How to Love the Refugees

I live in a town with a Refugee Center. I have often heard the complaint that we shouldn't take in the world's poor until we have cared for our own. With the latest influx coming at the same time as wide spread unemployment, the cry has been, "They are steeling our jobs!"

Let's review a few facts. First, the only jobs refugees can get pay minimum wage. Second, the US citizens were out of work before the refugees came. Third, and most important, is a recognition of the stark to horrifying conditions these people have lived in for the past twenty years. Our government has just now offered to relieve some of the over-crowding in the camps. Finally, immigrants have a track record of lifting themselves up by the boot straps and making fine contributions to their new countries.

I am not insensitive to the recent rash of layoffs suffered by my neighbors. I'm also not unaware that I may easily be one of them soon. But blaming the wrong source is not helpful.

So what can be done to employ both refugees and the fearful natives? The world didn't all of a sudden run out of work that needed to be done...

1. Make a new path to a college education...one that starts with two years of developing and practicing a technicle skill before college entrance.  This way students could make enough money while in college to pay for their own educations because they would be able to make more than minimum wage.
2. Enroll adult refugees in this same two year program.
3. Teach all entruprenurship and require at least one year of running thier own businesses.
4. Teach non-english speakers our language using "Super Learning" techneques proven to insure mastery in one half the time.
5. Teach our students other language in the same way so that when refugees arive they would have automatic interpreters and advocates.
6. Build education into assembly line jobs.
7. Have state govenments employ the LDS Deseret Industries systems and locate refugees in those states.
8. Invite local businesses to use Google workplace practices with all workers.
9. Perfect the Universal Translator...or have the world get serious about an international language.
10. Teach all children and refugees "what it means to be an American" to foster loyalty to this country.