Are we importing conflict?

There has been conflict in the Middle East for centuries; everything from the Sunni Shia divide within Islam to conflict between countries and ethnic groups in a region that has long been a powder keg. People from this part of the world have a history of conflict in their own home territory. What would make us think it would be any different here?

In fact, it is not. Look at one of our most established Muslim populations in Southeast Michigan. Dearborn is recognized as having the largest concentrated population of Muslims outside the Middle East. It was originally populated by people from Lebanon who formed a mosque over twenty years ago. As time went on there were developing conflicts between the founders of the mosque who came from Lebanon and more recent arrivals who tended to come from Iraq.  The Iraqi imam's 18 year tenure was marked by tensions. The breaking point came about six months ago, leading to turmoil and a recent parting of the ways between the mosque and the Iraqi imam who is now taking his followers to establish a new mosque in a community outside, but close to Dearborn. There are big plans for not only a mosque, but an education center which will include a university.

One of the complaints about the Iraqi imam centered on an allegation of financial impropriety. In particular, the early Lebanese members questioned  charitable funds being channeled to an orphanage in Iraq connected with the imam's father. There were some members who wanted to see other recipients benefiting from the charitable outreach of the mosque, specifically Lebanese charities.

In another suburban Detroit community in Oakland County there are different offshoots of Islam that
do not communicate with each other even though they are almost in the same neighborhood. There are mosques within walking distance of each other but there is no crossover with the members of the mosque. As the Muslim population increases we are starting to hear more about these rifts.

These are some of the early rumblings we are hearing. So why would we want to throw thousands of Syrians into the mix? It seems to be a very poor idea when we know there is no way to properly vet new Syrian arrivals, or for that matter any of the refugees from war zones. It should be a
clue when we hear that Saudi Arabia is refusing to take Syrian refugees at all. They cite serious security concerns.

So why would we entertain such folly when we do not even have a handle on our own experience with Refugee Resettlement? We are learning it is not open and transparent and we have very
little say in an agenda that is set by the UN. We do not know if 25,000 Syrians are coming. At this stage it may only be a trial balloon. But the problem is that in this secrecy shrouded program we will not know until they are here. And that is a problem.

The suggested action item for the week is to have conversations with your local, state, and federal
lawmakers. Ask them what they know about Refugee Resettlement and tell them what you think.
Read and share Ann Corcoran's excellent blog, www.refugeeresettlementwatch.wordpress.com. This is a conversation we must have, and soon!