The world’s still full of pilgrims
Obama to war refugee critics: ‘We turn Lady Liberty’s light to all’ SMOOTH SAILING AT PARADE: THANKSGIVING 2015
President Obama used his Thanksgiving address to smack down naysayers of U.S. policy allowing 10,000 Syrian refugees into country this year. The administration on Wednesday sent a letter telling state resettlement officials they cannot deny benefits based on country of origin or religion.
COMPARING THE plight of Syrian refugees to the pilgrims who celebrated the first Thanksgiving in 1621, President Obama made a holiday plea Thursday for Americans to accept the migrants with open arms.
“So much of our greatness comes from our generosity,” he said in his weekly radio address.
Obama has committed to accept 10,000 refugees from wartorn Syria this year — but the plan has come under fierce assault from Republicans since the Paris terror attacks.
“Nearly four centuries after the Mayflower set sail, the world is still full of pilgrims,” Obama said, “men and women who want nothing more than the chance for a safer, better future for themselves and their families. What makes America America is that we offer that chance.”
Obama said he’s been inundated by letters and emails from Americans offering to take Syrians fleeing ISIS and dictator Bashar Assad (photo, inset) into their homes.
“We turn Lady Liberty’s light to the world, and widen our circle of concern to say that all God’s children are worthy of our compassion and care,” the President said. “That’s part of what makes this the greatest country on Earth.”
Obama stressed that warnings that refugees would pose a danger are overblown since people entering the country are thoroughly screened.
“Now, people should remember that no refugee can enter our borders until they undergo the highest security checks of anyone traveling to the United States,” he said. “That was the case before Paris, and it’s the case now. And what happened in Paris hasn’t stopped Americans from opening their arms anyway.”
Earlier this month, Mayor de Blasio — holding the iconic photo of a drowned 3-year-old Syrian boy — demanded that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie eat his cruel words about Syrian migrants.
The mayor waved the heartbreaking photo of little Alan Kurdi as he lambasted the GOP presidential longshot for his opposition to sheltering even a single Syrian refugee.
Men & women want nothing more than the chance for a safer, better future. What makes america america is that we offer that chance.
President Obama in his thanksgiving address
“I’d like to know what Gov. Christie says about this,” an infuriated de Blasio said Nov. 18. “This is the cost of not bringing in people who are innocent victims of a humanitarian crisis.
“This image gripped the world, literally. Gov. Christie specifically said he did not think it was appropriate for small children to be brought in. Is this what he wants to see happen to people? Is this what he wants to see happen to children?”
Christie was one of 30 mostly Republican governors to tell the White House they would not accept Syrian refugees in their states.
On Wednesday, the Obama administration warned those governors, telling them in a letter they do not have legal authority to refuse refugees. The letter also said that states that do not comply may be subject to enforcement action.
The House of Representatives voted earlier this month to erect higher hurdles for Syrian and Iraqi refugees coming to the U.S. The vote was 289-to-137 — enough to override a threatened Obama veto. Despite Obama’s opposition, 47 Democrats voted for the bill.
Meanwhile, Canada’s Liberal government announced a $75 million contribution to the UN High Commission for Refugees to help fleeing Syrians. The contribution is part of the program to resettle thousands of Syrian refugees in Canada over the next few months.