Strong points made for the preference of Christian refugees

As many countries promote a desire and often a mandate to give preference to Christian refugees coming from the Middle East over Muslim refugees, a debate rages about the thin line between bigotry and practicality. One of the points that’s not being argued is about the status of circumstances that separate Christian refugees from Muslim refugees.

To understand this fully, we have to take a closer look at the whole situation from both distinct perspectives. The majority of the Muslims fleeing the Middle East are doing so because their society has been thrown into chaos. Opportunity is slim when war is raging around you. They long for the days not too long ago when they could go about their business, living their lives in relative harmony and not worrying about persecution from the Islamic State threat. They were often casualties of the fight in Syria between the government and the rebels, but they weren’t the targets.

The Christians in the region have lived different lives. They lived through persecution even when there was relative stability in their lands. Being the minority in an area that was once thriving with Christians made them persecuted by more than just the Islamic State, the rebels, or even the governments in the area. They were persecuted by individuals. They were persecuted by mobs, shunned by businesses, and denied by non-governmental organizations.

Their lives were hard before the chaos ensued. They chose to stay in their lands despite the persecution because the Christian origins of the land preceded the forced spread of Islam. We’re talking about the places where Christianity took root. They didn’t stay there because they enjoyed the easy life before the Islamic State. They stayed because they were the last bastion of those roots of their faith. They were defending it with their presence, holding to a promise that their forefathers made to keep the seeds of Christianity alive in its birthplace.

They aren’t leaving over persecution. That’s nothing new for them. They aren’t leaving just because of the chaos that has engulfed the land. They have lived through chaos their whole lives in the form of being outsiders in their own land, forced to make decisions about how to operate day to day in a land where they weren’t really welcome. They are leaving because they truly have no other choice. Their homes are destroyed. Their families have been kidnapped or murdered. They can’t go many of the other Muslim nations that surround them because they won’t be met with open arms.

I don’t want to make it sound as if I’m not sympathetic of the plight of the Muslim refugees. They are going through a disastrous situation that keeps them from prospering. They are looking for opportunities and safety. It’s not fair to downplay that idea from the comfort of my office, but here’s the thing. When you compare the situations, the Muslim refugees simply have more options. They can do more with their situation. They aren’t facing the same types of persecution that Syrian Christians are facing. They’re looking for better lives. The Christians are trying to save their lives.

These points aren’t necessarily ones that I have come to, although I totally agree with them. This was inspired by an article that makes even better points over at American Thinker:

Accepting Christian Refugees http://t.co/W7HHtjGuUN#PoliticallyIncorrect#Truth@AMThinker

— Hasai (@hasai) September 19, 2015

It’s hard for anyone in today’s day and age to express a preference for any religious demographic. It’s about as politically incorrect as you can get. However, it’s not just about practicality. It’s an issue that must be seen through the lens of need. We have to acknowledge that the Christian refugees have a greater need than the Muslim ones, as unpopular as this truth is to utter.