My city of New Haven welcomed the Syrian family that the governor of Indiana rejected.

[CTyankee]

nice story about a resettlement group here in town called IRIS and how they are helping this family. I worked with that group a few years ago when I was a Literacy Volunteer.

Here is the story from the NYT http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/21/nyregion/syrian-refugees-come-to-the-us-to-find-a-place-they-did-not-expect.html?ref=nyregion

Sorry it won't open the story here in this post. But it is a nice contrast of two American communities/states and how they are dealing with this issue.

That poor family landed at JFK w/o knowing they would be re-directed. Thank god for our gov. Malloy. He reached out to a fabulous local community organization tha has been helping resettle immigrants and refugees for many years. I remember working with a group of Afghan women during that crisis, tutoring them in English. We had separate classes for the men (and taught my male LV).

[pampango]

1. republicans play politics. Democrats welcome the needy. It's pretty simple. Here are excerpts.

A month before they left, they learned they would be going to Indianapolis. They looked up the characteristics of the city and made friends with other families scheduled to go there. Finally, after receiving medical clearance, the family left Jordan, traveling on an airplane for the first time.

F. said Americans had nothing to fear from Muslims like her and her family. “We are people who have been raised from when we are children to want peace, to want security, to have good will toward others,” she said.

Rather than be angry at Gov. Mike Pence of Indiana, who altered their life path, the Syrian family was instead generous. “One person’s decision, the governor’s decision, doesn’t reflect all of Indiana’s decision,” A. said. “Maybe the governor is going to reflect and find in himself that he had made a mistake and come back and see the light.”

She added seriously of Mr. Pence: “He’s going to recognize that people come from Syria all the way here to live securely and not to commit violence. They are escaping violence. We went through a lot, it was difficult, we went through trials and tribulations to find a future.”

[CTyankee]

3. I'd like to smack Joe Scarborough in the face for his ugliness toward Dan Malloy...

these repukes have NO IDEA what it's like to come to this country with absolutely NOTHING, escaping violence and death.

Oh we have our share of haters. Our local ABC affiliate has a "voice of the people" line and plays responses to questions pertinent in the news. It always attracts the WORST of our city...grouchy old white guys and gravelly voiced old women who have hate dripping from every word. Hate to stereotype but really, some of these folks families came here to New Haven from places like Sicily when that island was ripped with violence and poverty and they found a place to settle here in New Haven. It is one of the reasons we have such great pizza here.

What people don't realize is that these refugees become the job creators and innovators of tomorrow. Often they run small businesses in the communities where they have settled. We have two terrific Turkish restaurants in nearby West Haven because of immigrants fleeing persecution or just abject poverty or violence. If you haven't eaten Turkish food,you haven't lived!

I realize everybody is scared right now. But I'd love to put some of these haters like Joe Scar down in front of one of these families and listen to their stories and how hard they struggle. I bet Joe never missed a meal in his life, dumb shit...

[liberal from boston]

5. Syrian Refugees

Lawrence had a nice segment on both Democrat Governors Dan Malloy & Kate Brown welcoming Syrian Refugees. Both were inspirational especially Malloy linking it to the NRA. http://www.msnbc.com/the-last-word/watch/two-dem.-governors-on-syrian-refugees---yes--569738307838

[OregonBlue]

6. These refugees will be much happier in a welcoming blue state than they ever would have been in

Indiana. I lived in Indiana for a while and it's more like a southern state. They actually dodged the bullet on this one.

[CTyankee]

7. Not everyone is so great here...fear takes its toll, I think...

but with the nice example of the governor and IRIS who know what they are doing when it comes to helping refugees, they will have the cooperation of helping community. And I am sure our mayor is stepping up, too. She's not good on some things but I'm sure Malloy had a nice, long talk with her and I know she is not stupid.

[Delphinus]

2. Thank you!

I am embarrassed to live in this state. Pence does NOT speak for me!

[CTyankee]

4. and nice to know that this family does not blame all Hoosiers...like you...

spread the word, would you? Tell them about someone who is living (me) in the community that Pence rejected and how proud we are that our gov. did no such thing.

I am not scared but I am pissed off...

[AngryOldDem]

8. Logged on just to post the same thing.

I am sick and tired of being embarrassed by this man.

As someone who helped to resettle Bosnian families in my former hometown back in the '90s, I'm glad Connecticut welcomed this family, and may they find health, happiness, and a new start in their new home.

[CTyankee]

9. were you involved with IRIS then?

it's a great organization. Perfect for this family and others like it.

[AngryOldDem]

10. No, it was through Catholic Charities.

I belonged to a parish that was very committed to social justice issues at the time. Most of my work came in researching schools for the kids and what it would take to get them enrolled, enrolled in ESL, etc.

I'd like to get involved in the Syrian effort, but living in Indiana it might be a little hard now. There is a local refugee resettlement group and I'm thinking about contacting them anyway.

[CTyankee]

11. Oh, that is nice that you could do it! I'm so angry about this Indiana thing and what is going

on elsewhere in the states that I am sick over it. Trying to calm down...