I skipped writing my NaBloPoMo last night because my brain was simply void of ideas. But this morning external messages (not the voices kind!) started coming together and I felt bumbarded with thoughts.

As I drove to pick up my morning smoothie I listened to stories on NPR about the Syrian refugees that are still arriving on the island of Lesbos and their realistic fear that the recent bombings in Paris will turn Europe against all of them. Unfortunately one of the suspects that participated in Saturday’s bombings is suspected to have passed himself off as a Syrian refugee.

How can we as humanbeings rationalize punishing hundreds of thousands of people that are fleeing for their lives because one person slipped through the cracks?
Its like imprisoning all Christian white American males because Timothy McVeigh blew up the Federal Building in Oklahoma City.
Or imprisoning all Japaneese-Americans because Japan bombed Pearl Harbor (Oops….we did that!)

I don’t know what the countries in Europe will do but I was not surprised to hear that 27 govenors in the United States made it known they will “not allow” Syrian refugees to settle in their states. This of course on the heels of President Obama saying he plans to move forward on admitting 10,000 Syrian regugees next year.
It is sad to learn there are govenors in our country that feel they have the power to dictate where someone legally admitted into our country can lay their heads at night.

After picking up my smoothie I pulled out of the parking lot and stopped at the first red light. As I sat there waiting for the light to turn I noticed a huge, flashing electronic sign that condemned Muslims and praised Christians.

I will never understand why people that claim to be “Christians” condemn others.
If they are truly following the teachings of Christ they would make every effort to help the widows and orphans.
They would love their neighbors (even if that neighbor was a muslim) and pray for their enemies.

Christ taught against judgement, yet Christians today seem to feel it is ok to judge Muslims because some Muslims have twisted their religion into a hateful interpretation.

I consider myself a Christian but i do not believe God put Christians in charge of who could worship Him or how people worship Him.

Gahndi once said, “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”

I know we are living in dangerous times. And I am heartbroken for the many lives lost in Paris last Saturday AND in Beirut on November 12, 2015 (2 days before the Paris bombings) and the lives lost on October 31st in the bombing of the Russian plane. But I honestly hope the people in power step back and realize the people fleeing the war in Syria are not responsible for any of the listed deaths. They too are at risk of death.

It is true another terrorist could slip through the cracks but its also true that American citizens, French citizens, and British citizens, that have never left their home country, are being recruited by these horrible groups of terrorists.

So lets focus on how we can help those in need instead of punish them because they were born in a place that is imploding.

Yesterday I attended and presented at a mini – conference for individuals with Intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), their families and professionals in the IDD field.

The morning session I attended was a panel of adults with IDD sharing their accomplishments and challenges. The line I heard that always makes me smile “We are more alike than different.”

This is so true. So many of us assume people with disabilities lack the same dreams, desires, and skills. Why is this? Why do we think someone with a disability wouldn’t want love, creature comforts and most importantly respect.

The people I know with disabilities fight battles every day that I will never have to face and so many of them do it with a grace few non-disabled people can manage.

I am honored to work with individuals that live life honestly and teach life lessons to anyone willing to pay attention.