I Was a “Terrorist Country” Refugee Who’d Grown Up Shouting “Death to America.” America Trusted Me A

[ADigitalArtist]

Well he's the president and it makes sense to scrutinize immigrants from countries you've been bombing, destablizing and ruining for years.

Except the ones you pick based on business interests rather than the interests of defense I guess. (Sarcasm)
And we already have a perfectly good vetting system, one of the strictest in the world, for refugees and immigrants and it takes years for them to get through. This ban is completely unnecessary and only serves to fear monger against a people who've done no more to us than refugees from Ireland.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

The part where she paints "kicking out the liberal intellectuals" as a bad thing, I knew then. Aside from that the whole thing in general seems hokey.

Just...wow...

 

[allfoak]

A moving piece in response to the darkness attempting to overrun America and the world

I Was a “Terrorist Country” Refugee Who’d Grown Up Shouting “Death to America.” America Trusted Me Anyway.

Could she have guessed that in just a few years, I would pledge allegiance to the American flag in my elementary school with actual pride in my heart? That I would spend my entire young life watching Saved by the Bell and trying so hard to be a “real American”? Could she have imagined that I would go to law school, take the oath of citizenship to my country, and spend a recent Thursday walking up and down our street with my three daughters selling Girl Scout cookies?
...
But now, when I think about the immigrants and refugees from “terrorist countries” that soon will be banned by executive order from coming here, I am one of them. I know that some people fear us and want us to leave. Just a few weeks ago, a gentleman followed me around a local Trader Joe’s yelling at me to “go back to my country.” But this is my country—even though this resurgent tribalism seems to puts people like me on the outside. The irony for me is that it was Iran’s tribalism and nationalism that put my family out in the first place. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s regime had said “Iran First,” too. They silenced the press, kicked out all the “others,” and ran the liberal intellectuals out of the country.


I hope that’s not what happens here. But even if it does, this is my home and I will keep working to make America great because I have so much hope in America. It had hope in me—that Muslim kid, in a visa office, from a terrorist country, whose future was a completely open landscape. And that beautiful bureaucrat stamped “Approved” on that blank space.

It is true, some people are going to be affected in a negative manner.
It is a judgment call.
War is a judgment call that negatively affects peoples lives.
He is the person thathas to make these sometimes unpopular decisions.
We shall see in time if the problems that come with this decision get addressed or not.

 

[savagewind]

She wasn't a Christian immigrant, she didn't convert until after she got here. Did you even read the article you're claiming is fake?

It sounds like you are saying she converted to Christianity. I don't see that.

 

[Mindmaster]

It sounds like you are saying she converted to Christianity. I don't see that.

That author is a converted Mormon (conversion for Muslims is completely non-typical), and anecdotal evidence doesn't mean that it is generally not a bad idea to ban travel from terror sponsoring countries.

Secondly, nearly all of them ban travel from the USA. You want to go see ancient Babylonia relics in Iraq or see the holy sites in Mecca -- good ****ing luck. You can't even get a visa to enter these countries.

So no, we don't have to let them in, they don't let us in. Screw them.

 

[savagewind]

That author is a converted Mormon (conversion for Muslims is completely non-typical), and anecdotal evidence doesn't mean that it is generally not a bad idea to ban travel from terror sponsoring countries.

Secondly, nearly all of them ban travel from the USA. You want to go see ancient Babylonia relics in Iraq or see the holy sites in Mecca -- good ****ing luck. You can't even get a visa to enter these countries.

So no, we don't have to let them in, they don't let us in. Screw them.

I did not see that in the article posted so I looked it up.
http://www.athoughtfulfaith.org/mehrsa-baradaran-about-the-other-half/

The reason why I doubted it is because in the first article it says a man followed her around telling her to go home so I assumed she was dressed as a Muslim.

 

[Revoltingest]

Let's assume the premise that a single immigrant came here & made good.
This cannot affect public policy in general.
We must still be careful....especially with Scots.
All here know why.

 

[ADigitalArtist]

That author is a converted Mormon (conversion for Muslims is completely non-typical), and anecdotal evidence doesn't mean that it is generally not a bad idea to ban travel from terror sponsoring countries.

