I found this article and anyone who knows me knows I am a fan of basketball. It’s just something I grew up playing and watching. In high school I played basketball. My older brother played in high school and college and my nephews are avid players as well. Give them a ball and a hoop, you’re bound to see them playing during any spare time they have. I even shot a free-throw during an Indiana Pacers vs Houston Rockets. Maybe it’s because of my knowledge of the game or love of the sport that this article left me thinking how is it even possible for people to be confused?
So here’s the article, please read it. The next Kevin Durant
He was 10 years senior to most of the kids he was playing with so of course he would be the next Kevin Durant! Looking at the guy, and I say guy, because he certainly doesn’t look like a child. I get kids are looking older compared to when I was that age, but he’s 10 years their senior and nobody picked up on it?
I feel for the guy having to fake his age to get out of his country, I really do, but what’s wrong with people that they really thought he was a teenager? Did they really want to win at a sport so bad that they wouldn’t even consider that his truths weren’t 100% accurate? I’m not familiar with the Canadian laws to know how he was presented and allowed to enter but I think this is a sad story that bottom line a person suffering in their own country would do anything to get out.
So too is the plight of refugees in Syria and others looking for a better life outside their home country. The vast majority are God fearing individuals who only want a better life for themselves and their family. Staying in Syria is not an option and many are forced to flee on foot or on boat risking their lives all just to get the basic necessities of life. They aren’t fleeing to get comforts like iPad, Mercedes, 2,000 sq ft homes, no they are fleeing to refugee camps that are struggling to provide food, shelter, and clothing, the bare necessities.
The camps are no life for anyone; some of the camps in Palestine and Jordan have been around for decades. I know it may not be politically correct to say this, but we can do our part in the US to assist some of the refugees that need resettlement. I’m not saying that we as a society don’t have problems within our own boarders cause I know we do, what I’m saying is this country has a long history of accepting people from diverse backgrounds into its borders and we should not exclude war torn countries like Syria.
For those that say close the borders because we can’t properly vet the refugees, I believe they are wrong. This case in particular shows that an individual in Cananda was looking to get a visit visa and was turned down. If our government can stop a child request, I have all faith they can properly vet a Syrian refugee and others who are merely looking to have the basic benefits of life.
In the words of Pope Francis “Migrants and refugees are not pawns on the chessboard of humanity. They are children, women, and men who leave or are forced to leave their homes for various reasons, who share a legitimate desire for knowing and having, but above all for being more”