to change things.
We have a president whose political (not to say personal) views are a moral failure. There is little hope for much positive from the Congress. And Theresa May saying Trump's election strengthened America can fairly be called craven.
I wish I could see a positive way forward. As a start, we need some leadership to articulate views about what we should be doing, and calling out Trump not just for his lies, but for the delusions he spreads. But we also need consistent political pressure within the U.S. to change things.
15
Trump is right to halt the Muslim immigration juggernaut lest we turn into Europe, which is going down the tubes. Call it racist or Islamophobic all you want, but the West has the right to protect their own traditions and culture.
Muslim individuals are just fine like anyone else, but when their numbers reach a critical mass -- 5-10% --- they begin to assert their own culture in opposition to Western culture. We can help their refugees in their own region, it is preposterous to carry them halfway around the world.
Muslim individuals are just fine like anyone else, but when their numbers reach a critical mass -- 5-10% --- they begin to assert their own culture in opposition to Western culture. We can help their refugees in their own region, it is preposterous to carry them halfway around the world.
63
You are absolutely correct. I am perfectly willing, in fact I wear it as a badge of honor, to be called a racist by these self righteous white progressives who don't understand the damage they are doing to the liberal order by importing people who not only don't respect it, but outwardly reject it.
3
But Trump has not halted the Muslim Immigration juggernaut as you and your fellow trump supporters believe. Citizens of some of the most extremist and violent muslim nations, including Saudi Arabia (remember the people who brought down the World Trade Center, among others, are not on the list and are free to come and go as they please. Trump does not have the courage to confront true Muslim extremism fueled by Wahabi extremist ideology and money going to fundamentalist religious schools the world over. He will never ban citizens from Saudi Arabia or
the Gulf States, because of the flow of petrol and dollars. So don't fool yourself. Except to make people from these seven countries suffer, this muslim ban means nothing for national security.
the Gulf States, because of the flow of petrol and dollars. So don't fool yourself. Except to make people from these seven countries suffer, this muslim ban means nothing for national security.
5
Unfortunately people like you who don't care to learn American history don't realize that their have been Muslims in America since basically day one and we have had significant Muslim populations here for a long time. You spit on the graves of all the Muslim American soldiers who have died defending this country so people like you could live in freedom.
4
From the comfort of his penthouse and now the White House Mr. Trump has the audacity to condemn those who long for a place where they can raise their families in safety. It is so easy to stand behind a microphone or sit behind a desk to sign an executive order which belittles fellow humans who are suffering. Perhaps Mr. Trump should have to give his speeches to those who are truly affected rather than to adoring crowds who are convinced that his warped perception of the truth is fact.
He knows not of whom he speaks. In his distorted and delusional mind he believes that all Muslims have some propensity for terrorism. As a science teacher I teach my students to look at evidence to support their hypotheses before they draw any conclusions. They also are taught to listen and to work together cooperatively to solve problems. Perhaps the ninth graders in my class are more capable of running the country with intelligence and compassion than is Mr. Trump.
He knows not of whom he speaks. In his distorted and delusional mind he believes that all Muslims have some propensity for terrorism. As a science teacher I teach my students to look at evidence to support their hypotheses before they draw any conclusions. They also are taught to listen and to work together cooperatively to solve problems. Perhaps the ninth graders in my class are more capable of running the country with intelligence and compassion than is Mr. Trump.
36
On this issue Trump is more in touch with the feeling of people on the street than the white progressive elitist who similarly will never have to interact with the people they demand be given the right to come here.
3
Are you really sure that we need more Boston bombers?
1
My problem is the selectivity of the ban. Immigrants from Saudi Arabia, where terrorism begins, are ok.
4
"It is not right, it is not needed and it is not smart."
That about sums up all that Trump does and says since he started campagning and, with a vengeance, since his awful Inauguration. A terrible menace has descended on the world.
Is there any area of behavior - let alone politics - where Trump can be considered even remotely honest? It is a difficult question, because nobody can figure out what he really believes in, probably not even himself, since he is obviously deranged. This makes it exhausting to try and decipher his motives. What is clear is that he is sowing dangerous divisions at every turn, apparently unaware that hatred and violence are the most probable outcomes. By now, everybody, everywhere, knows that and yet, no serious legal steps to end his unthinkable presence in the White House have emerged. He is not responsible (he needs help) but his enablers are and they should be held to account.
