If the goal of terrorism is to force societies to abandon their principles and change their policies, then the Islamic State group must be pretty pleased with itself this week, because after a Syrian passport was found next to the body of one of the perpetrators of last week’s Paris attacks, some elected leaders in “the home of the brave” crapped their pants.
The discovery led Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner to announce Monday that his state—our state—would temporarily stop accepting Syrian refugees fleeing their homeland to escape, at least in part, the same thugs responsible for last week’s atrocities. Before reminding everyone of Illinois’ “history of providing safe haven for those displaced by conflict,” Rauner insisted the state needed “to balance our tradition as a state welcoming of refugees while ensuring the safety and security of our citizens.” In short, the governor’s too afraid of ISIS to help the victims of ISIS.
Our fearful leader isn’t alone: At least 24 other governors have taken the same position to slam the door on people in need. Former Florida governor and current presidential contender Jeb Bush appeared on a show Monday morning and discussed a “special important need” to protect the Christian refugees. “Give me your tired, your poor/Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,” Emma Lazarus wrote back in 1883; “but only if they’re Christian,” reads Bush’s revision.
The governors’ little hissy fit is pointless, though. State governments have no legal right to refuse refugees, as current Florida Gov. Rick Scott pointed before going on to say that he will refuse the refugees sent to his state as well. Some of these politicians really don’t hear themselves.
Still, the message that these faux-refusals send to the rest of the world is not what the United States needs, especially when it’s fighting a group whose main selling point is that the U.S.-led West is evil and anti-Muslim.
Plus, not every Muslim is a terrorist. And the people fleeing the Middle East have more to fear from groups such as ISIS than we in the United States do. And who knows, maybe one of those Syrian kids could be the next Steve Jobs—his dad was Syrian.
We cannot allow ourselves to be too afraid to do the right thing. Illinois can be a place for refugees to live safely and thrive. Someone should tell the governor he can come out from under the covers.
Hector Luis Alamo is a RedEye special contributor.
