Monday, November 16, 2015

Pause Before You Post

What is one of the best things about social media is the fact that it can give a voice to those who may not otherwise be heard. One of the worst things about social media is that it gives a quick reactionary voice to many people who may speak before they take a chance to be informed, and consequently never become informed. The events of recent days have brought this out of many people once again. 

Now, it is very tempting to take a soap-box to this blog and find a cute or quippy way to spin the recent Syrian refugee situation. We could do that, or we could do what this blog was intended to do. In my first post, I said that this blog was here to "not here to necessarily solve [everything], it is to show the flipside...This is simply a place to help shine light in a new way on things we may/may not encounter in our daily lives." What is surprising (but should not be, really) in this situation is that the flipside of this discussion is the side not many people go to: the facts. 

"Ipsa scientia potestas est", or rather "knowledge itself is power"-Sir Francis Bacon, 1597. 
This is true both in science, the classroom, talk radio, the water cooler, and this particular situation. 
His knowledge of breakfast food is a thing of legend.


What is the vetting process for refugees, both to be in the USA and the EU? Where does it actually say that the P.O.T.U.S. can bring this many people in? Instead of simply regurgitating whatever flavor of news we choose to consume, why don't we go to the facts ourselves? So that's what this post is for, to help all of us gain power in this situation; power that comes through knowledge of the facts, not just opinions. 

Here are some links to help you get started on your quest for knowledge and facts in this situation:  
USA Refugee Vetting Process Link #1
USA Refugee Vetting Process Link #2 

European Union Refugee Vetting Process #1
European Union Refugee Vetting Process #2

Immigration and Nationality Act of 1982 (how the POTUS can do what he's doing) 

Presidential Memorandum on Refugees for the Fiscal Year 2016 

Background Briefing on the United States Refugee Admissions Program 

Syrian Refugee Fact Sheet: World Vision 

Syrian Refugee Fact Sheet: Amnesty International 

Map: Resettlement Centers in the USA



This is what I urge you, me, everyone to do. 
First, pray. Pray for those who are uncertain where they will live tomorrow or even the next day. Pray for peace in uncertain times. Pray that both the refugees and those seeking to take advantage of the situation will come to know the true God and will live changed lives for the better. Pray for wisdom of both the refugees and those working with them.

Become informed. Before forming an official opinion and taking to the comment sections and mentions to put down everyone from right wing strangers to your weirdly liberal aunt that gets a little too into Bonnaroo each year and shows it all over Facebook, take a day and read up on the subject and process what you have read.

Once you and I are read up on the subject, I would encourage you to take action, whether that is by making your voice heard by calling your congressman or senator or by donating or volunteering to help both here and abroad

Finally, as you go back to Twitter and Facebook, I would encourage you to be civil and realize that although people may disagree with you, perhaps the better means of discussion is person-person, not comment to comment. Typing behind a screen gives people a boldness that tends to lead to the leaking of less-than-stellar language and conversation. 

No matter where you end up falling on this issue, remember that we are called to be both "shrewd as snakes and innocent as doves" (Matthew 10:16) and "not be afraid of them...Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in Hell." (Matthew 10:26, 28). That One is the One who calls those who believe in Him "son" and "daughter", and the One who seeks a relationship with everyone. 

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