Secondly, nearly all of them ban travel from the USA. You want to go see ancient Babylonia relics in Iraq or see the holy sites in Mecca -- good ****ing luck. You can't even get a visa to enter these countries.

So no, we don't have to let them in, they don't let us in. Screw them.

There's advisory warnings for war torn areas but you can travel to Iraq and Iran just fine. And holy sites and gathered relics by their religious institutions is no less accessible than those in the Vatican.
Once again...

 

[Mindmaster]

There's advisory warnings for war torn areas but you can travel to Iraq and Iran just fine. And holy sites and gathered relics by their religious institutions is no less accessible than those in the Vatican.
Also, once again...

This is a complete lie, any non-Muslim can go no where near any relics in these countries. Hell, I'll take it further and say that you have to be a specific sect of Muslim even. You'll be lucky to even get into them w/o having relatives that live there, or a company to sponsor you. I have no idea why you are promoting these lies, but travel to these areas are so difficult they generally aren't worth trying. The only place that I can think of that is harder is perhaps Russia, and it's even hard to LEAVE there. The only place that is easy to get into in Saudi Arabia is Riyadh, after that, not so much. Forget travelling to any of these places if you are an unaccompanied woman too...

So to recap:

If your idea of travelling to these places includes only the areas where Arab countries pretend to be westerners you are correct. If you own testicles, you are correct, but for any other conceivable situation you are dead wrong.

 

[Mindmaster]

I did not see that in the article posted so I looked it up.
http://www.athoughtfulfaith.org/mehrsa-baradaran-about-the-other-half/

The reason why I doubted it is because in the first article it says a man followed her around telling her to go home so I assumed she was dressed as a Muslim.

It's possible she is still dressing in Muslim clothing with family around, since they'd probably beat her to the ground if she didn't, lol. Who knows?

I hate saying bad things about religions and cultures, but man there is just nothing nice to say about it.

 

[Neo Deist]

It seems fictitious.

It is a true story.

However, it is from the Slate Magazine, so expect it to be written from a liberal point of view.

 

[ADigitalArtist]

This is a complete lie, any non-Muslim can go no where near any relics in these countries. Hell, I'll take it further and say that you have to be a specific sect of Muslim even. You'll be lucky to even get into them w/o having relatives that live there, or a company to sponsor you. I have no idea why you are promoting these lies, but travel to these areas are so difficult they generally aren't worth trying. The only place that I can think of that is harder is perhaps Russia, and it's even hard to LEAVE there. The only place that is easy to get into in Saudi Arabia is Riyadh, after that, not so much. Forget travelling to any of these places if you are an unaccompanied woman too...

So to recap:

If your idea of travelling to these places includes only the areas where Arab countries pretend to be westerners you are correct. If you own testicles, you are correct, but for any other conceivable situation you are dead wrong.

And many relics and places at the Vatican are off limit to anyone not in the upper echelons of the church. What's your point?

Lol okay so even though the last travel sanction ended at the beginning of last year, and both business and commercial travel do these countries exist, and I personally know of women both Muslim and non-Muslim who travel there for family visitation or business, I guess I'll just take. The word of some dude in the Internet.

 

[ADigitalArtist]

hate saying bad things about religions and cultures

No you don't.

 

[Mindmaster]

No you don't.

Aww,

Yes, well I can speak for myself...

I generally feel that cultures and religions are "whatever floats your boat", but some folks work hard to receive my disdain. I claim no responsibility...

As far as the "random guy on the Internet" thing...

That's just a genetic fallacy... logic 101, the guy can be telling you the truth... lol

 

[ADigitalArtist]

Aww,

Yes, well I can speak for myself...

I generally feel that cultures and religions are "whatever floats your boat", but some folks work hard to receive my disdain. I claim no responsibility...

As far as the "random guy on the Internet" thing...

That's just a genetic fallacy... logic 101, the guy can be telling you the truth... lol

Your actions on this site speak louder than this one comment.

And genetic fallacy? Really? Neverminding that I use 'guy' in the gender neutral, I don't believe you because I know a girl in Iraq right now visiting family and worrying if she can still find a channel to get home.

 

[Mindmaster]

Your actions on this site speak louder than this one comment.

