Could corporations work with the U.S. government to fund and organize a program so that Americans can be trained and hired to work to help Syrian refugees in countries that are hosting them?
I think that the countries that are being attacked by terrorists are being attacked because they're on that side of the world, and it's just easier for the terrorists to get there. It's not because the Syrian refugee population is riddled with dangerous people.
A lot of Americans would love to be able to travel to Europe. For them to be able to do that and to help people, and to gain all sorts of skills that they wouldn't otherwise be able to get, and for them to spend time with people from the Middle East who are just trying to manage their lives, would be for them to have opportunities that they would never otherwise have. It would also reduce racism and create thousands of American workers capable of functioning internationally.
If such a program were created, there should be an age requirement of 24 or 25. People with criminal records should be excluded; that might seem harsh but refugees should be considered a vulnerable population and every effort should be made to protect them from potential, additional trauma. Americans who were part of the program should be able to apply for and be given health care and other benefits that are like what veterans (should) get in the event that they are injured by terrorist activity. Eligible injuries should include PTSD and similar psychological problems resulting from things like witnessing terrorists attacks, even if they're not physically injured. They should also have educational opportunities like what veterans (are supposed to) have.
Copyright L. Kochman, November 21, 2015 @ 10:24 a.m./addition @ 12:05 p.m.
