We cannot turn our backs on refugees

To the editor:

If I listen to Gov. Terry Branstad and the other 25 or so Republican governors I must ask - are we afraid of ISIS or of Syria or of all refugees?

I am afraid of ISIS and I must admit that the only reasonable solution is to somehow eliminate or defuse them. This probably means through death and destruction. But despite that I can't believe that we will turn our back on the helpless Syrian refugees.

The Republicans (and one Democrat) ask for a thorough vetting and improved security of all refugees, particularly the Syrians. The probability that this process will provide a 100 percent guarantee that no terrorist slips through is essentially zero. Ultimately this could be applied to all refugees, Afghans, Palestinians, Pakistanis, Turks, or any nation where terrorists are active.

Now I assume most of these governors profess to be Christians or at a minimum represent a sizable Christian constituency. If that is the case then how would they answer the question, 'What would Christ do?”. Look at our history of 'terrorism,” Oklahoma bombing, mass shootings, assassinations (Kennedys, King, Malcom X, etc.), and of course 9/11. These all came from either deranged citizens or organized terrorists, not from refugees. The ISIS conscription of our disillusioned youth is a far bigger problem than our providing a sanctuary for displaced families.

I say we need to be afraid, but not to the point of cruelty which only provides ISIS the ammunition they need.

Gordon Taylor

Anamosa