The Syrian Refugee Crisis

By: Zachary Granet

Photo by Omar Haj Kadour of war-torn Syria

            Right now, due to the current war and devastation in the Middle East, especially in Syria, millions of people are displaced from their homes and lacking access to simple human necessities like food, water, or even simply a roof over their head. These refugees are fleeing their homes to the immediate lands adjacent to their country in hope of escaping the surrounding chaos. With little remaining but broken bricks, disseminated debris, and fractured lands, these people have the only option of leaving in order to live another day. In addition, without assistance, millions are trapped in cities like Aleppo and are almost condemned for certain death. Throughout the United States, many people have opinions concerning the role that America and other nations should take to assist the refugees. Therefore, I pose the question, should the United States provide humanitarian aid, military assistance, both, or nothing at all? With an obligation to serve the greater good, the U.S. must intervene once again and assist the Syrian refugees in any way feasible. Moreover, the United States should take in more refugees than it currently offers and stabilize the region so that the millions scattered across the world can get back to living their lives. These refuges are well-educated and can have a positive contribution to the American economy.

Tarique Mustafa poses for a one
 on one to talk about his family and views on
 the current refugee crisis. Photo captured on 
Rutgers' college avenue campus in a small
 conference room by Zachary Granet.

            My peers, Tarique Mustafa and Gaurav Ghosh, both shared their opinionated arguments concerning the actions that the United States and other nations must take regarding the refugee crisis.

 Tarique has a rich, unique background unlike anyone whom I have ever met. He comes from a family of five that includes two other brothers, one older and one younger. In 1998, his parents immigrated to the United States from their native home in Khartoum, Sudan. While his father was practicing dentistry in Sweden, his parents won the Green Card Lottery that allowed them to come here. Specifically, according to the USA Diversity Lottery, the Green Card Lottery is a U.S. federal government program that gives fifty-five thousand people permanent resident cards every year to those from underrepresented countries. That same year, Tarique was born in Dallas, Texas and thus, became the first person in his family to naturalize as a citizen of the United States. Later while living in America, the birth of his younger brother soon followed. With such strong ties to the Middle East, including the majority of his family that still lives in Sudan, he believes that the U.S. government as well as other foreign government should make more of an effort to help those that are suffering. Furthermore, his argument consists of the fact that as human beings we have a duty to provide assistance to the refugees. His argument only adds to mine. The U.S. may have already provided aid but it has only started skimming the surface on the overall amount of relief it can offer to these uprooted people.

Gaurav Ghosh poses for a photo taken in the
        Rutgers Academic Building on College
     Avenue by Zachary Granet.

Concerning the refugee crisis, Gaurav has an interesting point of view as well. Although lacking a direct connection or ancestry from the region, he believes that the United States should not only accept more refugees but must incorporate them into our society. They can become valued members of our society by contributing to our education, political, and economic system.  At the same time, he brings up a crucial counterargument against the policy of accepting refugees. These people are coming to a first world nation from a third world one and live with different views regarding gender, family relationships, and culture. Assimilation may not be so easily expected. As a result, we must address this issue and still do our part in assisting these helpless people.

Let’s talk facts. The United States has only accepted ten thousand Syrian refugees. That’s a drop in the bucket compared to the millions that European nations and others have taken in. I ask the question again but in a different way. The question is not how or even whether the United States should contribute. It’s even simpler than that. Why are we not already doing more to help regular human beings?

My name is Zachary Granet. You can follow me on Twitter @ZGranet and contact me by email at zacharygranet@gmail.com. I am currently a first-year student working towards a Masters in Accounting at the Rutgers New Brunswick Business School. In my free time, I enjoy playing videogames, exercising, and spending time with my family and friends.