Distrust works both ways

We American taxpayers are on the verge of shelling out $400,000 to help the state of Minnesota persuade young Somali refugees not to join ISIS.

The money is just a drop in the bucket of the $50 million Obama administration program to fight domestic terrorism.

Minnesota has become a hotbed destination for Somali refugees, and over two dozen have already left the state to join the terrorist group. Actually the feds suspect that many more have also returned to join ISIS but the real number will probably never be known.

Does it make you wonder why we welcome with open arms those who would potentially resort to violence against Americans?

Thousands of these Somali refugees have traveled here to our shores, been provided with taxpayer-funded medical care, housing and food subsidies. The government, along with private sector funds, has given much more assistance than imaginable in their home country.

And yet -- despite this amazing American charity -- we still have to provide even more funding to convince some against taking up arms to kill Americans.

Most of the proposals from groups seeking these funds are for after-school sports programs and other activities that will steer youth hopefully in a more positive fashion.

While we continue to debate the issue of opening our doors to thousands of Syrian refugees, we find ourselves in need of funding to persuade other newcomers against joining our mortal enemies.

Some of the groups who initially expressed an interest in the funding program have declined to participate because the funds come from the federal government which they distrust.

Understand what they are saying. They are welcomed here and funded by the federal government for which they hold great distrust.

Well, distrust goes both ways.

And just to drive home this level of distrust, some of the funding will be filtered through other nongovernment programs to avoid the appearance of government participation.

In other words, we are forced to lie on the true nature of the funding origin to avoid damaging the sensibilities of those receiving the funds.

There is something fundamentally wrong when any group of people in this country must be convinced against joining those who would bring us harm.

If there is that lingering mindset within any group, then should we not question why we roll out the welcome mat for that or any other group?

Michael Jensen is the publisher of the Sikeston Standard Democrat.