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46
114
Yes No
Debate Score:160
Arguments:101
Total Votes:204
Ended:11/28/15
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 Yes (33)
 
 No (54)

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Should the United States close our borders to Syrian Refugees?

According to the following article from Rolling Stone magazine, we should continue to take in refugees in order to defeat ISIS on the grounds that future terrorists might change their stance depending on the treatment they receive.  Do you agree or disagree, and why?

Yes

Side Score: 46
VS.

No

Side Score: 114
Winning Side!

Until we are able to conduct background checks on these people, no. Let the mid east countries take them in, or Russia, China, Japan etc.

Side: Yes
1 point

Yes because they would be coming to our country , still with hate in their hearts and there is no good reason that they won't still fight back, even though they is welcomed in our country. They need to close the borders before we all possibly die.

Side: Yes
Jace(5222) Disputed
2 points

There is little reason to think that refugees who have been forced to flee for their very lives would be filled with hate towards any nation which accepted them as they fled for their lives. And even if there were reason, there is certainly none to think that they would flee for their lives only to kill themselves attacking the country.

Side: No
GenericName(3430) Clarified
1 point

On what basis do you say they have hate in their hearts, or imply that they will "fight back"?

Side: Yes
Babykitty(2) Disputed
0 points

NO because if they close them people will not fill welcome. Everyone does not have hate in their hearts some people are actually kind. Closing the borders does not make us safe we still gonna die

Side: No
1 point

Yet the Leftist Muslim Lovers cannot see that Radical Islamist want them dead ! Their attraction to these killers is really beyond comprehension !

Side: Yes
1 point

Not just Syrian refugees but everyone! Until we know who everyone is for a fact, they can't come in.

Side: Yes
GenericName(3430) Clarified
1 point

So nobody can ever come in, essentially?

Side: Yes
1 point

ISIS terrorists could blend in with the Syrian crowd so I believe we should close our borders for the time being. At least until all this talk about the attacks on Paris die down.

Side: Yes
GenericName(3430) Clarified
1 point

And why do you believe the two are linked?

Side: Yes
0 points

we should close the borders because we would have refugees fleeing the terrorists in their homeland. We must welcome them with open arms so that we may look at the US as a friend more so an enemy

Side: Yes
Blclark1377(39) Disputed
2 points

Closing the borders would keep the refugees out, but you are also saying we should welcome them. This is confusing

Side: No
daver(1771) Clarified
2 points

Sure is 😎

Side: Yes
0 points

Yes, because we aren't going through the process to check every person. We should actually have a district that is fenced in and airdrop food and supplies so they aren't any threat to us (they won't be where they were and be safe, plus have free food and supplies). Jihadists can easily slip in with the refugees, and acquire their weapons from the mainland instead of bringing it with them. Closing the borders keeps an already unsafe America from getting any more hazardous.

Evidence? They found fake passports into France from Syria on the terrorists involved in the attacks on Paris. What does this mean? They're slipping in, and if they can get into France, they can just as easily get into the United States. With us being in an extremely diverse state, it's hard to see corruption within the system. If gangs can traffic millions of dollars worth of drugs through ports and airports, what do you think ISIS can do?

Side: Yes
qadeerh Disputed
1 point

While it is true that their is a risk of letting terrorists into the country, a prime example of how letting in refugees can work is Germany. They have been excepting the refugees for some time now and there have yet to be any attacks from them. They even set up camps for them to provide shelter.

Side: No
daver(1771) Clarified
2 points

Just wait, it's not over yet

Side: Yes
EthanJohnson(3) Disputed
1 point

My fence idea is a temporary stage for refugees. It's basically a camp where they all hangout until we can in-process and account for the people within. Will be a first come first serve type of deal. This lets them escape terror, and then gain settlement within the US.

I DIDN'T MEAN TO POST THE FENCE IDEA BUT I WILL CLARIFY JUST BECAUSE

I don't know much about Germany.

Side: Yes
RiceBall(4) Disputed
1 point

Well if we reject them terrorist will just increase and we don't want that.

Side: No
CaitlinBunce(2) Disputed
0 points

If you're saying ISIS can just as easily get into the U.S. as France, then how would keeping peaceful refugees out of the country benefit us at all?

Side: No
-1 points

We should open our borders to Christians because they have been tortured and killed by ISIS in their attempt of religious cleansing of Arab nations. We know for sure Christians are not part of terrorist groups. Obama has said very little to help stop the atrocities against Christians in that part of the world. He could now do something to help them.

There are plenty of majority Muslim nations who can take the Islamic refugees. We are a majority Christian nation and it only makes sense we would take Christians as well as Atheists and those we know for sure are not ISIS terrorists trying to get in this nation.

Side: Yes
daver(1771) Disputed
4 points

Our government can't discriminate on the basis of religion.

Side: No
FromWithin(8241) Disputed
1 point

Our government can do what it wants with refugees. It can totally say no to refugees so why on Earth could it not make stipulations for which refugees. They are not us citizens so they do not have the rights of citizens and we can pick and choose who we take.

