Friday, April 3, 2009

Binghamton

The chilling news spread like an icy wave through the refugee resettlement world. A shooting in Binghamton, New York. The American Civic Association provides a variety of services to immigrants and is also a refugee resettlement agency, an affiliate of United States Committee for Refugees and Immigrants.

We've whispered about this possibility for years. Disgruntled xenophobes, desperate and traumatized refugees, someone angry about immigrants in the bad economy. It was bound to happen sooner or later.

For the most part, refugee resettlement work is unbelievably stressful, but benign nonetheless. It is social work aiding people who have fled the horrors of war. Some people don't get it.

Innocent people doing good work should be immune from armed gunmen harboring a grudge.

I am so sad about Binghamton. Desperately sad.

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