Antelope High School

Home of the Titans

Principal, John Becker
Phone: (916)782-6565 ext. 1047

Eric Moreno
7801 Titan Drive
Antelope Ca, 95843

Governor Jerry Brown

c/o State Capital, Suite 1173
Sacramento, Ca 95814

To Whom It May Concern:

A crisis has emerged in the world, and an exemplary amount of people are suffering from it. Syrians
have been driven out of their countries due to the civil war which is occuring there. I, Eric Moreno, believe that
Syrians should gain the assistance of the United States. I am a student at Antelope High School in California.
My class has been doing research on the Syrian crisis and what America has done to fix it. We have discovered
that it is up to the states to decide whether or not the Syrians are able to immigrate to North America. The
United states have been put in this position before during World War 2. The Jews needed a sanctuary and
America needed to help. As a nation, we are repeating history with the Syrians. Our country needs to stop
repeating history or we will end up with the same outcome. Which is why California should agree to letting
Syrians into the country, because if we do not, we would just create the same outcome with the refugees in
World War 2.

Currently Syrians are overflowing surrounding countries. Refugees are either dying or suffering by not
being able to stay in a country. They go through treacherous oceans and voyage from afar only to find
themselves waiting to get into the United states. Their voyage cost them lives, as 250,000 [syrians have died
trying to flee their own homes. Their deaths go for show that they are in desperate need of help and they are
looking for some guidance in their lives(Matthews and Kusler). ISIS, the terrorist group which is Syrias largest
threat, has made it so the Syrian homes are tombstones for their owners. Those who lived in their homes for an
ample amount of time are technically exiled from their hometown. When Syrians come to the United States for
help, we make them stay in temporary camps for months to years while their personal stories are evaluated and
checked since they can be a threat to those living in the States already(Matthews and Kusler). The U.S. cannot
just forgot about these helpless souls, and when most of the states says that they do not want them in, what
would the refugees do than? America needs to find a more secure, and efficient way to help the Syrians.

The Syrian crisis today, seems to be in great relation with the Jewish refugees during World War 2.
Adolf Hitler was the reason Jews had to abandon their homes, just as ISIS have done to the Syrians. The Jews
were either left to die, or left to be slaves. Those who were slaves, suffered immensely from the lack of food
and the common occurrence of sickness. Luckily, some slaves were freed by those against Hitler and were sent
o live their own lives. However some Jews were not welcomed into countries, such as how the St. Louis ship
which held 900 Jewish refugees aboard(Geller). This is similar to the Syrian refugees as 31 governors
denied Obama's decision to accept 10,000 Syrian refugees and distribute them among the states(Matthews
and Kusler). By accomplishing what has already been done before, America seems to be repeating history as
they are not letting Syrians live out their lives in the United States. The Syrian crisis will not improve at this rate
4635 Elverta Road, Antelope, CA 95843
 Antelope High School
Home of the Titans
Principal, John Becker
Phone: (916)782-6565 ext. 1047

when all the U.S. is doing is rejecting them, even though they said that they
would never have a problem with refugees such as what happened in World
War 2. Sol Messinger, who is a Jew which was aboard the St. Louis, knew that everyone on that boat did not
pose any threat to the U.S.(Geller). With no threat on board, what reason would the U.S. have that would reject
the refugees? The simplicity of the U.S. has reoccured today, as our leaders are turning away these desperate
families(Matthews and Kusler). Americas act of turning away innocence is unforgivable. They are just not
taking any responsibility and leaving the refugees to fend for themselves. America needs to step-up and handle
the situation at hand.

No one should be having to experience what the Syrians are going through right now. Their state of
being is unimaginable and is only growing larger. The 31 Governors who are sending a message to the U.S.
public that fear exist among those refugees is disrespectful and a horrible act(Matthews and Kusler). The
governors are trying to make the situation sound dangerous as if the refugees are a threat. They are not a threat
and the should be welcomed into our country because of all the pain and suffering which has occured in their
hometown and the time they have put forth to even get into the country. The Syrians put enough faith in our
country to come start a new life here and all we have done to them is turn them away. The least we can do is
repay them with an opportunity, an opportunity to start a new life, and find newfound hop to drive them towards
success. Also, they have sailed or came across treacherous environments, just to gain an opportunity of life.
They have already suffered by going through the vast waters and we are going to send them back, even more
sorrowful than before. In order to stop repeating history, we must set apart from it. Which is why the
government needs to reconsider allowing Syrians in.

All in all, Syrians have already suffered immensely, and making them sound as if they are our enemies is
unacceptable. They are hopeless, and they came to our country because they want to be a part of the American
society and start a new life. Instead of sending them towards danger, please consider helping them out just like
any other American citizen. Thanks for taking time out of your schedule to read this, and please make the right
decision and vote to help out the Syrian refugees.
Sincerely,

Eric Richard Moreno

Antelope High School Student
Respectful. Responsible. Proud
GO TITANS!

4635 Elverta Road, Antelope, CA 95843