Jesus Was A Refugee
Nicholas Kristof’s Sunday op-ed: “The Statue of Liberty Must Be Crying”.
You’ve heard of this family: a carpenter named Joseph, his wife, Mary, and their baby son, Jesus.
According to the Gospel of Matthew, after Jesus’ birth they fled to save Jesus from murderous King Herod (perhaps the 2,000-year-ago equivalent of Bashar al-Assad of Syria?). Fortunately Joseph, Mary and Jesus found de facto asylum in Egypt — thank goodness House Republicans weren’t in charge when Jesus was a refugee!
Yes, security is a legitimate concern. And, yes, we can’t rule out the possibility that a terrorist will slip in with the refugees. Among refugees admitted to the U.S. since 9/11, there has been about one arrest for terrorism offenses for every 250,000 refugees, according to the Migration Policy Institute.
Then again, by my back-of-the-envelope calculations there’s maybe a 100-times greater likelihood that, say, a Floridian will turn out to be a murderer over a 10-year period than that a refugee will attempt terrorism. So if we’re willing to allow Floridians free entry into other states, allowing Syrian refugees shouldn’t be a problem.
Copyright 2015 Liberaland
16 responses to Jesus Was A Refugee
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MyDogsAreSmarterThanYou November 22nd, 2015 at 12:25
In fact, certain members of the GOP are more than happy to foist convicted rapists off onto other states. Isn’t that right, Huckabee? Tell me, how’d that one work out again?
Tommie November 22nd, 2015 at 12:58
Yeah, but the right will say he wasn’t a the same race as the terrorist!
Suzanne McFly November 22nd, 2015 at 16:53
Yeah, he was one of those blonde Caucasians from the middle east that we see so often.
Chris November 22nd, 2015 at 13:31
Excellent column by Kristof. It seems we never seem to make good decisions regarding refugee when we’re scared. Which, now, seems most of the time.
Dwendt44 November 22nd, 2015 at 14:49
Jesus was also a liberal and a socialist, not that any thing the object of right wing worship was matters much.
Robert Smithson November 22nd, 2015 at 20:04
Jesus was all about personal conviction and responsibility, not coercing things from people at the point of the Roman spear. His family never received a government stipend when they were refugees and Joseph most likely got a job as a carpenter and Mother Mary too by doing other peoples laundry, baby sitting, and maybe a little house cleaning. All a far cry from what liberals demand for today’s “refugees”.
Corey Storms November 23rd, 2015 at 05:41
Suzanne McFly November 22nd, 2015 at 16:51
Well Jesus was a blonde white guy, totally different scenario………/s
bpollen November 22nd, 2015 at 18:42
I’ll let this speak for itself:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9BRia7J9P4
Robert Smithson November 22nd, 2015 at 20:01
Oh here we go with the Christian haters channeling Jesus.
Mensa Member November 22nd, 2015 at 23:54
I love Christ but I think these conservatives are horribly anti-Christ.
William November 23rd, 2015 at 00:04
Your Jesus is way different than our Jesus. Yours is made up. Ours taught compassion mercy and charity.
whatthe46 November 23rd, 2015 at 00:48
didn’t all the GOPissers say god told them to run. faux christians channeling their evil god. your jesus and your god is di*ks! my Jesus and my God are both compassionate .
Mensa Member November 22nd, 2015 at 23:52
I am a devout Christian and I am appalled at the deeply un-Christian response of my conservative brethren towards refugees.
Jesus could have not been more clear. When we welcome the poor, the sick, the stranger, we are welcoming Him.
Bunya November 23rd, 2015 at 14:37
I think everybody, regardless of faith (or lack thereof), doesn’t condone this type of behavior.
William November 23rd, 2015 at 00:02
Yes, security is a legitimate concern. And, yes, we can’t rule out the possibility that a terrorist will slip in with the refugees.