Comic Book, No Laughing Matter

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, September 27, 2013 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Good morning, Jim. Comic books used to be leisure-time reading for children, but in 2012 a 153-page comic book became required reading for freshmen entering Georgia College and University at Milledgeville. The comic book is Persepolis, in honor of the capital of ancient Persia, now the country of Iran. The author of Persepolis was born and lived in Iran until she left for Vienna and Strasburg to study illustration. As a child playing “dress-up,” she posed as Che Guevara and Fidel Castro, two of her admired Marxist/Leninist heroes.

Page 70 reveals her rejection of God after her communist uncle was executed. In her own drawings and words, she said God asked her, “Marji, what seems to be the problem?” To that, she depicted herself gesturing and shouting to God, “Shut up, you! Get out of my life!!! I never want to see you again! Get out!”

The Oxonian Review of Books called Persepolis a tribute to contemporary Iran that was “humanized” by the author. It’s strange that humanization of Iran is so important that college-bound students are required to read a novel-length comic book whose main character rejected God, admired Che Guevara and Fidel Castro. Then described herself as “embarrassed” that her dad drove a Cadillac, a symbol of capitalism, which is despised by socialists and communists! Continue reading →

Refugee Law Needed in Georgia

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, August 23, 2013 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Good morning, Jim. For two weeks I’ve talked about refugee resettlement in Georgia and the governor’s request for a reduction in the number of refugees sent here. This became a big issue after the tiny town of Clarkston was systematically repopulated before residents knew what was happening. Clarkston’s 1980 population was 90 percent white, but in 20 years it was down to 14 percent. The other 86 percent were refugees from 40 countries sent to Clarkston by the UN and the federal government. It put such strain on the city’s resources, housing and jobs that Clarkston’s mayor asked resettlement officials to reduce the number, but they keep sending 2,500 more year after year.

In 2008 Tennessee stopped administering refugee services through state agencies and appointed Catholic Charities as trustee of the refugee program. Three years later in 2011, The Refugee Absorptive Capacity Act brought local governments into the resettlement decision-making process. That’s a step in the right direction, but over-saturation has already occurred in areas such as Clarkston and won’t be stopped until the federal government and the UN, actually, honor state sovereignty and follow state recommendations. Continue reading →

Georgia Agencies Service Refugees

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, August 16, 2013 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Good morning, Jim. Clarkston is not the only refugee resettlement in Georgia. From 2004 until 2013, eight other counties were sent refugees. The fewest were the six that went to Oconee County; the second highest was Gwinnett’s 1,125; but DeKalb got the most – 14,968 – raising DeKalb’s foreign-born percentage to 16% from 157 countries, speaking 142 languages.

The 1980 Refugee Act defines a refugee as a person outside his home country and unable or unwilling to go back due to persecution based on race, religion, nationality, social group identity, or political opinion. The “social group” status must have been the basis for creating in Chicago a center to serve various sexual orientation refugees from other countries. The 1980 Act authorized the Refugee Resettlement Program to provide cash, healthcare, and social services to refugees.

So, who sends refugees to the U.S.? A major player is the International Rescue Committee with its 22 offices, plus an operation in Bangkok, Thailand to help foreigners there resettle in the U.S., where they get free services, food, shelter, jobs, clothes, healthcare, education, English classes and community orientation. Ultimately, they are guided toward permanent residency or U.S. citizenship. Continue reading →