Antelope High School

Home of the Titans

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

Estella Kalenyuk
7801 Titan Drive
Antelope Ca, 95843
Governor Jerry Brown
c/o State Capital, Suite 1173
Sacramento, Ca 95814
To Whom It May Concern:

Wherever men and women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views,
that place must - at that moment - become the center of the universe (Wiesel). As Wiesel interprets his
own experiences towards this quote, people around the world are eligible in relating to his words. They
can relate to them because right after those who were persecuted were killed then the world would
give them all the attention. Ironically, the world gives those who are persecuted all the attention when
it is too late and nothing can be done. Why cant the attention be grasped upon when and dealt with
before these tragedies seem to occur? As a sophomore in Antelope High school I am astonished about
this topic on Syrian refugees and how we as Americans are putting behind us to not make the same
mistake in bringing back terrorists to our country. I believe that putting all of this behind us with
voices of intolerance and voices of division are not going to rescue any possible Syrians who are
currently being persecuted.
Currently, the world is living through a moment of silence. Nearly five years of conflict have
had a terrible impact on Syria, because of the civil war. The country's national wealth, its institutions
and its infrastructure, from roads to bridges, have been almost completely destroyed. According to the
report, which was issued by the Syrian Center for Policy Research (SCPR), Syria's death toll is also
much larger than previously reported. Altogether, about 470,000 people have died as a result of the
war (Black, 3). Innocent people who dont want anything to do with the war are dying because of
Syrias lack of building a strong government to support their county. Their government weakness is
putting their own race at danger. The number of wounded is put at 1.9 million. Life expectancy has
dropped from 70 years old in 2010 to 55.4 in 2015. Overall economic losses are estimated at $255
billion (Black, 4). These facts from a Newsela article prove to reveal how lost and desperate Syrians
are. Without our help they will not be able to get nowhere, given that their government system fell
apart.
The refugee crisis compares to the WWII refugee crisis between today and then that make that
history worth recalling. During World War II, the U.S. put strict limits on refugees fleeing Europe.
These limits were influenced by anti-Semitism, prejudice against the Jewish people. Some were also
worried that the Nazis "would plant agents, spies and saboteurs among the Jewish refugees (Newsela,
2). This compares to the Syrian refuge crisis because When we sent Jews back to Germany and when
we sent Japanese to internment camps, we regretted it and we will regret this as well, said Democratic
Representative Luis Gutierrez of Illinois (Newsela, 5). America is scared to help those who will turn
out as terrorists and latter go against our country just as the Jews entered America with German spies
coming through to harm those who wanted out.
4635 Elverta Road, Antelope, CA 95843

Antelope High School

Home of the Titans
Principal, John Becker
Phone: (916)782-6565 ext. 1047

The current Law of current law makers decision on is that

Republicans are putting President Barack Obama and his party on the defensive over accepting Syrian
refugees, On Wednesday, New York Mayor Bill DE Blasio criticized a number of Republican
governors for opposing admission of Syrian refugees(Black, 6). I believe that you Mr. Brown, should
make the right call by rejecting what Mayor Bill DE Blasio criticized and show to this country how
much innocent Syrians are I need of our help. I truly dont agree to what Mr. Blasio from New York
has to offer. Thats why I am asking you to help me in this situation. The reason for this is that
784,000 refugees resettled in America since the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks in New York, just three
have been arrested on charges of planning terrorist activities, according to the Migration Policy
Institute, a group that studies the movement of people worldwide (Black, 4).
Mr. Brown, I would like you to reconsider how you think about the law and how its pushing to
let go of letting desperate refuges in our country. These people are in need of any help and if that
means you not taking a vote on what other governors have agreed on then risk your vote for their life.
Just imagine you in their own shoes. Thank you for reading this letter out of you precious time.

Sincerely,
Estella Kalenyuk
Antelope High School Student
Respectful. Responsible. Proud
GO TITANS!

4635 Elverta Road, Antelope, CA 95843