Make room for huddled masses

“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!”

That is the message on the Statue of Liberty. It is difficult to imagine people who better fit those who are described in the poem than the refugees from Syria. However, there are a large number of politicians (and unelected, totally unaccountable individuals in the media) who do not believe in this message, and are saying we should deny entry to all Syrian refugees because one or more might be from ISIS.

They are allowing fear to overcome the American value of liberty.

By their recent actions and statements, the Republican presidential candidates, the Republican leadership in Congress, and almost all Republican governors are sending a powerful message to ISIS – you have won. You have intimidated us. You have scared us so much that we are afraid of engaging in the Christian act of charity (which we all profess loudly to have), and allowing Syrian Muslims into the United States.

The president of France – the location of the most recent atrocity – has stood firm in defying the terrorists and continuing to accept the refugees. No so the Republican Party.

Congratulations, leaders of the Republican Party and would-be leaders of the most powerful country on earth. You have shown the world your true colors, and they are not red, white and blue.

This story was originally published December 11, 2015 at 11:03 AM with the headline "Make room for huddled masses."