Thanks for this enlightening discussion about this topic. I've really never paid as much attention to the happenings in that part of the world as much as I have in the past couple years, and it's great to hear all sides in a respectful and cohesive manner.
I would like to offer input on the refugee situation...
We HAVE to participate in the acceptance of refugees. It's our responsibility as part of our pacts with nations, and our responsibility to humanity. Refugees are specifically people that are displaced from their home and fear death. Unlike the chronically homeless in the US, or the putrid conditions is all parts of the world, refugees are left with no home nor resources, and need a place to go. I can go deeper into the homeless issue if anyone's interested in knowing what works - my organization develops affordable housing and permanent supportive housing to ensure low income Americans have stable housing.
ISIS does not want refugees leaving. ISIS will do whatever it can to get them back. Any negative reaction to refugees works in their favor. "The Western world rejects you, rejects Islam - your only choice is to return here, and die, or be part of us." If they get 20, 30, 50% of returning refugees, they win. They get stronger. That's why they plant a false refugee passport after the attacks, to further feed that sentiment. That's why they'd love for Trump to become president and hate them, because that will give them more avenues to recruit and gain power.
A policy to simply reject refugees, solely on the basis of their country of origin, will be just as effective in preventing terrorists from coming here as a policy to have white supremacists not bear any more children because a handful of them will turn into mass shooters and kill our children. It's irresponsible. They're already here. And it's not solving the problem, just throwing a blanket on it. By demonizing all Syrians because they may be terrorists, you're only creating animosity, which in turn will create terrorists where there weren't before.
I understand you don't want to deal with them now, and it's not what's being proposed. Refugees are flocking to Greece on inflatable boats because the trip over the Med. Sea is doable, same way it's conceivable that someone can make it over to Florida from Cuba. Do you really think anyone, even an able-bodied man, would be able to essential kayak over the Atlantic with 20 other people to feed? This is 10,000 per year, spread out. They have to be vetted. They have to get on a plane, or at the very least a chartered cargo ship. They have to stay in the squalor of a refugee camp through intense questioning and vetting to even get selected to be sent to America, over the dozens other countries that are closer and accepting refugees.
And when they get here? Not all of them are great. But from what I've seen, refugees are given a 6 month window of support to integrate. Learn the language, figure out how to get a job, and figure out a way to get educated. They do that fast. They stay together as huge nuclear families, and support each other. One goes to school, while the other is a sandwich artist at Mr. Hero. Or at our casino. Once one gets a reasonable degree, they switch roles. They take care of their own, and embrace the opportunity our great country gives them and returns it ten fold. Because the alternative was death.
And there's more that can be done. Our immigration system is whack. Terrorists can easily find ways to enter the country through student visas, through tourism, anything. The biggest anti-immigration measures are related to work - basically crafted to prevent Mexicans jumping the border to take low-paying jobs. Which is why that girl from Germany wasn't allowed in over the summer. That needs to be fixed.
And we can engage these refugees as well. Mandate whistleblower policies. If you know of any immigrants, refugees, or ANYONE thinking about any type of terrorist activity - you're just as responsible as the planners if you don't report it. They hate the terror as much as we do. That's what they're running from. They can work with us to prevent domestic attacks.
I think Trevor Noah said it best (I'm sure others have, but the first place I heard it) "The only way to overcome inhumanity, is humanity itself"
We can't be bullied into stripping our humanity for our personal safety. It breeds inhumanity, which makes the terrorists stronger, in turn makes us even less safe.
