Hate.

Hate is what has been left in the wake of the tragedy that happened in Paris last week. After all of the #prayforParis and people changing their profile picture to be colored in the likeness of France’s flag. Hate comes forth in the end.

We are a country that was formed by immigrants. Thrived because of immigrants. Became the greatest country in the world because of immigrants.

The terrorists are winning.

Interesting that a sonnet “The New Colossus”by Emma Lazarus is bronzed on the Statue of Liberty (a gift given to us by the French) but the words that adorn this plaque seem long forgotten.

“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!”

Today, we shut off the lamp and we turn our backs.

Why?

We are scared of a culture that we refuse to take the time to understand because the actions of the crazy few have painted our picture of the entire culture.

Why?

Because the religion they practice scares us because the media has told us it is scary. Because they have different cultural ideals than we do. They dress different than we do.

(This begs the question, what do people outside of this country think of us every time a new mass shooting happens?)

It is not against the law to be scared. We live in a scary time. The internet and social media give us access to more horror than we ever could have imagined. What is being forgotten is that it also gives us access to learn about these people. Learn about the Syrian refugees that are desperately seeking help. People that want nothing more than to live free and have an opportunity at a life of happiness. People that want their children to grow up in a land of opportunity. People that want to escape poverty and a government that is committing countless human rights violations. People that are trying to escape death as over 200,000 people have been killed since 2011. How many need to die before we take notice?

As a country filled with so many Christian, God fearing people, how is it possible that we have so many that are unwilling to lend a hand to people who need our help most?

Because we are afraid.

Social media is covered with people who speak about loading their guns in preparation of a fight on their doorstep that will never come.

To these people, if you want to fight and protect this country and your family… enlist! Please, do it. Join the service and direct your aggression appropriately.

Our soldiers – the most brave, admirable and strong people among us – are who give us the freedom that we have today, I am sure they can use the help.

You may volunteer at any time. If you choose not to, however… shut the fuck up. Nobody cares that you have guns and are ready to shoot the first terrorist you see. When you do this, you are as intimidating as a teenager anonymously commenting on YouTube with racial and homophobic slurs. Don’t let the likes and the comments from 10 of your friends fool you. You look like an idiot and most people are laughing as they shake their head. I promise.

I am not one of the brave. I will not pretend to be. I rely on those much stronger than me to keep our country safe. And I am thankful for these amazing people daily. It is because of them that I can write this and share it with people all over the world.

As the greatest country in the world, we should help those who are need of our help the most. Work to be on the right side of history.

Do you want to answer the question in the future, “why didn’t we help those people when they needed it most?”

I know that there are various social, economical and political arguments to be made regarding the Syrian refugees and I am not the person to debate these things.

On a human to human level, there is a right and wrong.

God forbid the tables ever turn. Who would want to take thousands of people in with the chance that one of us might decide to shoot up a school or movie theater?

The vast majority of people in this country are good people. Is it really that difficult to believe that most of the people seeking help are as well?

Of course not.

Let’s hate less, love more, and see how the terrorists deal with that.

Cheers.