With the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States comes a fresh slate of new concerns by the American press. These concerns have been dormant for eight years under Barack Obama but now rise to 24/7 cable news channel coverage. For example, the 90 day suspension of citizens traveling from a specific list of countries who will be refused entry into America, made through Executive Order by President Trump.
The countries on the list are: Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. All are currently labeled as "countries of concern" in a law passed in 2016. All Muslim majority countries, the total populations equal about 134 million, according to latest census numbers.
This is the notice at the top of the U.S. State Department's Visa page:
"Urgent Notice: Under the Executive Order on Protecting the Nation from Terrorist Attacks by Foreign Nationals signed on January 27, 2017, visa issuance to nationals of the countries of Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen has been suspended effective immediately until further notification. We will announce any other changes affecting travelers to the United States as soon as that information is available."
The inevitable happened almost immediately. Groups that have decided to be professional protesters over the course of the next four years assembled quickly and began protesting at an international terminal at JFK airport after the report was put out of two Iraqi men being held instead of being allowed to enter our country. Lawyers immediately appeared and lawsuits are being filed as I type this. Trust me when I say fundraising letters are being emailed for every non-profit dealing with social justice issues around the country. It was all a little too well coordinated, if you ask me. Congress members and the NYC mayor's office were a little too quick to become a part of their stories.
This is the new normal. For the next four years we will be divided by those opposing Trump and those supporting him. The losers are determined to create chaos and will profit from it. All those who lectured on "country first, not party first" now put themselves first. Even from the right, the ones unable to work for the betterment of Americans are gleefully working with the left against the Trump administration. Hey, there's some unity!
Of the countries on the list, I am most concerned about Iraq. I don't want the brave Iraqi handlers and fixers there working with our military and contractors to be at any more risk than they already are. Iraqis have waited for years during the normal process of being allowed to come to America so don't fall for the crocodile tears from American pundits and their willing cohorts in the press who would have you believe that suddenly these people are being stopped from coming here at the hands of that meanie Donald Trump. Barack Obama did little to help over the last eight years when the press was busy looking the other way.
The Syrian refugees is a heartbreaking problem but the photo of the toddler's body washed ashore happened on Barack Obama's watch. It was Obama's failure to respond when the Syrian madman crossed his red line threat that produced the devastation we see to this day.
The ban on travel from Iran? Pfsst. There is little anyway. I'm sure it will be used as a tool in unwinding parts of the horrible deal struck with them by Winter Soldier Kerry and Barack Obama.
A ninety day suspension will be inconvenient for some but it is not permanent and it is not the end of the world. Get some true vetting happening and allow the laws currently on the books to be enforced. Reform the system, if need be. Most Americans will welcome that.
Get a grip. It's going to be a long four years on the heels of a very long eight years of Barack Obama. Trump has only been in the Oval Office for 8 days. So far, he has done nothing but fulfill campaign promises. That's more than we can say for most of his predecessors.
This is the notice at the top of the U.S. State Department's Visa page:
"Urgent Notice: Under the Executive Order on Protecting the Nation from Terrorist Attacks by Foreign Nationals signed on January 27, 2017, visa issuance to nationals of the countries of Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen has been suspended effective immediately until further notification. We will announce any other changes affecting travelers to the United States as soon as that information is available."
The inevitable happened almost immediately. Groups that have decided to be professional protesters over the course of the next four years assembled quickly and began protesting at an international terminal at JFK airport after the report was put out of two Iraqi men being held instead of being allowed to enter our country. Lawyers immediately appeared and lawsuits are being filed as I type this. Trust me when I say fundraising letters are being emailed for every non-profit dealing with social justice issues around the country. It was all a little too well coordinated, if you ask me. Congress members and the NYC mayor's office were a little too quick to become a part of their stories.
This is the new normal. For the next four years we will be divided by those opposing Trump and those supporting him. The losers are determined to create chaos and will profit from it. All those who lectured on "country first, not party first" now put themselves first. Even from the right, the ones unable to work for the betterment of Americans are gleefully working with the left against the Trump administration. Hey, there's some unity!
Of the countries on the list, I am most concerned about Iraq. I don't want the brave Iraqi handlers and fixers there working with our military and contractors to be at any more risk than they already are. Iraqis have waited for years during the normal process of being allowed to come to America so don't fall for the crocodile tears from American pundits and their willing cohorts in the press who would have you believe that suddenly these people are being stopped from coming here at the hands of that meanie Donald Trump. Barack Obama did little to help over the last eight years when the press was busy looking the other way.
The Syrian refugees is a heartbreaking problem but the photo of the toddler's body washed ashore happened on Barack Obama's watch. It was Obama's failure to respond when the Syrian madman crossed his red line threat that produced the devastation we see to this day.
The ban on travel from Iran? Pfsst. There is little anyway. I'm sure it will be used as a tool in unwinding parts of the horrible deal struck with them by Winter Soldier Kerry and Barack Obama.
A ninety day suspension will be inconvenient for some but it is not permanent and it is not the end of the world. Get some true vetting happening and allow the laws currently on the books to be enforced. Reform the system, if need be. Most Americans will welcome that.
Get a grip. It's going to be a long four years on the heels of a very long eight years of Barack Obama. Trump has only been in the Oval Office for 8 days. So far, he has done nothing but fulfill campaign promises. That's more than we can say for most of his predecessors.
No comments:
Post a Comment