Antelope High School

Home of the Titans

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

Donovan J. Shohbozian
7801 Titan Drive
Antelope Ca, 95843

Governor Jerry Brown

c/o State Capital, Suite 1173
Sacramento, Ca 95814

To Whom It May Concern:

The opposite of love is not hate, but indifference, (Elie Wiesel). My name is Donovan J.
Shohbozian. At this moment in time we, Americans and our Government, are showing such a small
amount of love to the troubled people of Syria that others call us indifferent. Every day, every minute,
the U.S. does not admit refugees seeking asylum, we are leaving innocent children and families in a
war stricken wasteland threatened by not only their government but terrorist megas such as ISIS. I am
a Sophmore at Antelope High School with significant knowledge and a lot of opinions about Syria and
the refugee crisis for a 15 year old student. As a person judging our governments actions, I believe
that we are not doing enough to help shelter, support, and liberate the Syrian refugees by refusing any
more than 10,000 refugees enter our country.

At this moment, a civil conflict in Syria continues to harm and terrorize nearly every Syrian civilian.
In February of 2016 the fatalites of this war had already amounted to 470,000, that number has
undoubtedly increased since, but with a lack of accurate reporting due to a multitude of different
places and ways people are dying it is impossible to collect correct data. With pressure from ISIS in
the North and the powerhouse of Russia supporting the government, the civilians are stuck in the
middle of a tri-group war between the rebels, terrorists, and government with nowhere to go. Mainly
because of a lack of support from powerful countries such as the U.S.A.

The current situaton in Syria reminds me of the worst mass genocide in known history, the Holocaust
and Jewish refugess during WWII. Similarly to WWII our government is denying suffering refugees
into our powerful, resource-rich country. Another similarity that ties into the denial of refugees is the
politicians using fear to convince the American population that they are making the correct decision. It
used to be the German Spy scare no it is the ISIS and Terrorist scare. Has America not realized
that ISIS takes responsibility for every international terrorist act in order to instill fear? This leads me
to believe that not allowing refugees is not only harming Syrians but helping ISIS by convincing the
American population to fear every person coming from the Middle-East. Our decisions are helping
ISIS! Politicians are doing ISIS job for them, putting fear in the hearts of civilians in the most
powerful country in the world. Yes, terrorism is linked to the Middle-East and terrorist groups but has

America not shown that we can rebound from acts of terror? All in all, America is strong, we should
do more to help the Syrians like we should have done more to save the lives of Jews in WWII.

4635 Elverta Road, Antelope, CA 95843

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

Current lawmakers have agreed to admit 10,000 Syrian refugees into America. Really? That is all we
can do? Across the Atlantic, a smaller, less powerful country in Germany has agreed to admit 100,000
refugees. Unlike America, the German politicians see the economic and social benefits in admitting
refugees. 100,000 people ready to work and support their families and add diversity to a country can
not be a negative thing. Also, maybe even more importantly, if we continue to tell Americans that
Muslims and Syrians are people to fear (*cough cough* Donald Trump) we are making the Muslim
population our enemy. This adds 11 million people to support ISIS Anti-Western policies and beliefs.
Lets not help our enemies, we all now we have enough already, and lets embrace the diversity and
benifits of adding ready-to-work people in need into our country.

America is the most powerful country in the world, point said. We have the ability to admit more than
10,000 suffering refugees fleeing their war torn country in the most conflict filled region of the world.
Politicians should learn from our governments past mistakes and allow people in need to experience
and live in our amazing country. So, Governer Brown, please find a spot in your heart for the innocent
families and chidren seeking asylum and vote pro-refugee whenever possible. Make America great
again, not hate again. Thank you for your time, I hope you take my opinions and others like it into
stong consideration.

Sincerely,

Donovan J. Shohbozian
Antelope High School Student
Respectful. Responsible. Proud
GO TITANS!

4635 Elverta Road, Antelope, CA 95843