skittles and safety

Donald Trump Jr. sent out this tweet last night:

<note: the actual metaphor, to be accurate, would actually be 10,000,000+ skittles and one poisoned>

I have seen it before.

And I have heard the same point made on talk radio with regard to USA accepting refugees.

I will not comment on the fact that 80% of domestic terrorism is conducted by non Muslims.

I will not comment on the fact that 1 immigrant has been convicted of a terrorism crime since 9/11.

I will not comment on the fact that recent terror acts were conducted by legal citizens.

I get fear.

I get national security.

I get terrorism is named terrorism because it creates terror.

I get the link between ‘permitting immigrants/refugees in to a country’ increases some risk of security <albeit a small risk as compared to the risks of everyday life like driving, crossing a street or drinking>.

I have one thing to say to everyone, which will be controversial, but reflects the thought of one of the framers of our country and constitution:

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“They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”

―

Benjamin Franklin

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Ok.

I have one other thing to say to everyone, slightly less controversial, but takes a little more thoughtfulness on the part of everyone to think about the true repercussions … this time from one of our greatest presidents:

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“Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves”

―

Abraham Lincoln

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Lastly.

Here is most likely the most unpopular thought I will ever share on this site.

The current American terrorism problem is not an immigration issue, nor a Muslim issue, it is a domestic issue.

Huh?

Trump, if he actually had half a brain, would recognize that something he is promoting is actually the best possible long term solution to domestic terrorism – jobs, economy and opportunity.

It isn’t about building a wall across from Mexico <which I could point out that almost 80% of illegal immigrants do not come from south of USA>. It isn’t about ceasing immigrants from any country <and, yes, you continue vetting and stringent processing>. It isn’t about not accepting refugees.

It is about making any possible disaffected citizens not become disaffected.

It is about insuring everyone has the potential for some level of prosperity if they work hard.

It is about insuring there are good, fair jobs for everyone who wants to work hard.

Happier citizens who believe the country they live in provides fair opportunity do not conduct terrorist acts.

I could argue, and I would, that people come to America to be an American, accept the freedoms America has to offer and is more than willing to live by constitutional law <which is about the only ‘test’ that matters>.

If America lives up to its side of the bargain then the people who come have no desire to be receptive to someone suggesting where they are living is not a ‘good’ place.

Look.

The skittles metaphor is stupid and shows a lack of understanding.

I don’t need a candy metaphor … if you want to debate what it may mean to allow 10,000 refugees in to a country and the possible risk … just tell me.

But suggesting real people are skittles is just stupid and shows an incredible lack of awareness.

It doesn’t reflect a ‘smart mind’ <coming up with some visual metaphor> but rather shows a lazy mind who cannot grasp how to properly articulate an issue and have the intellectual strength to debate it on its own merits.

In the end it seemed appropriate to offer words I wrote back in My 2013:

Liberty is a choice. And with that choice comes some responsibility … and some broad boundaries … an expansive circle as it were.

And certainly some uneasiness within that wide open space … that tumultuous sea.

And unequivocally some fear because of its broadness.

In the end … the enemy of liberty is fear & ignorance.

Therefore to enable liberty there must remain the courage in all of us to accept it even with its imperfections.

Sadly the cost of having true liberty may be lives.

But the true tragedy would be if the cost of liberty was our freedom.

It seems to me that the biggest tragedy would be to have lost lives, people who most likely embraced the full liberty America had to offer, as a means, or an excuse, to kill or restrain liberty.

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Me.