It is heartbreaking at the thought of hundreds of thousands of Syrian and Iraqi refugees — so many of them children, sick and injured, without homes, or those who have been killed or injured by wanton violence — in Syria, in Beirut, in Paris, here in the United States, and elsewhere. It breaks my heart as we watch our fellow U.S. residents, responding in fear to the Paris attacks, calling for new restrictions on Syrian refugee arrivals on our shores. These responses are insulting and racist and counter-productive. Because I feel heartbroken, I am even more determined to transform these bleakest moments to bring out the best in humanity.  Where can we find our common humanity--that we are one race of humans learning to live together on a delicate home?  

I think this is a defining moment for us as humans. We will look back at this moment and reflect — did we clearly invite others to see the reality of one people and one planet, no matter the diversity and difference?  I believe in our work in telling the Sharp story shows and teaches that we are responding with compassion, and no matter how much our heart breaks we will not succumb to fear!
 
Warmly, 
Artemis

On June 6th I had the opportunity to talk...