Nancy Milio: Targeting the ‘Other’

In the light of the vicious gunning down of 49 people in the gay club in Orlando, it is especially painful to learn that the General Assembly is again considering legislation that would make us even more unwelcoming than it has already made us with HB 2.

This time it will try to stop refugees, restricting their freedom of movement and requiring discriminatory monitoring, creating in effect an invisible wall around them. Many North Carolinians are eager help Syrian refugees – many of whom are Muslim families fleeing violence. These newcomers have already been vetted by six government agencies. They seek only to live in peace and freedom, one better than the misery from which they came – just like our immigrant ancestors.

House Bill 1086 would prevent them from resettling in new communities by allowing localities to plead lack of capacity even if individual groups like churches or private campuses and organizations are prepared to support their transition to stable living. The bill would also foment ill feelings against refugees, which are breeding grounds for violence. Let people of conscience speak out to the need to welcome the Other as part of the human family.

This story was originally published June 30, 2016 at 3:22 PM with the headline "Nancy Milio: Targeting the ‘Other’."