OPINION: Syrians Seeking Asylum Could Be 'Potential Terrorists'

Editor’s note: The views represented here do not necessarily represent the views of Patch or its editors. If you’d like to send a letter to the editor please email wendy.mitchell@patch.com.

A Bethel resident responded to a recent article about the Syrian refugee crisis that quoted Wendy Cahill, owner of Molten Java, as saying:

“Welcoming Syrian families into our state is one very real and positive way that we can fight Islamic fundamentalism. Some fear may be justified but we can’t let it override the fact that there could be 1600 More Syrians fighting fundamentalists in the West. We need to take that chance and show our humanity. ”

Click here to read the article and the rest of Wendy Cahill’s quote.

Bethel resident Joseph G., who did not wish to use his last name, responded as follows:

“Now I know where not to buy my coffee. To hear someone say that it’s more important to let asylum seekers, who could be potential terrorists in the country, than to protect the public at large, is very offensive. I am not racist. If 99.9 percent of all the terror attacks are being carried out by one particular ethnic group, they need to be profiled. Desperate times call for desperate measures and it’s about time we start on the path of protecting our freedom, before we have it taken away. The Koran is very clear that it is not interested in peace. It is filled with messages of hate. The moderates, if there any, need to read their own scripture. If we don’t take firm action, we are at risk of having our lives as we know it taken away.”