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Monday, May 02, 2016

Katie Couric- Excellent interview with Pope Francis rescued Muslims

Generally, I'm the recipient of enabling messages, whenever I've written critical blogs about the reticence of Muslims to organize in support of the international war against terrorism or to provide refuge to Muslim refugees, In other words, the Muslims are supported by readers who feel like they're, in reality, helping to defeat terrorism but their responses are consistent with their culture (a paraphrase on my part).
Almost 1m people have arrived by sea in Greece since 2015
About 1 million refugees have arrived in Greece - but options for resettlement are closing to the victims of the carnage they are desperately escaping.

Well, finally, I feel somewhat vindicated about my past harsh position with the Muslim reticence against terrorism and refugee relocation, resulting from carnage. Katie Couric, the television journalist, heard from a Muslim woman who was among the refugees rescued by Pope Francis during his pilgrimage to Lesbos Island, in Greece.

Syrian refugee rescued by Pope Francis (said): “I appreciate him more than any Islamic leader”- quote given to Couric.

“It was like Alice,” said one Syrian refugee. “Alice in Wonderland!”

That is how Nour, who recently escaped the war-torn country (Syria) with her husband and young son, described the latest journey her family took — a plane ride to Rome with Pope Francis.

On April 16, Francis visited a refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos, where over half a millionrefugees — primarily from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq — found refuge in 2015 alone. And the pope did not return home empty-handed. He brought 12 Syrian migrants, including six children, back to Italy with him.

Four of them spoke exclusively with Yahoo Global News Anchor Katie Couric in Rome on Thursday. The couples — Nour and Hasan, Suhila and Ramy — asked that their last names not to be reported. They were emotional while opening up about their harrowing journeys out of Syria and how grateful they are to the pope for the new lives they are starting in Rome.

“He’s a very kind man,” said Nour. “He’s a real human being. For me, I appreciate him more than any Islamic leader, or Islamic religious man, or any Arabic leader, because nothing has been done by these men, like him. By Arabic leaders or by Muslim leaders… No one has done the same thing.”

“His actions did not have to do with our skin color or religion,” said Ramy. “And it proves that human beings are brothers with other human beings.”

The four have not seen Francis since their relocation, but they all know what they’d tell him should their paths cross again.

“I will say to him, ‘Thank you.’ Because of him, hope came back,” said Suhila. “We’ve come back to life, and we’re living our lives for those that we lost in Syria.”

Their paths from Syria to Lesbos were long and hard. Nour and Hasan tried to cross the Turkish border three times, by land and sea, before they were finally able to get to Greece on their fourth attempt. “It was difficult for us, full of risks,” said Hasan. Suhila and Ramy got to Greece on a rubber boat that stalled in the middle of the sea for an hour and a half.

“It must be wonderful to be safe,” said Couric. All responded enthusiastically. “No doubt,” Suhila smiled. “God willing, we will adapt to this country. And, most importantly, we will learn Italian!”

“Many European nations say they can’t handle the influx of migrants. What would you say to the leaders and citizens of those countries?” Couric asked.

“I’d like to say to them that we are normal people,” said Nour. “We are not jihadists and we are not terrorists… As Syrian people, we are lovely people. We are friendly people.”

Couric's interview reveals the salient question embedded in my criticisms of Muslims and the nations that are not accepting refugees who are escaping carnage.  

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