Getu Habte came to the United States from Ethiopia as a refugee, in 1995. Getu settled in Nashville, Tenn., and is the father of Nazren Habte, a freshman at Milligan.

 

With the refugee crisis in Syria, Nazren has been concerned with how the refugees are treated and how his family can adjust to this  situation. He is especially concerned about the changing attitudes in the country.

 

“With everything my dad and mom have been through, it makes me want to be nice to immigrants and refugees,” Nazren said in an interview two weeks ago.

 

Getu had to go to a different country and do large amounts of paperwork to get into the United States. After two years, all of his paperwork was turned in and he was able to move to the United States. Getu said this process now takes 10 years.

 

Getu did this for the better home he could create for he and his wife.

 

“No one wants to leave home their home,” Getu said.

 

He is also concerned about the change in attitudes because good refugees have tried to get a home. Getu believes, however, that refugees who give the people a bad name are not helping anything.

 

A poll from Pew Research Center shows that most Americans disapprove allowing refugees into the country. Around 71 percent of Americans disapproved of Cuban refugees entering the country in 1980. Over time, Americans have increased their negative views towards refugees.

 

Praise Gischuru, a Milligan student who worked at a refugee camp in Houston last summer, witnessed the changing attitudes of people around refugees.

 

Gischuru worked to help refugees settle into the country, but she noticed that even some workers at the shelter had negative attitudes toward the refugees and heard their side as “this is not for the greater good.”

 

Gischuru believes small deeds Americans do to welcome refugees make a lasting impact on their lives. She believes that simple acts like kindness and compassion can affect how the refugees view our country.