Trump promises to deport all the Haitians to Venezuela.

[Vambram]

Springfield pastors speak out on Haitian refugee challenges: 'The suffering is real'

The Haitian refugee situation in the town of Springfield, Ohio, has opened up a divide among the community's religious leaders about how to handle the influx of newcomers.

www.foxnews.com

 

[variant]

We are not stoking racial prejudices.

Oh yeah, accusing people of eating pets is super not racist.

It does matter what the color of skin or what nation or what their race is. What matters is that we have massive amounts of illegal immigrants here in the USA.

Then maybe your candidate should pick on actual illegal immigrants for what they are actually doing.

 

[BPPLEE]

So, misinformed racist denigration.

Yeah I'm sure everyone is thrilled that they are getting bomb threats and stoking racial prejudice around there.

Those problems were already there. He didn't make up the pet story he was repeating something that was all over the internet. It's a little late to blame him, and is racism all you have?
It gets old when everything is racism.

 

[Vambram]

"They're eating the pets of the people that live there, and this is what's happening in our country, and it's a shame," Trump said in a response to a question about immigration.

Many local leaders rushed to the town’s defense, disputing what has become a widespread claim.

Newman also expressed frustration with the claim, arguing that it has distracted from real issues being faced by Springfield locals as they try to adjust to the boom in the town’s population.

"I think the suffering is real," Newman said. "One of the reasons that I wanted to speak to this is because I am a pastor, and because I am seeing the local people that I’m ministering to are being affected by it."


First Baptist Church Reverend Adam Banks chalked up the current tension in Springfield to a "lack of understanding" and "familiarity" between two cultures not used to each other, but argued that also means there are "more people who are available to share their gifts" and assist with "services in the community."

Banks, who said some members of the Haitian community have attended his services, argued that refugees should be welcomed by the community instead of shunned.

"They have joined right in helping with the sound system, sharing special music, sharing their lovely voices, reading scripture, providing leadership in various capacities in the congregation," Banks said, adding that he will continue to "welcome" people who "want to celebrate the gift that each person brings and magnify God."

"We do not need any more false information being shared, that really display a fear we have for those that we don’t understand," Banks said.

From the exact same article, Pastor Newman has the opposite conclusions and opinions to what Pastor Banks said.

 

[ozso]

Oh yeah, accusing people of eating pets is super not racist.

It's just the newest of umpteen zillon things called racist.

 

[Vambram]

Oh yeah, accusing people of eating pets is super not racist.



Then maybe your candidate should pick on actual illegal immigrants for what they are actually doing.

Maybe your candidate should have made sure that the problem of massive amounts of illegal immigration did not explode in her administration.

 

[variant]

Those problems were already there. He didn't make up the pet story he was repeating something that was all over the internet. It's a little late to blame him

Do you think it's responsible for a candidate to try to base their stances and score political points on half cocked internet rumors?

Yes, I'm blaming him for his own hurtful words that stoked racial prejudice and fear against a group already having trouble.

You decided to laud him for "calling attention to the problem".

Guess what, he had every opportunity to do that better.

 

[variant]

It's just the newest of umpteen zillon things called racist.

Racism actually exists. It's a textbook example.

I remember when people used to say Chinese people ate cats. It was racist then and it would be racist now.

 

[ozso]

Those problems were already there. He didn't make up the pet story he was repeating something that was all over the internet. It's a little late to blame him

No it's just that one man. The other millions are only going by what that one man says.

 

[Always in His Presence]

Trump is threatening to deport Haitians that are in the country legally.

No he is not. You cannot deport a legally landed immigrant

 

[ozso]

Probably most of Springfield are afraid to say anything about about it out of fear of it being branded as racist hate speech.

 

[variant]

No it's just that one man. The other millions are only going by what that one man says.

Generally, non racist people give people the benefit of the doubt before they snap to the conclusion that people are eating other peoples pets.

 

[variant]

Probably most of Springfield are afraid to say anything about about it out of fear of it being branded as racist hate speech.

Oh, so now it's a conspiracy against the truth that the Haitians are eating peoples pets?

 

[BPPLEE]

Do you think it's responsible for a candidate to try to base their stances and score political points on half cocked internet rumors?

Yes, I'm blaming him for his own hurtful words that stoked racial prejudice and fear against a group already having trouble.

You decided to laud him for "calling attention to the problem".

Guess what, he had every opportunity to do that better.

It was clearly an unforced error and he would've been much better off not to say it but it was a matter of not researching the claims, not necessarily racism.
Now you can add this to the list of things you can criticize him for but it doesn't make him a racist

 

[variant]

It was clearly an unforced error and he would've been much better off not to say it but it was a matter of not researching the claims, not necessarily racism.

He said it because he wanted to say it, His VP has been spreading this one for days.

He's also repeated his claims multiple times since.

This was no simple mistake.

Now you can add this to the list of things you can criticize him for but it doesn't make him a racist

Walks like a duck.

 

[JosephZ]

From the exact same article, Pastor Newman has the opposite conclusions and opinions to what Pastor Banks said.

No he didn't. Both Pastors were in agreement about the situation in Springfield.

Here's another article from Springfield that includes some additional church leaders' perspectives.

Springfield clergy amid Haitian tensions: Bible says to welcome immigrants

Rev. Adam Banks, pastor of First Baptist Church, said Springfield is blessed with a “Samaritan situation,” recalling the Bible story of the Good Samaritan, who helped an injured traveler when a priest and others wouldn’t.

In the story, Jesus Christ urged listeners to be like the Samaritan who helped, even though Jews and Samaritans historically despised each other.

