President Trump can say that his executive order is not a Muslim ban, but it is—and by his administration’s own admission, the rewritten version we anticipate Wednesday will have the same effect while avoiding court challenges. Opposition is about whose values will predominate in shaping the future of America. This is about the soul of America.
The division among the American populace appears to stretch as far and deep as the Grand Canyon, and the difference between conservative and liberal politics seems as compelling as the contrast of darkness and light. The election results and the whirlwind of protest marches is evidence enough that the gauntlet has been thrown down. We reject the idea that the lives of refugees is somehow a political or partisan issue.
Americans have endured the longest war in our nation's history with no apparent end in sight, and a burgeoning gap of outrageous personal wealth and the persistence of damning poverty. Americans can never reconcile that even a single child in our country would ever go hungry, or that we cannot fix the problem of tainted water in any community. Let's be honest. When our larger family units gather we are no longer shocked to see that we have bridged what for some was once a sacred racial divide. And, we are never going to send more than half of our population back into the kitchen, some back into the closet, and others back to the plantation. Forget it, America and the American people have moved on.
Most Americans believe that the administration must not prioritize a political minority, but be committed to serving all of us. For more than 70 years, Church World Service has proven that Americans can get along with each other and build strong welcoming communities. Our member churches and congregations reflect the mosaic and demographics of our nation: theologically, racially and politically. During CROP Hunger Walks, people of nearly every faith tradition befriend people who hold no such beliefs. CWS has helped resettle 850,000 people into communities all across the US, from everywhere imaginable. Never has that hospitality been withdrawn.
And it cannot now.
The soul of America was evident 70 years ago, following World War II, when the American people launched the greatest humanitarian response the world has ever known caring for the people of Europe and Japan.
Now we must again rise to the occasion when more than 66 million people are displaced worldwide. America does not shield itself in fear; rather, her people strive to be magnanimous and to inspire the best of our global neighbors. America does not turn away from 21 million children in need; but calls the nations of the world to help save our humanity.
CWS urges the administration to immediately rescind its misguided executive order banning refugees and Muslims, and for Members of Congress to exercise political courage and moral leadership by rejecting proposals that would deny life-saving protection based on nationality or religion. It would appear that justice is on our side. We encourage the American people to continue to forge a grassroots movement to mitigate the refugee crisis.
America is a big tent, and we are a big-hearted and hospitable people for a reason. Do we always agree, absolutely not; but at the end of the day, Americans believe in making our lives and those of our neighbors better. We know how to do this. Do we have problems? Of course, but since when has America ever met a problem it wasn't committed to somehow solve?
This is a fight for the soul of a nation, and we must and will reject any policy that abandons our best values.
Reverend John L. McCullough is the President and CEO of Church World Service, a global humanitarian organization and one of nine refugee resettlement agencies in the United States. Since 1946, Church World Service has supported refugees, immigrants and other displaced individuals, in addition to providing sustainable relief and development solutions to communities that wrestle with hunger and poverty. Learn more about CWS’ work and join our global homebase for refugee solidarity at GreaterAs1.org.