Side: Yes
Blclark1377(39) Disputed
3 points

Locking out Muslims and not Christians would be taking us back nearly 100 years to the times of the immigrant quota act, the Red Scare, and strong Nativism within our country. Keeping people out is not what our founding fathers had in mind when the created our country and Constitution. We are the land of the free, and a Nation of Immigrants. The "Great American Melting Pot."

Side: No
FromWithin(8241) Disputed
2 points

This is not immigration. It is refugees and we can do what we want. You can play the bleeding heart idiots and then scream when terrorists kill your familiy member. Let muslims go to muslim nations and Christians come to us. IT'S COMMON SENSE!

Oh wait a minute, Liberals have no common sense.

Side: Yes
Jace(5222) Disputed
2 points

Muslims have also been tortured and killed by ISIS in their attempt of religious cleansing. We know that Muslims being tortured and killed by ISIS are not a part of ISIS or their affiliates, or they would not be being tortured and killed. Muslim refugees are fleeing for the same reasons as Christian refugees. Intrareligious persecution is definitely a thing; that would be what drove early European settlers to what would become the U.S. in the first place. We also can not know that someone claiming to be a Christian refugee is actually Christian and not an ISIS terrorist.

The United States is majority Christian but this does not mean that it is exclusively Christian. You are ignoring that we are nation of plurality which has already accommodated religious plurality.

Side: No
FromWithin(8241) Disputed
1 point

Why must people on the Left ALWAYS twist other's words. Where did i say tht Muslim refugees should not be helped. I said they should be located in majority Muslim nations where they could not murder Americans if they were terrorists.

Do you have any idea how terrorists laugh at the weakness of bleeding heart Liberals? You play right into their hands!

It is this same bleeding heart lunacy why our welfare roles are bloated and the poverty rate keeps getting worse. To strictly hold to your no profiling, no discrimination dogma, you would sacrifice thousands of lives and do far more harm than good.

These refugees deserve to be helped and every nation should help them in the best possible way to keep their own citizens safe!

Side: Yes
marquez17(1) Disputed
1 point

Nope you don't know what your talking about, alien looking dude

Side: No
qadeerh Disputed
1 point

The US is national melting pot. Letting in refugees can help portray the US as a friend and not an enemy. Saying that we should only let Christians in is an example of why we get attackd in the first place. They should feel welcome. Germany has been accepting refugees for months now and they haven't had any terrorist activity yet.

Side: No
FromWithin(8241) Disputed
2 points

YET!!!!!!!!! France could have said the same thing a week ago.

Side: Yes
1 point

Based on the religion of Christianity alone, it is a sin for the terrorism. Now, looking at the history of terrorists, when has there ever been a Christian terrorists? Sure, a terrorist could say that they are Christian and come in to commit Jihad, but, that would be against their Allah.

Side: Yes
J-Roc77(70) Clarified
1 point

...

Side: Yes
1 point

The implication that terrorism is inherently affiliated with Islam is downright painful.

Side: No
1 point

I'm pretty sure you're a troll, but I agree with this post.

Side: Yes
FromWithin(8241) Clarified
1 point

There's hope for you yet :) ...............................................................................

Side: Yes
5 points

I do not think we should close our borders but we do need to keep a close eye on them just in case the terrorist disguise their selves as refugees. That would bringing chaos to our country and that isn't very smart.

Side: No
MichaelaNW(3) Disputed
4 points

If we need to keep a close eye on them, then why are we keeping the border open. If we are trusting them there should be no reason to watch.

Side: Yes
2 points

Because such a small percentage of them mean the country harm, and the vast majority are in so much pain. We can help.

Side: No
1 point

Ever heard the phrase "trust but verify"?

Or, the slightly racist but more relevant "Believe in Allah but tie up your camel"?

Side: No
Jace(5222) Disputed
1 point

You are conflating two populations: refugees and terrorists posing as refugees. One can trust the former while acknowledging that the latter may exist. Or, at least, anyone with basic critical thinking skills can make such a differentiation.

Side: No
4 points

I disagree because if we actually close our borders then what would happen if we need more refugees. To be honest , we should just be friends with them if you what I mean. 😏

Side: No
Jace(5222) Disputed
1 point

In what way would we "need" more refugees? I was not aware that there was a population deficit...

Side: Yes
1 point

If we need more refugees, we just open up the border. Problem solved, case closed.

Side: Yes
4 points

I would say no because if we open up our borders to the refugees then how do we know they wont come in and try to attack us then what are we going to do then. They you,d come in and where giving them all this help with living in the U.S. and they form secret groups and plan attacks on us

Side: No
Jace(5222) Disputed
2 points

The majority of refugees actually are refugees who are fleeing because they are afraid for their lives. Maybe a small number will be violent extremists taking advantage of the refugee situation, but then they are hardly to be considered actual refugees. This is what review and tracking procedures exist for. Domestic surveillance and intervention is considerably less complex than the alternative anyways.

Side: Yes
3 points

I think we should not close the borders because if they close them how will people get in. Some people might need help.What would happen if the United States suddenly stopped building walls and instead flung open its borders, not unlike the European Union has done among the member countries of the common market? Conservatives malign the notion and liberals, even radical ones, haven't exactly embraced the "open borders" concept.

