ANN MARIE SIMPSON: Let's live and let live

I have never tried to share my opinion this publicly, but I feel compelled to do so now on the subject of the refugees/immigrants from Syria leaving their war-torn country.

Our country did not "step in" soon enough to salvage the lives and homes of these people. So now, with the clothes on their back and little kids in tow, they cross into foreign lands looking for "life."

Are we so fearful and dispassionate -- we who live in the home of the free and land of the brave -- that we can turn our backs on ALL refugees/immigrants because "maybe" one of them hates us and will try to kill?

As a Catholic Christian, I believe, as do many of my fellow Christians, that we should open our hearts and our doors to those seeking refuge.

To quote part of "The New Colossus" sonnet by Emma Lazarus, which is found on the Statue of Liberty: "Give me your tired, your poor / Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free / Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, / I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" (lines 10-11, 12-13).

Let the people of every faith in this generous state of Mississippi and our great country open wide the doors of mercy and compassion to our broken fellows knocking on freedom's door.

Citizens of this beautiful, multi-religious Coast, are we willing to risk opening our hearts for the sake of human decency? Let's let Gov. Bryant and all the powers that be know we will NOT be shaking in our comfortable sandals around foreigners, as this is our everyday life experience in the U.S. of A!

All of us have a history of our ancestors coming to this land in search of freedom and a good life and some even for religious freedom.

Let's live and let live for in God We Trust.

ANN MARIE SIMPSON

Diamondhead

This story was originally published December 16, 2015 at 5:33 AM with the headline "ANN MARIE SIMPSON: Let's live and let live ."