That about sums up all that Trump does and says since he started campagning and, with a vengeance, since his awful Inauguration. A terrible menace has descended on the world.
Is there any area of behavior - let alone politics - where Trump can be considered even remotely honest? It is a difficult question, because nobody can figure out what he really believes in, probably not even himself, since he is obviously deranged. This makes it exhausting to try and decipher his motives. What is clear is that he is sowing dangerous divisions at every turn, apparently unaware that hatred and violence are the most probable outcomes. By now, everybody, everywhere, knows that and yet, no serious legal steps to end his unthinkable presence in the White House have emerged. He is not responsible (he needs help) but his enablers are and they should be held to account.
26
We have already seen how the world views America so why would we continue a failed policy of being "humanitarian" leader? Instead of welcoming people who do not share our core values we should be turning them away. Especially the ones who put Sharia law above all else. Since they made their bed with Allah they should lie in it back in the Middle East.
23
Its critical, that as the world shifts from adulterating the word xenophobic to embracing it as a beautiful thing that we stop these Muslims who hold shari a law above the Constitution - OUT of the United States. As the liberal elitists realize they are outweighed by red-blooded Americans Patriots the United States will become great again, regardless of the hissy fits of the liberals and democrats who hate WASPS and Israel.
18
Don't forget to get your hood and cloak out of the dryer.
9
The people pushing pro-refugee policies are the antithesis of liberal. They have a dagger at the throat of liberalism.
1
You don't sound like a patriot since you completely misunderstand American values and history.
2
Arizona is known for strong opposition to illegal immigration. At the same time, we are known to be among the most welcoming of states for refugees. Refugees are as American as apple pie. They are like our ancestors, who came her to escape dictatorships, oppression, famine, and abject poverty. Refugees enrich the community and have cute little kids. Why wouldn't anybody welcome them? We've got a big population of Vietnamese, and my daughter dated one. They broke up, but we stay in touch. He knows more about football than anyone I know, and I never place a bet without consulting him. When it comes to refugees, within reasonable limits, the more the merrier.
35
The statement "Refugees are as American as apple pie" is about as ignorant as saying America should never take in another refugee.
1
If only life were so simple that we could identify all of the 'bad people' and build walls to keep them away from us 'good people'. Demonizing refugees is to discount their suffering and genuine desire to escape terrible circumstances to live a decent life. While this attitude may appeal to the basest fears of some voters, it alienates us from our better selves, and diminishes all of our humanity.
619
The refugees aren't our problem. Let them spill into neighboring countries, not distant ones like ours.
3
First, why is it considered "demonizing" refugees to vet them? This is rhetoric of the most weaponized nature.
And second, why on God's green earth is it always assumed, by the NYT and its posters, that the ONLY sound method of providing for refugees is by allowing them to flood into another our nation? How is the fact that it is LESS expensive (and less destructive to the education system and community coherence) to send send billions to create safe zones for refugees in or near their home countries than it is to process and integrate them into our country never referenced?
Honestly, the refugee crisis seems more like an opportunity for posters to virtue-signal than actually think critically about the most efficient and effective way to manage a crisis.
And second, why on God's green earth is it always assumed, by the NYT and its posters, that the ONLY sound method of providing for refugees is by allowing them to flood into another our nation? How is the fact that it is LESS expensive (and less destructive to the education system and community coherence) to send send billions to create safe zones for refugees in or near their home countries than it is to process and integrate them into our country never referenced?
Honestly, the refugee crisis seems more like an opportunity for posters to virtue-signal than actually think critically about the most efficient and effective way to manage a crisis.
21
As you well understand, Trump cares nothing about that which elevates us, nor about what brings forth our better angels and compassion.
That is sad for the planet and every person on it as you eloquently state.
Trump cares about his ego and he has found a very willing and responsive, easily manipulated group of followers for his fear mongering.
That is sad for the planet and every person on it as you eloquently state.
Trump cares about his ego and he has found a very willing and responsive, easily manipulated group of followers for his fear mongering.
