No Compassion For Anyone But Themselves

Has compassion left the building? Does everyone with skin any shade darker than white pose a threat to us? Conservatives want President Obama to bomb ISIL, but have no answer when familes, desperate for safe haven, arrive at our border seeking asylum. I saw on the news last night a map of the country highlighting in red the states where governors have stood their ground, refusing to accept Syrian refugees. Wow. How tough are they.

When has the NIMBY approach worked? What happens when we bomb the crap out of innocent Syrians as well? It’s not that we shouldn’t respond to these psychopaths, but to refuse sanctuary to innocent lives in the way is pathetic. How is it that Republicans are able to compartmentalize life so easily? What gauge are they using? Skin color? Language spoken? Country of origin? Because we can find people in each of those categories here. Oh, wait. I forgot. The Republican effect is everywhere. Except here, they double down on women and children for what feels like sport.

We can all sit and argue until hell freezes over about why all of this is happening. But in doing that, innocent lives are in jeopardy. No, we don’t want to bring terrorists into this country. Yes, we need a screening system to do that. I find it difficult to believe we don’t have one. But even if true, in a country where we send people to war on a lie, and then refuse to properly fund the Veteran’s Administration to care for them when they come home, nothing surprises me anymore.

Republicans redraw voting districts in an effort to win elections. Conservatives on the highest court in the land have decided that corporations are people. And apparently a woman’s body, in all her brillance, can shut right down, preventing pregnancy resulting from rape. I mean, I know women are powerful, but do any of them understand how stupid we think they are?

Governors can’t refuse refugees. So the map becomes a powerful reflection of their hatred and racism. That didn’t happen in Oregon, thankfully, with Governor Brown publicly welcoming the refugees. While unnecessary, it was a positive statement in the face of the shameful rhetoric from her Republican counterparts.

And to the Republican governors I say, change your hearts. Find your compassion. They asked for none of this. Don’t hurt these people any further. They’ve suffered enough. Create a safe space for their children to thrive.

We go forward together in our efforts to achieve peace. For that is American exceptionalism. Not their unreasonable facsimile of.