Side: No
Blclark1377(39) Clarified
2 points

You are saying that you do not think we should close our borders, but then you copy and paste something that does not make sense or go with what you said.

Side: Yes
Jace(5222) Disputed
1 point

I think we should not close the borders because if they close them how will people get in. Some people might need help.

Why should we care if they need help? Why does it matter to us if they cannot get in?

Side: Yes
3 points

I agree that we should open our doors to the refugees because look at it this way if we close our doors and turn our back on the people who look up to us that look up to the fact that we're the Big Brother country we help everyone so if we turn away from people who need us then we really aren't a good Big Brother. Plus in an article we read it said that closing the doors would send the terrorist the wrong message and it's true if we close our doors they can just contact the terrorist already here or fly in and attack or anything because we don't know exactly what these terrorist are capable of.

Side: No
2 points

I disagree that we should close the borders because we have to be open to more refugees fleeing the terrorists in their homeland. We must welcome them with open arms so that we may portray the US as a friend and not an enemy. While it is true that we have taken out numerous dictators and tyrants, we have left no instilled government, leaving them vulnerable to rebel groups and more tyrants. Bombing innocent civilians and terrorizing weddings and family events doesn’t help us look like a companion. This fuels their anger even more and that creates the next generation of terrorists. By accepting refugees, we show that we are here to help.

Side: No
0 points

I agree because we want them to think us as their friend and if were were to create more chaos it will just make them more angry.

Side: No
2 points

We should't close our borders for refugees because thats giving the wrong message. We don't want them to think that we are their enemies and we should help those who want to escape Syrian. We want to welcome them and make them feel wanted.

Side: No
Blclark1377(39) Disputed
2 points

Look what happened in France. Should we take that risk here in the United States just to make others that aren't from our country feel welcome and safe?

Side: Yes
RiceBall(4) Disputed
1 point

We should still welcome them and make them feel safe because we are above other countries.

Side: No
Janee(1) Disputed
0 points

We shouldn't close our doors just because of something that happened in France. Closing our doors would be sending the wrong to the people who look to us for help. Think of this if you were in a country and you were trying to get away and you always heard how the US would help people then wouldn't you want the doors open to let you in? I'm sure everyone would want the doors to be open. So next time think about that when you hear people talk about if the US should keep the doors open or closed.

Side: No
1 point

I agree because we want to help them and not be their enemy.

Side: No
MichaelaNW(3) Disputed
2 points

Why not be there enemy? Be more specific with your answer.

Side: Yes
0 points

Oh yeah I agree because that will be sending the wrong message

Side: No
cutey9 Disputed
0 points

I disagree I disagree I disagree I disagree I disagree I disagree I disagree I disagree I disagree I disagree I disagree I disagree I disagree

Side: Yes
2 points

There is simply no reason to. Now, I do believe that a proper background check and various psychological/criminal evaluations should be done (not that they are terrorists, simply because terror organisations would benefit from having someone pose as a refugee). But I think that the US should allow refugees to come in, these are people that have suffered and are looking for a place to stay, the US should be a provider.

Side: No
2 points

shouldn't we, as citizens of the blessed and free United States of America, be open and show our so-called humanitarian ways? we claim freedom of religion and with that being the case, acceptance and tolerance must increase with the opening up to Syrian refugees.

Side: No
1 point

No I do not agree because if we close our borders then they will more likely oppose us and maybe join with ISIS. So if we leave them open and accept them in, then that can increase our friendship with them so they will start to join our side

Side: No
1 point

I disagree. We shouldn't close our borders to Syrian Refugees. It makes the U.S look like we fear them. That could cause an attack on us. We are here to help them, and we need to show that's what we are doing, and also the supplies will cause a big disagreement. We should keep the borders open.

Side: No
1 point

We should not close the orders to all Syrian refugees. They were not the ones who attacked Paris and they are simply trying to escape the terror of their own country. However, I do believe they should go through background checks to ensure the safety of our own country, and only allow families to come in, no young, single men. The fact a Syrian passport was found on the body of one of the Paris attackers does not mean a thing. There are killers in every country, including our own. That doesn't mean we should keep out the peaceful people of Syria so that they can get killed.

Side: No
1 point

I think the United States should not close the border because the attacks in Western cities should make the U.S. nicer to them. There are innocent people in Syria that need aid and protection. It would be a good thing to open our borders for more refugees because we want to show them that we are their friends and that we are here to help them. Also they can help the United States out because they can learn skills for jobs here. Killing people is not the answer to stop terrorism. A successful way to end terrorism is to support innocent Syrian people, which means letting them come to the United States.

Side: No
1 point

No I do not think that the United States should close their borders. I mean they would have to keep a close eye on them. For the side that says "yes" I assume most of the reasoning is "A lot of them could be terrorists". And I believe this to be true. But think of the children and families that aren't terrorists. It could be a very big risk, but helping the people who need help, is worth the risk. Also they could get angry and start to go against us and join ISIS.

Side: No
0 points

No. That would be cruel, and it would increase tensions from the Middle East.

Side: No