Readers React: If Germany can step up and help refugees, so can the United States

A migrant from Syria holds a picture of German Chancellor Angela Merkel as he and hundreds of others arrive at Munich's main railway station on Sept. 5.

Sept. 9, 2015 8:48 AM PT

To the editor: Angela Merkel is a new hero of mine. (“Germany’s open-door policy in migrant crisis casts nation in a new light,” Sept. 7)

Germany, led by Chancellor Merkel, has pledged to accept 800,000 (primarily Syrian) refugees into that country. What a wonderfully compassionate decision in a world filled with too much hate and violence. Merkel noted that her country had the “strength to do what is necessary.”

Likewise, I believe the United States has the strength and resources to integrate the homeless and the undocumented into our society. Our country is great enough to achieve this.

Judy Melton, Pasadena

To the editor: Why are the other Arab countries in the region not helping these refugees from parts of the Middle East? Why don’t they care about the people who live among them and share their culture? Why haven’t the media addressed this question over and over so that these countries will finally be embarrassed enough to do something about it?

Why aren’t our president and Congress and the United Nations asking these questions and demanding action from these countries?

Barbara Busch, Redondo Beach

To the editor: It has been heartbreaking for me to watch all of these families suffering. I was so sickened and ashamed that Hungary spent money to put up a razor-wire fence along its border with Serbia. Shame on it.

Hungary could have spent that money on tents, food, portable toilets, water and so many more needed supplies to help these people who have suffered so much.

What has happened to humanity? Will this never end? I guarantee there are thousands of Muslims, Jews and Christians who, if they knew how, would happily help any of these families.

Thanks to the countries that are there for the refugees.

Sandra Kelemen, Palm Desert

To the editor: Now that the effects of the war in Syria and the uprisings in Egypt and other Middle East nations have become evident in the thousands of refugees pouring into Europe, will we now revise our view of the Arab Spring and rightly label it the Arab Fall?

Anna Yelland, Ontario

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