Syrian Refugees in the United States: One Family's Story

In which John meets with Syrian refugees Mufak, Nada, and their five kids in Amman, Jordan, and then a few months later shortly after the family's resettlement in Rockford, Illinois.

----

[alktrio]

"His family had not come to change the law, they had come to be protected by it."

[StadelmanFlicks]

As a resident of Rockford, Welcome! I hope the family finds peace and success in the city. I would love to meet and talk with them about the city and anything they'd like to know!

[monroestephenson]

This made me cry, thank you for sharing their story.

[AndreaMGC]

Me: *crying*
Mom: Another John Green video?

[LPlandOFazul]

My great grandparents came to the US from Poland. They were seeking freedom from Russia. When my great grandfather arrived in the states he knew hardly anyone and fought to learn English. He saw this country as a land of opportunity away from oppression. He even refused to let his family members speak Polish in his household because he was so proud to be in the USA.

My ex-boyfriend's family came to the US after the Bosnian war broke out. They fled Bosnia with what they had on their backs. They ran to Austria and America took them in under asylum. They weren't bad people, they were people that got caught in a bad situation.

Whenever I hear people say, "No Syrian refugees in America!" it breaks my heart. My great grandfather came here seeking freedom from countries that kept taking over his home. A person very close to me fled in order to save the lives if his family. And we want to turn ALL the people of a country away? A country that was terrorized by the people we fear? It makes me so sick.

[NotTotallyHopeless]

I've worked with refugees who are resettled in the US. It's very hard but let me tell you a very good story from a kid I worked with.

I was talking to him about his life and I asked what he disliked most about the US and he told me he didn't like the racism and prejudice towards him and others. I asked him what he liked most and he said "That I can see problems in this country and work to fix them". He was 11 at the time when he told me that, and is now starting his first year of high school. I asked him what he wanted to be and he said he wants to be a doctor and a lawyer, so he can save people and protect them.

[JSS-vd]

Two years? Thats gotta suck. Although it took my family about the same as well during the Post-Vietnam War era. They got here after fleeing from communism and the genocides that took place shortly after the US left. Thankfully, the media then wasn't like how it is now or people would've vilified them like they do now.
People always complain how easy it is to get into the US and be citizens without ever recalling how difficult it was for their family to do so.

[dagwood]

"We contain multitudes, which has always strengthened us."

[illinoisbutcher]

As someone who lives near Rockford I can assure you that it is not the great town it once was. Drugs and violence have drastically changed it. But seeing families like this move to Rockford gives me hope that it is on the rebound. From one butcher to another, best of luck to your entire family. Enjoy your new home!

[emily_kim]

I just signed the petition, thank you for spreading awareness

[midomaa]

Im Syrian and this meant a lot, thanks John :)

(yes, I made two mistakes with my comment and I corrected them, Im a human, thank you very much)

[booksandcat]

What a beautiful video <3 It sounds like they're quickly adapting to their new life; I'd be really interested to see how they're doing a couple of years from now! Best wishes to the whole family! :)

[eustacia]

I'm so glad this family has a safe place to live now.

[jaypillsbury]

Thank you for being a voice of reason in this chaotic time. We need more people like you.

[realspacemodels]

"...They came here not to change our laws but to be protected by them."
I can't think of a more noble thing to be known for in the world.
Thank you, John for letting us see this.

[TaofikiGafar]

141 dislikes? What is there to dislike? Is it that the content? The editing style? The framing of each shot? Or....the people in it? Don't see how a positive family finding safety from a war zone = dislike. Humans are so nonsensical at times

[kkey]

I was just in Rockford today with my son (African American and intellectually disabled), and if I had seen this video beforehand, I would have tried to look these folks up and taken them a welcome gift. thanks so much for this video...especially the last few lines. I will be thinking on that for a long time.

[julianneluong]

Just signed the petition and texted my friends the link. Thanks for telling us about this so that I can do my part in making the world suck less. Great video John!

[andreabreckenridge]

I hope we don't disappoint them either.

[chickendance]

I come from a refugee family escaping the Vietnam War. I was the first generation born in the United States and the proud brother of 2 other siblings born here in the United States. Both my refugee parents went to college and got a proper education. My dad went to A&M and my mom went to TCC. Both are now productive members of society. All three of us (my siblings and I) went to college. My sister is now an eye doctor. My brother joined the US ARMY because he believed he owed a debt to this country and wished to serve it. I became an IT manager with my degree. I think we really need to give these people a chance. They came here with hopes and dreams. And when John said that he hopes that we should not disappoint that refugee family, I hope our country lives up to the hopes and dreams of that family. It did for mine.