Don’t let facts get in the way of a good argument, says reader

December 2, 2015 · 0 Comments

I was disappointed to read Shelley Wister’s open letter to Leona Alleslev last week criticizing the government for their plan to bring in 25,000 Syrian refugees “in light of the Paris attacks.”
Ms. Wister offers a number of “facts” to back up the criticism but doesn’t let “facts” get in the way of a good argument.
First, she says it’s a “fact” that there’s a “counterfeiting industry operating in Europe and the Middle East” popping out Syrian passports, IDs, etc. This is something she says should be “disturbing to any reasoning person.” What is disturbing to this reasoned person is the lack of facts to back up this alleged “fact” when just one Syrian passport was found after the shootings.
“Even if a handful of these extremists enter our country, we will be looking at acts of terrorism against our population.” Once again, where are the facts to back this up? You just need to look at last week’s shooting at a Planned Parenthood in the U.S. and a growing list of home-grown American terrorist attacks to see the holes in Wister’s argument.
She makes blanket – and untrue – statements that Syria’s neighbours haven’t taken in one refugee, and then turns up the fear.
“Make no mistake: we are up against a religious political fervour that wants to destroy our way of life and whose adherents celebrate every life they take.” Probably true. “Every Islamist who dies while doing so is considered a martyr.” Okay.
“As our representative in Parliament, please examine the crisis in Europe with the influx of those who believe in Sharia Law and a caliphate. This ideology can’t exist with our rights and freedoms in a liberal democracy.”
Sure, Sharia Law can’t exist with our rights and freedoms in a liberal democracy, no one can dispute that, but Shelley, I don’t think a “caliphate” means what you think it means. If you are referring to ISIS, spell it out. That is just one self-proclaimed caliphate and, let’s be real, those who believe in it are happy to stay put.

H. Grimset
Aurora