Today is World Refugee Day, and President Obama and other members of his administration took the opportunity to remind Americans that assisting refugees is among the United States’ noblest traditions, and doing so not only enriches American society but also makes us safer as a nation.
Protecting refugees is part of our history as a nation. Learn more: https://t.co/1HwsI34w4D #WorldRefugeeDay pic.twitter.com/NCVX7lsnjh
— White House Archived (@ObamaWhiteHouse) June 20, 2016
Protecting and assisting refugees is a part of our history as a nation. https://t.co/1HwsI34w4D #WorldRefugeeDay pic.twitter.com/IvtpZb4msK
— White House Archived (@ObamaWhiteHouse) June 20, 2016
World is esp focused on plight of refugees today, #WorldRefugeeDay, but mustn’t forget their struggle will endure unless we all do more.
— Susan Rice -Archived (@AmbRice44) June 20, 2016
America has always been a nation of immigrants and refugees. On #WorldRefugeeDay, let's reaffirm our commitment to welcoming them. -H
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) June 20, 2016
Media outlets around the world are offering their own perspectives on World Refugee Day, but Al Jazeera in particular wants to know why the world seems particularly reluctant to take in young men seeking refuge.
Why is the world afraid of young refugee men? https://t.co/llaS7QPNIp #WorldRefugeeDay pic.twitter.com/9ADqAFsS2b
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) June 20, 2016
Americans have to be forgiven for overlooking the plight of young refugee men; President Obama, after all, ridiculed Republican governors over their insistence on having a robust screening system in place before Syrian refugees entered the country, asking in November why they were so “scared of widows and 3-year-old orphans.”
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In case there were any lingering doubts, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson headed to Dearborn, Mich., in January to show that the United States had become a stronger, safer, and more secure nation over the previous decade, and had a cartoon tucked under his arm to illustrate the plight of those aforementioned widows and orphans, along with what looks to be an adult man helping to carry an infant orphan.
Secretary Johnson explains the process of screening #refugees. WATCH: https://t.co/tb7vHF88q5 #DHSinDearborn
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) January 13, 2016
That cartoon apparently didn’t do its job if there’s still trepidation in Western nations over accepting large numbers of young refugee males into society. Germany, which President Obama praised as being on the right side of history on the refugee issue, began handing out its own cartoons on acceptable behavior toward women after dozens of women reported being sexually assaulted on New Year’s Eve, allegedly by male asylum seekers of “Arab or North African” descent.
Brussels, too, might be a little bit shy about admitting more refugees after terrorist suicide attacks on an airport and subway station were linked to men who entered the European Union disguised as refugees with Syrian passports.
So, why again is the entire world so afraid for young male refugees?
It isn't. The world is afraid of terrorists pretending to be young refugee men.
— MidwestGuru (@midwestguru) June 20, 2016
https://twitter.com/eliasmatricit/status/744816933837541376
Look at cologne on new years eve… That's why
— Cheshire cat (@twistyritchie98) June 20, 2016
New Years Eve 2015 comes to mind.
— Eradicator (@xEradicatorx) June 20, 2016
Paris? Belgium?
— Professor DeSelby (@spalpeenuillean) June 20, 2016
Paris, Cologne, Brussels.
— Floronius (@flowingsolemnly) June 20, 2016
Maybe because they keep killing and raping the citizens of the countries that let them in? Just a thought….
— Carlisleboy (@Carlisleboy) June 20, 2016
https://twitter.com/Provaporous2/status/744974297584656384
https://twitter.com/WesleyDodds1/status/744931375191470080
Why don't they fight for their countries, is the better question. Your question assumes stupidity of the reader.
— M Winterbottom (@tillytu) June 20, 2016
why are those most capable of fighting for and rebuilding their homes, running away… that is the question you should be asking
— Matthew A Baker (@netsolved) June 20, 2016
Because they should act like grown men and fight back for their countries @AJEnglish #WorldRefugeeDay #manup
— Teddie Roosevelt (@mediahypeocrite) June 20, 2016
https://twitter.com/ShipPoster/status/744971682658410496
Exit question: Why did Samantha Power, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, invite only one family of Syrian refugees to her penthouse residence for a spaghetti dinner and a photo op? Is she afraid, or just out of spaghetti?
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