#NoMuslimBan

Earlier today, I saw some random comment from someone which effectively boils down to 'It's better to let thousands of strangers be inconvenienced, suffer, or possibly even die than to risk letting one terrorist into the country.'  While this sort of attitude is born of both fear and selfishness, it is on some level understandable.  No one wants terrorists (of any race or religion) to come to our country and do us harm, and since the people affected by the #MuslimBan are 'others' who we will never know personally, well then, tough on them.

It is also, however, profoundly un-American, at least by the definition I have learned of what it means to be American.

"Give me your tired, your poor / Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free."  These words are famously inscribed on the Statue of Liberty near Ellis Island, and for over a century have been a point of American pride, standing for America's promise of freedom and a better life for those who come here from other countries.  When we turn people away out of selfishness and fear, we renege on that promise.

Ironically, many of the same people who support the #MuslimBan also cite their incorrect belief that America was founded as a 'Christian nation' as a reason to discriminate against Muslims.  Even if that were true, there is nothing remotely Christian about denying critically ill children access to medical care which could save their lives.  The Pope agrees, having announced that "It’s hypocrisy to call yourself a Christian and chase away a refugee or someone seeking help, someone who is hungry or thirsty, toss out someone who is in need of my help."

But don't take the Pope's word for it.  I'm no Christian theologian, but even I have studied the Bible well enough to know Jesus' admonition to love God and love thy neighbor.  And I'm pretty sure Jesus wasn't just talking about your next door neighbor, or your neighbors who look like you do and believe what you do.  He meant that Christians love everyone, without exception.  And while America was not founded as a Christian nation, the vast majority of religious Americans are Christians.  So turning back refugees is also un-American in this respect.

Of course, many Americans aren't Christian, or even people of faith, including your humble host here at Things Everyone Knows.  But I am an American, and I speak from my cultural identity as an American when I say this: hate breeds hate, and love breeds love.  The people who support the #MuslimBan do so because some people have done harm to us out of what they say is a defense of Islam.  The people who attacked us on September 11, 2001 did so out of hate.  And that hate has taken root, and incubated, and grown for 15 years, and is manifesting itself now in hate speech, hate crimes, and the #MuslimBan.

Hate cannot conquer hate --- it can only breed more.  The way to defeat terror is to reject hate, and focus on what is best in us.  America, the land of opportunity.  America, the land of the free and the home of the brave.  A place where all men (and women, and trans folk) are created equal, and receive equal treatment under the law.  We've all heard these phrases so many times they're trite, because until recently, we took them for granted.  But they actually do mean something.

Or at least they can, if we choose to live up to them.  These are the principles which make America great, not some clueless blowhard in a red hat playing to our basest instincts.