GOP debate, Dec. 15
The circus which has been the GOP candidate debates has brought up repeated, highlighted, and disturbing suggestions regarding issues involving immigration.
The most disturbing, head-shaking, and eyebrow-raising is a somewhat showman-like proposal to segregate and/or to refuse admission to allow Muslims to immigrate into the United States.
Unbelievable.
The backlash about this not-so-modest proposal has been evident through many media outlets.
The iconic journalist Tom Brokaw, 75, who is now a special correspondent for NBC News, stated, “Donald Trump’s promise to ban all Muslims from coming to America is more – much more – than a shouted campaign provocation.” In an editorial segment of NBC Nightly News, Brokaw stated, “In my lifetime alone, we have been witness to the consequences of paranoia overriding reason…. Trump’s statement, even in a season of extremes, is a dangerous proposal that overrides history, the law and the foundation of America itself.”
Brokaw warned that repeating those mistakes by demonizing all Muslims for the crimes of the self-described Islamic State would also have negative consequences.
“Yes, the jihadists are radical Muslims, but they are a minority in a world with a billion and a half Muslims,” Brokaw added. “Even so, defeating ISIS will be long, hard and expensive – perhaps even more so now because ISIS is likely to use Donald Trump’s statements as a recruiting tool.”
The Northwest Asian Weekly would like to question and contribute to the backlash, even if our voice might be smaller than Brokaw’s.
Why are we shaking our heads?
We can answer with other questions:
How can we possibly refuse a whole group based on their religion?
And then:
Are you Jewish?
Are you Japanese?
Are you Muslim?
It would be a shame if you were scared to say “yes.” (end)