Don’t speak ill of Syrian refugees. Instead, learn their language

Our schools need to teach Arabic. The act of trying to speak another’s language is a respect, writes Victoria White

WHAT can they teach us? That is the question we should be asking. The first 600 refugees will be here by the end of the year. We’ve committed to hosting 3,400 more, and if they bring their families we could be hosting 20,000 soon.

Yes, the logistics are important, but they seem to be sketchy. But focus too long on what we can do for them and already they’re not people any more, they’re a problem to be solved. We need to focus, also, on the gifts they are bringing us and stretch out our hands to receive them.