Sometimes Racism Gets in the Way

Sometimes, racism gets in the way! Like individuals, governments sometimes cannot get past religious, ethnic, and racial divides, and fear of political cost. International law mandates that all sovereign nations must accommodate the needs of refugees (by providing food, shelter, medical aid, and security) until such time that it is safe for the refugees to return to home country or until they are granted political asylum. I hope that President Barack Obama can help by air-lifting those refugees stranded at sea, in Europe, and in various other locations, to the United States, Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Canada, Holand, Denmark, Belgium, Australia, etc. Many of these refugees are well educated and highly degreed and would bring a wealth of intellectual (and cultural) capital to host countries. Above all, countries like ours which are in a position to help, have a moral and historical obligation to do so. Perhaps more than any nation, the United States has the capacity and infrastructure to make rapid and decisive contributions in resolving this enormous tragedy which has befallen so many innocent people from the cradle of civilizations. The rewards for reaching out to the many unclenched hands will undoubtedly be realized, perhaps in much greater ways than we can ever anticipate.