Nations drag heels on Syria refugee resettlement

Wealthy oil rich middle eastern states? Truly shameful.

Syria’s neighbors, especially Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey have absorbed most of the refugee burden, with the U.N. repeatedly calling on wealthier nations to do their fair share.

If you look at what has happened in Belgium, where immigrants came, some generations ago and settled there, but they didn't assimilate but stayed isolated in their ethnic communities so much that they have the problems that they have now. Taking in refugees is one thing, if they are going to eventually go back to their homeland when it is safe, but to order nations to take in a complete group of people, who may still want to keep their own ways and customs and not assimilate is a problem.

People who normally immigrate on their own free will for the most part are willing to assimilate. For these refugees, there are plenty other Gulf and Middle East nations that are wealthy and can take them in. For those who say, what will they do there in those nations, with no jobs for them to do, the same could be asked what will they do in Europe or America?

Alphaape: Brings up very solid points..."People who normally immigrate on their own free will for the most part are willing to assimilate". "with no jobs for them to do, the same could be asked what will they do in Europe or America?"

It is very simple....they end up with free housing....money etc.

Unless they are already capable of speaking their host nations language they will need a long time to learn it. Or one hires and interpreter meanwhile whom pays for everything till they can stand on their own feet.

We have already seen what happens when they migrate....Europe is already a mess. Do you really think it will get better by adding more numbers. Sure there are many good people who are leaving Syria in hope of a peaceful life, yet the vetting process takes time. Nations have already stated that this process is not easy as many have been killed, others taking the identities of the dead, records altered or destroyed. There are numerous issues at hand yet they want a solution and they want it now. I do not truly believe there is a quick fix.

I find it amazing sometimes that refugees may come to one place, and demand that their traditions and laws are allowed to be as it were in the place that they came from. They don't want to assimilate but expect others around them to accommodate them. If their desire is that strong to maintain their culture, then why not go back to where they left and fight for it there instead of fighting or blowing up other people who may not wish to follow according to how you chose to live.

I remember back in the late 70's the influx of Vietnamese Boat people into one of the National Guard camps in my home state. They stayed there for almost a year, but then they were farmed out to other areas of the USA. Some moved down to the Gulf coast and now their descendants are the shrimp fishers down there, others relocated to different parts of the USA and this you have a few "Little Saigon's" in places like Orange County CA, etc. My point is once they got settled, yes they did set up ethnic neighborhoods, I don't have an issue with that, but for the most part they have assimilated into the USA.

Europe still has a problem that we in the USA don't have as much. To be an Italian for example means that one is of Italian heritage. Same as in other countries, even Japan. But to be an American, one can be a foreign born person, gone through the citizenship process (legally) and once granted US citizenship, they are identified as an American. Sure we get nit-picky and go with "African-American" or "Irish-American" etc, but when have you seen many label themselves as "African-Italian" or "Japanese-Chinese"? I am not talking about mixed raced people but one born of a different race in a different country, and having become a full citizen in every right to a particular country like in America. I know that there are some, but the difference is in America we are more accepting to that than some of the nations in Europe, where like it or not your lineage still matters.

when have you seen many label themselves as "African-Italian"

A million do, including former cabinet minister, Cécile Kyenge, and other elected politicians.

Try suspending disbelief. Anything is possible.

One thing to remember about these people using the land route to Europe - they're not all from Syria and they're not all refugees. You see Asians and African people in these crowds too.

Why is keeping people out a problem if it aint their concern most in Europe already know most are not from Syria and dont believe in human rights themselves so I ask what is the problem?

Thunderbird2 - Yeah i have to agree with you also. Most of these migrants aren't Syrian, Iraqi, Afghani, or Libyans. Many are from Africa, Middle East, Nepal, and Western-Central Asian (Not East Asian). They're mainly in Europe after Merkel opened Europe's borders to welcome in the Syrian War refugees, and assumed they were welcomed as well. Most of them are Economic Migrants. Meaning their only in Europe so they can benefit from the Socialist welfare programs such as free medical and Health care, unemployment welfare, etc.

And yes, Europe is not in any way like America. It's often baffling, amusing, and quite pitiful to see Western European nations like France and Germany try in accept & embrace "Multiculturalism"; using American influence of diversity to make their nations stronger and more robust.

However, Europe is not in anyway like America. America is new country, in which their native inhabitants are relocated to tiny reservations, and with such a huge swath of territory, any foreigner can move in and assimilate into the American society (a nation of all races and religions, etc). Europe isn't like that, for the native inhabitants dominate the continent and have their history and culture engrained into their society. So when you bring muslim foreigners into their land, there's going to be a rift in the difference between European secular Christian society and Middle Eastern Arab-influence Muslim society. And observing how Europe's Muslim population is living and interacting with their host nations in Europe for the past 15 years, it's obvious to see that many of them do assimilate into their host culture, however religion and politics are still very different in their eyes. Many do feel they are discriminated subtly, moderately, or harshly due to their race, religion, language, and customs.

And the majority of European societies never embraced diversity and multiculturalism like that of America. so stop trying to make it work. It's going to cost a lot more time, money, as well as cultural changes within Europe for this process to work along

And the majority of European societies never embraced diversity and multiculturalism like that of America. so stop trying to make it work. It's going to cost a lot more time, money, as well as cultural changes within Europe for this process to work along

please explain why Europe needs to change to suit those of inferior cultures?