In my life, I have been lucky enough to have served under men who were leaders in every sense of the word. 1st Lt. Burnham, Captain Staab, SSG Kennedy, and SSG Peña, to name just a few. I would have followed any of those men to hell and back. They were leaders not just because I was subordinate in rank to them, but because there were times when they knew what they were doing was not popular thing to do, or because they were ordered to do, but it was the right thing to do — I was going to go into detail about what each of these men did to show their leadership; however, I will just let it stand that they were leaders in every sense of the word. They led by their actions, not their words.
I contrast that with the governors of various states, including my home, Wisconsin, who have said that they will not allow Syrian refugees to be placed in their states. To equate all Muslims with terrorists is akin to equating all Christians with the Westboro Baptist Church. Using ignorance, fear, and bigotry to make decisions is not a way to lead. True leadership would be opening our doors to refugees — not fearing them.
It seems as if we have forgotten the placard at the base of the Statue of Liberty:
“The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles.
From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!"” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
Monday, Nov 16, 2015 · 10:51:22 PM +00:00
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Mark E Andersen
Just defriended a guy I served with in the 101st Airborne - He calls me a liberal bleeding heart (he meant it as an insult), and not to my face, on his Facebook page, because I strongly believe that we should be opening our doors to Syrian refugees. I still believe in the America that put that poem on the Statue of Liberty.
I still believe that we do no have to give up liberty for security, I believe that the American people should not make decisions based on fear, ignorance and intolerance - if that makes me a bleeding heart liberal - then so fucking be it!