13
What a nation of cowards we've become! Guns are purchased here (most especially by Trump supporters) as readily as kids flock to an ice cream truck; even so, we look at a woman wearing hijab and go running for a strongman to protect us. Anyway, what can we expect from a resettlement program that will specifically single out Christians for admission to this land of the free and home of the brave? How long until Muslim applicants begin to see the advantage of wearing crucifixes to their "extreme vetting" sessions and singing Christmas carols?
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@Alexandra: the hijab is worn freely by many Muslim women including by many such women living here in NYC. Ask them if they consider it a symbol of oppression or a symbol of religious faith. And while you're at it ask the same question of orthodox Jewish women who choose to cover their real hair with faux hair.
17
@Harif2: Not too many "Somalians" (sic) but lots of Turks, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis. How many of the Somalis living in your neck of Chicago have done anything more diabolical than opening a restaurant? For your n/a: Depending upon the use of the word "refugee," between three and ten such individuals have been arrested here on domestic terrorism charges. Apparently not one of them is Somali.
13
Alexandra - attacks on women wearing hijab is far too common especially since the election. The other day in the Delta lounge of the airport here, a Delta employee wearing her hijab was confronted by a white man who kicked in the door to her office, then kicked her and chased her.
We have had attacks on women wearing hijab ob the subway, on the street.
These brave American men are going after Muslim women to attack, because of their rage at women's oppression?
No, it's just easer for a man to hit a girl, rather than attempt to go after another man.
A hijab is a piece of cloth. Grow up and get over it.
We have had attacks on women wearing hijab ob the subway, on the street.
These brave American men are going after Muslim women to attack, because of their rage at women's oppression?
No, it's just easer for a man to hit a girl, rather than attempt to go after another man.
A hijab is a piece of cloth. Grow up and get over it.
9
Trump doesn't care. Right now what he wants is to be photographed holding up documents he's signed while he looks like a stern toad. He doesn't know the plight of refugees because he doesn't read. If he read, he still wouldn't care because his world is built around Donald Trump.
Why care about innocent people who are fleeing from cruelty, torture, war, and death? To Trump the size of his inaugural crowd is the most important thing in the world.
Why care about innocent people who are fleeing from cruelty, torture, war, and death? To Trump the size of his inaugural crowd is the most important thing in the world.
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I read a lot and he reads as well, many of his supporters agree with his stances. He made promises and now he must keep them, no matter if you like them or not.
17
This is not our problem to take on. It's not like we're relocating goats to a different farm. These are people who have been exposed to disease, war, abuse, folks who don't speak our language, have no education, yet we're taking them on to integrate them into our society when we don't even have a grasp on social issues at home like homosexuality, mental illness, abortion, poverty, bullying, racism, and so on.
13
You have a very limited and ignorant understanding of refugee populations. Many speak English and are likely more well educated than you are. It's incorrect to stereotype all refugees.
My grandparents on both sides were refugees from Russia and Germany in 1944. Most of their families did not survive Hitler's concentration camps. They spoke no English when they arrived in the US. Both of my grandfathers graduated college, went on to own very successful businesses that employed hundreds of people and one was elected to a high government position. But I guess by your rules they should not have been allowed entry into the US.
Not sure I understand (and perhaps don't want to) why you are stating that homosexuality and abortion - which I will call the right of a woman to make private decisions regarding her own body - as social issues.
My grandparents on both sides were refugees from Russia and Germany in 1944. Most of their families did not survive Hitler's concentration camps. They spoke no English when they arrived in the US. Both of my grandfathers graduated college, went on to own very successful businesses that employed hundreds of people and one was elected to a high government position. But I guess by your rules they should not have been allowed entry into the US.
Not sure I understand (and perhaps don't want to) why you are stating that homosexuality and abortion - which I will call the right of a woman to make private decisions regarding her own body - as social issues.
11
1. The ban on Muslim nations seems rather selective. Saudi Arabians were at the center of 9/11, but they are not on the list.
2. Terrorist attacks take place in Europe instigated by 'homegrown' actors. Why are European countries not on the list?
As usual this administration refuses to act evidence. Instead, we have a government of sycophants (& this includes Republican congress critters) carrying out the directions from a deeply ignorant & mentally disturbed man, whose lack of self-esteem is the greatest threat we face as a nation.