U.S. should stop meddling, start helping refugees

By Sarah Baron

Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015 | 2 a.m.

What’s on our teenagers’ minds? In its 59th year, the Las Vegas Sun Youth Forum is intended to answer just that question. The annual gathering, which this year attracted about 1,000 students, provides an opportunity for public high school juniors and seniors to discuss issues of the day in groups of 40 or so students moderated by a community leader. Each group selected one of its participants to reflect on the experience. This column is written by Sarah Baron, a senior at Coronado High School. Publisher and Editor Brian Greenspun is turning over his “Where I Stand” column to these young adults, who have something to say.

Participants in the Youth Forum gathered at the Las Vegas Convention Center and were organized into groups to discuss a plethora of topics and examine policies affecting modern America. In the Around the World group, students focused on how America should react to the Syrian refugees and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Regarding Syrian refugees, controversy arose over the ability of the European Union and the United States to house the migrants while maintaining a safe environment. An consensus formed, with students pressing that countries surrounding Syria either cannot take in any more refugees (such as Jordan) or are refusing and cannot be forced to act in a humanitarian way (such as Saudi Arabia).

Students also determined that refugee camps are not a safe solution, as they promote unsanitary conditions and fan the flames of anger, leading to a rise in terrorism. The group agreed the European Union and the United States must discuss how to develop a system for all states to accept refugees equally. Solutions included a system like that of Greece and Germany, in which Germany is paying Greece to house Syrian refugees.

Members of the group realized it is impossible to provide an endless haven for refugees, and thus the root problem must be dealt with rather than the continuous effects of the problem. One solution the group discussed was for an international coalition to contain rather than destroy ISIS, preventing the organization from growing while also avoiding sending ground troops into the Middle East. Students were firmly against ground troops in Syria, as the presence of troops leads to a power vacuum and an ensuing rise in terrorism following the troops’ removal.

Students in Around the World also concluded that the United States is losing respect worldwide as America continuously interferes in foreign affairs; for example, inconclusive reasoning in the Iraqi War led to interference by the United States and the eventual rise of ISIS. In the case of Russia and Ukraine, students decided America should continue economic sanctions against Russia; however, the government should not get involved militarily.

The group agreed Russia is attempting to expand into Ukraine as a show of strength due to internal failures. Because Russia is experiencing internal and economic weaknesses, the war likely will fizzle out without interference by the United States. Further, if Russia attempts to extend past Ukraine, surrounding countries, many with NATO alliances, will be backed by the European Union and the United States. Russian expansion will thus be halted and America and other NATO allies will have adequate reasoning for interfering. As long as the conflict remains between Russia and Ukraine, the struggle should be restricted to Eastern Europe; the situation does not relate to and thus does not need to involve the United States, unless America is working to provide for the humanitarian needs of Ukrainian citizens.

The Sun Youth Forum allowed students from different backgrounds to discuss international politics in a civilized manner. Opinions differed from those of the majority of American adults, who want to prevent Syrian refugees from entering the country; however, the students’ awareness on a global scale proved young people are able to discuss policy with intellectual reasoning. The opinions might have differed, but the students were informed, grounded and passionate about noninterference with the military and heightened involvement for humanitarian aid.