And genetic fallacy? Really? Neverminding that I use 'guy' in the gender neutral, I don't believe you because I know a girl in Iraq right now visiting family and worrying if she can still find a channel to get home.

I find it strange that you have to define terms when you talk, it is obvious from the context what we mean. Anyway, this is just anecdotal experiences... Say 5% of the people coming from these countries are terrorists, is it worth it to ban the other 95% due to risk? I say yes, and further I think we should ban countries that sponsor terrorism even if they don't ship them over here. If they don't play nice they get a timeout, and if they don't like it they can kick rocks. Personally, where we can prove they have supported a single act of terrorism toward a US citizen we should bomb them out of existence, but Trump is far nicer than me. I don't think all people associated with a culture/religion are bad, even if I think that religion or culture is bad. It doesn't mean we shouldn't take sensible precautions...

Does it create a temporary snag with travel? Yeah, but I am sure the authorities are already solving this. They know people from Iraq, etc, are coming home. These are just silly arguments, but are largely non-issues... You can generally fly to banned countries via others, so it just means you have to take a transfer flight -- you still get where you are going. It's been rather easy to get to Cuba, for example, for a long time.. You just need to go US->Canada->Cuba or US->Mexico->Cuba. I doubt it'll be any different.. That won't probably help you if you have a passport from one of these countries, however, since you will be denied a visa on arrival.

Anyway, my other posts are irrelevant to the thread and have nothing to do with this subject.

 

[Katzpur]

There's advisory warnings for war torn areas but you can travel to Iraq and Iran just fine. And holy sites and gathered relics by their religious institutions is no less accessible than those in the Vatican.
Once again...
View attachment 15999

Oh my gosh! Those stats blew my mind!

 

[ADigitalArtist]

I find it strange that you have to define terms when you talk, it is obvious from the context what we mean. Anyway, this is just anecdotal experiences... Say 5% of the people coming from these countries are terrorists, is it worth it to ban the other 95% due to risk? I say yes, and further I think we should ban countries that sponsor terrorism even if they don't ship them over here. If they don't play nice they get a timeout, and if they don't like it they can kick rocks. Personally, where we can prove they have supported a single act of terrorism toward a US citizen we should bomb them out of existence, but Trump is far nicer than me. I don't think all people associated with a culture/religion are bad, even if I think that religion or culture is bad. It doesn't mean we shouldn't take sensible precautions...

Does it create a temporary snag with travel? Yeah, but I am sure the authorities are already solving this. They know people from Iraq, etc, are coming home. These are just silly arguments, but are largely non-issues... You can generally fly to banned countries via others, so it just means you have to take a transfer flight -- you still get where you are going. It's been rather easy to get to Cuba, for example, for a long time.. You just need to go US->Canada->Cuba or US->Mexico->Cuba. I doubt it'll be any different.. That won't probably help you if you have a passport from one of these countries, however, since you will be denied a visa on arrival.

Anyway, my other posts are irrelevant to the thread and have nothing to do with this subject.

First of all, even 5% is a ridiculous hypothetical, since no terrorist actions against the US from the banned countries has happened since the 70s. Even 1% would be too high of a guesstimate.
Second of all, we already have a vetting system, one of the strictest in the world, and no reason to further increase security other than discriminatory profiling.
Lastly, this is the same sort of drivel people said when turning away Jewish and Polish immigrants and refugees during ww2. Fear mongering allowed preventable deaths because some people didn't have the balls to help, due to an irrational fear of Nazi spies and saboteurs mixed in with them.

 

[JakofHearts]

There's advisory warnings for war torn areas but you can travel to Iraq and Iran just fine. And holy sites and gathered relics by their religious institutions is no less accessible than those in the Vatican.
Once again...
View attachment 15999

Do you have a source for this?

Battle of Mogadishu (1993), a battle between forces of the United States and Somali militia fighters doesn't count? Or the war in Iraq? Benghazi?

 

[ADigitalArtist]

Do you have a source for this?

Battle of Mogadishu (1993), a battle between forces of the United States and Somali militia fighters doesn't count? Or the war in Iraq? Benghazi?

Military casualties in war =! Terrorism, which is what this is about. I could probably do some digging but it'll have to be after I can get back to my computer.