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A family from Syria waits at a temporary shelter for migrants to be transported farther into Germany
Amidst this growing anti-Syrian sentiment, Phil Klay, author of "Redeployment" and veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps posted a moving series of tweets explaining why the United States should be opening its doors, not closing them.
From Klay's Twitter:
1. Tremendously upset by attempt to effectively close our borders to Syrian refugees by imposing impossible-to-implement screening standards
- Phil Klay (@PhilKlay) November 19, 20152. When I swore my oath of office as a Marine officer, I swore to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States."
- Phil Klay (@PhilKlay) November 19, 20153. The Marine hymn claims that Marines are the "first to fight for right and freedom and to keep our honor clean."
- Phil Klay (@PhilKlay) November 19, 20154. You're not supposed to risk your life just for the physical safety of American citizens
- Phil Klay (@PhilKlay) November 19, 20155. You're supposed to risk your life for American ideals as well.
- Phil Klay (@PhilKlay) November 19, 20156. This shouldn't be a left-right issue. Ronald Reagan, who believed that America was the exceptional nation,
- Phil Klay (@PhilKlay) November 19, 20157. the "Shining City on a Hill," asked himself during his farewell address from the Oval Office how that Shining City fared, answering:
- Phil Klay (@PhilKlay) November 19, 20158. "After 200 years, two centuries, she still stands strong and true on the granite ridge, and her glow has held steady no matter what storm
- Phil Klay (@PhilKlay) November 19, 20159. "And she's still a beacon; still a magnet for all who must have freedom,
- Phil Klay (@PhilKlay) November 19, 201510. "for all the pilgrims from all the lost places who are hurtling through the darkness toward home."
- Phil Klay (@PhilKlay) November 19, 201511. Millions of pilgrims are hurtling through the darkness, but it's Germany that has recently been the beacon standing strong and true,
- Phil Klay (@PhilKlay) November 19, 201511. Millions of pilgrims are hurtling through the darkness, but it's Germany that has recently been the beacon standing strong and true,
- Phil Klay (@PhilKlay) November 19, 201512. welcoming them home, not America.
- Phil Klay (@PhilKlay) November 19, 201513. If we want to be the kind of nation that others will follow,
- Phil Klay (@PhilKlay) November 19, 201514. the kind of nation capable of forging strong links in the Muslim world against extremism,
- Phil Klay (@PhilKlay) November 19, 201515. then we have to behave like that kind of nation. I get that people are scared.
- Phil Klay (@PhilKlay) November 19, 201516. But it's only during frightening times when you get to find out if your country really deserves to call itself the 'home of the brave.'
- Phil Klay (@PhilKlay) November 19, 201517. Worth noting that @theIRC does excellent work for refugees, and always appreciates donations. https://t.co/APsnTDe5s7
- Phil Klay (@PhilKlay) November 19, 2015Well @PhilKlay just made me burst into tears in 16 tweets. https://t.co/lN5BU7SLOQ
- Rachel Fershleiser (@RachelFersh) November 19, 2015