My (probably unpopular) opinion on arab refugees

[Faith No More]

I would help them but not let them in

But why help them at all if it's not your problem?

[Iroscato]

You are all just saying what is politically correct.

No, I'm not. I'm saying it because I believe it, and think it's the right thing to do. I don't base my beliefs on what's PC, even if many of them may line up with some people's arbitrary definition of "PC".

I could just as easily say you're saying it because you're a xenophobe and/or a small-minded isolationist who's incapable of seeing the big picture. But we know how that song and dance goes.

[vorlon13]

I was concerned about the wacky demographics of some of the refugee groups. I'd be less concerned about women, children and elderly as opposed to males 20-40, which for some reason seemed over represented by a factor of 10X.

[Homeless Nutter]

I was concerned about the wacky demographics of some of the refugee groups.  I'd be less concerned about women, children and elderly as opposed to males 20-40, which for some reason seemed over represented by a factor of 10X.

"Some reason"? Who do you think is going to attempt the difficult and dangerous journey, through war-torn countries and militarized borders, to alien, often hostile places, with no guarantees of anything? And who's most likely to successfully complete such a journey - adult men, or women with kids? It's not like most refugees get on a plane and end up in Europe, or wherever, a few hours and a couple of drinks later, to receive a house and a job as soon as they arrive - even if many people in our western bubble seem to think so. Of course the majority of them are going to be young males. Many of them will die on the way, but death's even more likely for women and children.

This is how immigration usually works: young males travel first, get a foot-hold - a place to live, a job - then they use the money they make and the knowledge of the immigration system, to get their families over. Going on such a trek with your entire family is dangerous and impractical and even desperate people will avoid it if they can.

[Mister Agenda]

So keep out Arab Muslim and Christian refugees from Syria; but allow Kurds and ethnic Armenians from Syria in?

What are you talking about? I dont even know who Kurds and Armenians are.

Maybe that's the kind of thing you ought to know before you form your opinion.

[vorlon13]

I'd rather focus limited financial resources on women and children instead of able bodied men.

I have something else in mind for the guys . . .

[Mister Agenda]

It is easy to speak when you are not in a position of responsability, but would you say the same if you had to make the choice? Deciding between letting refugees in or not? I am sure all of you would think twice. You are all just saying what is politically correct. I was expecting more.

I tutored Muslim refugee kids as a volunteer for 12 years. I would absolutely say the same if I had to make the choice. My country is better off for having them. And even if we were all just saying what is politically correct, it wouldn't make us wrong.

You are arguing that we should be inhospitable to people in trouble who have a different religion from us. It's clear that the reason we disagree is that we hold different values concerning how human beings should treat each other. That's not something that can be resolved in a debate.

[Catholic_Lady]

Considering this is the same person who said sometimes he wishes he could murder every priest in the world, I'm not surprised by this stance.

[Mister Agenda]

I'd rather focus limited financial resources on women and children instead of able bodied men.

I have something else in mind for the guys . . .

Do you buy into the idea that Syrian refugees are disproportionately able-bodied males aged 18-45?

Edit: Never mind, I see that you do. This origin of this belief seems to be almost entirely pinning pictures of groups of men to articles about Syrian refugees. I haven't found any yet that are authentic.

[Tiberius]

Now, to my personal point of view: religion. These refugees have strong religious beliefs, and if you let them in, their religion will start to spread. They will start building churches and mosques. And this, in the long run, will hurt society, the world, a lot more than letting some people die. Yes, even children. (Example of this: Londonistan, eh, I mena, London)

Have you ever been to London? Have you ever lived in London? I did, for two years, down the street from a mosque as it happens, however if you think that London is somehow overwhelmingly Muslim, you are very much mistaken.

IMO, this is one of the worst arguments against letting refugees into a country. These are people's lives we are talking about; to hell with their religious beliefs; I couldn't care less about a person's religious beliefs when dealing with matters of live and death.