“Once we recognize the people on the other side of whatever divide we have created, that our salvation is dependent on them, whoever ‘them’ is, that’s when we recognize and celebrate beloved community,” Banks said. “Who is my neighbor, Jesus was asked. And he said, the one who showed compassion.”

Before the event started, Rev. Jody Noble of Covenant Presbyterian warned fellow clergy who had gathered that some people who have called for support of the Haitian community publicly had received threats. Despite that, nearly 20 clergy members stood together and called for an end to hateful rhetoric toward Haitian residents.

“In any city, this kind of rapid growth would create tension, no matter where folks came from ...” Boomgaard said. “The challenge is that the tension has erupted into hatred.”

“There’s no room here for the hatred that’s coming into our city. We will not stand for it,” Williams said. “I am standing with our Haitian community, our Mexican community, I’m standing with the white community. We all need to come together as one.”

Pastor Eli Williams with the clergy group Simunye asked the gathered pastors how many of them were not born and raised in Springfield. When a majority raised their hands, Williams reminded them, “But we are Springfield.”

“We are what makes Springfield what it is, along with those who were born and raised here,” he said. “It’s only right that we welcome new people, because they too will add to this community.”

Pastor Carl Ruby of Central Christian Church called on the Joe Biden/Kamala Harris Democratic administration to send federal resources, and he called on Republican candidates Donald Trump and JD Vance to “stop spreading falsehoods and bearing false witness against our Haitian neighbors.”

“Help us make Springfield great again,” Ruby said. “... Ronald Reagan said ‘Our nation is a nation of immigrants. More than any other country, our strength comes from our own immigrant heritage and capacity to welcome those from other lands.’ ”

 

[Vambram]

No he didn't. Both Pastors were in agreement about the situation in Springfield.

Here's another article from Springfield that includes some additional church leaders perspective.

Springfield clergy amid Haitian tensions: Bible says to welcome immigrants

Rev. Adam Banks, pastor of First Baptist Church, said Springfield is blessed with a “Samaritan situation,” recalling the Bible story of the Good Samaritan, who helped an injured traveler when a priest and others wouldn’t.

In the story, Jesus Christ urged listeners to be like the Samaritan who helped, even though Jews and Samaritans historically despised each other.

“Once we recognize the people on the other side of whatever divide we have created, that our salvation is dependent on them, whoever ‘them’ is, that’s when we recognize and celebrate beloved community,” Banks said. “Who is my neighbor, Jesus was asked. And he said, the one who showed compassion.”

Before the event started, Rev. Jody Noble of Covenant Presbyterian warned fellow clergy who had gathered that some people who have called for support of the Haitian community publicly had received threats. Despite that, nearly 20 clergy members stood together and called for an end to hateful rhetoric toward Haitian residents.

“In any city, this kind of rapid growth would create tension, no matter where folks came from ...” Boomgaard said. “The challenge is that the tension has erupted into hatred.”

“There’s no room here for the hatred that’s coming into our city. We will not stand for it,” Williams said. “I am standing with our Haitian community, our Mexican community, I’m standing with the white community. We all need to come together as one.”

Pastor Eli Williams with the clergy group Simunye asked the gathered pastors how many of them were not born and raised in Springfield. When a majority raised their hands, Williams reminded them, “But we are Springfield.”

“We are what makes Springfield what it is, along with those who were born and raised here,” he said. “It’s only right that we welcome new people, because they too will add to this community.”

Pastor Carl Ruby of Central Christian Church called on the Joe Biden/Kamala Harris Democratic administration to send federal resources, and he called on Republican candidates Donald Trump and JD Vance to “stop spreading falsehoods and bearing false witness against our Haitian neighbors.”

“Help us make Springfield great again,” Ruby said. “... Ronald Reagan said ‘Our nation is a nation of immigrants. More than any other country, our strength comes from our own immigrant heritage and capacity to welcome those from other lands.’ ”

I am glad that those churches are attempting to try to help the 20,000 Haitians who were placed into their city. However, a city of only 60,000 people does not have the resources to handle an influx of other people into city, practically overnight metaphorically speaking, of about 20,000 people.

 

[BPPLEE]

Oh, so now it's a conspiracy against the truth that the Haitians are eating peoples pets?

He said it because he wanted to say it, His VP has been spreading this one for days.



Walks like a duck.

I don't completely discount it. In the late 70s-early 80s we had a lot of Laotians relocate to Selma, I went to school with some of them. The older ones were killing and eating dogs and this had to be addressed with law enforcement and their sponsors. They had to learn they couldn't do that in America. Does that make me a racist?

 

[variant]

I don't completely rule it out. In the late 70s, early 80 we got a lot of Laotions in Selma, I went to school with some of them.
The older ones

I don't completely discount it. In the late 70s-early 80s we had a lot of Laotians relocate to Selma, I went to school with some of them. The older ones were killing and eating dogs and this had to be addressed with law enforcement and their sponsors. They had to learn they couldn't do that in America. Does that make me a racist?

I'm not sure why the people making the accusations deserve the benefit of the doubt but the Haitians don't.

Not completely ruling it out and making the accusation like it is truth because you are racist are two different things.

The former president did the latter and he's done it repeatedly now and the whole thing was stoked by the VP for a while now.

 

[ozso]

Oh, so now it's a conspiracy against the truth that the Haitians are eating peoples pets?

No it's a fact that people are afraid to speak out against most anything the left wants them to stay quiet about. It's quite clear that saying anything about this situation even being a possibility has been declared racist hate speech.