When it comes to moral obligation, most Americans exhibit at least a mild case of cognitive dissonance; we proclaim America’s position as the “leader of the free world,” the savior to those less fortunate than us, while simultaneously denying our aid to those with the greatest need.

The conflict occurring between several militarisitc factions in Syria, including ISIS, has incited violence and destruction far beyond the lines of battle. More often than not, attacks take place not against soldiers, but against the general public, through blowing up neighborhoods or common places such as markets and business centers. This method of warfare has resulted in the deaths and displacement of millions of Syrian people, causing them to search for refuge in surrounding states and more stable European countries.

While some citizens of countries such as Germany and the Netherlands have greeted Syrian refugees with welcoming posters and bedrooms to stay in, many others deny the countries’ obligation to take in those fleeing from their home state. The amount of people insisting that the refugees not be cared for is particularly high in the United States.

Those who oppose the allowance of Syrian refugees into American borders reasonably claim that their presence would cause economic downfall and a strain on employment rates. Allowing thousands, even millions, of refugees who do not speak a language that is common in the U.S. and are unaccustomed to American ways will find difficulty adjusting to temporary living here. For these reasons, along with the presence of Islamaphobia and a fear of Middle Eastern citizens by many American citizens, they would likely have trouble finding steady, well-paying work. While this may be a logically sound assertions, the morality in these statements seems to fall short.

It is clear that hundreds of thousands of Syrian peoples could not find a permanent home in the United States, Germany, Sweden or others, simply for fiscal reasons. However, Americans should be open to the idea of allowing temporary escape to the refugees until the mass conflict ends and innocent civilians are no longer killed.

Syrian citizens have been fleeing on small inflatable rafts across the Mediterranean, desperate to reach a land outside of their native country. Dozens of these rafts have toppled over during travel, causing hundreds of people and young children to drown. The Syrian people are well aware of these dangers, yet they continue to leave the borders through these means, because the possibility of drowning is more appealing than staying in Syria and continuing to suffer random bombings and attacks.

Citizens of the United States have a tendency to approach foreign affairs from inside of a bubble. We demand that boots are put on the ground in the Middle East to fight ISIS, and that all international conflict is handled aggressively in order to assert our power. But when it comes to matters within our boundaries, along with matters that benefit other human beings, the United States government and our citizens are less prone to act. We don’t hesitate to bomb populated areas using drones or capture soldiers during war, but we do act appalled when foreign citizens speak poorly of the country. We take action in foreign lands and start wars in the Middle East without considering how it will affect the citizens of those countries, but when millions of refugees lives are at stake we stall by pondering the economic effects on the United States and whether or not our citizens will be “comfortable” with it or not.

Moreover, the United States government has failed to explore other options that will assist Syrian refugees. If we do not plan to allow more refugees into the country, there are many other ways that we can help.

The countries of Lebanon, Turkey, and other nations near Syria have felt the pressures of population influx of refugees, and struggle to provide for them themselves. Even our European allies such as France and Switzerland could use financial assistance to take care of the refugees. If we refuse to physically take in the Syrian peoples, at the very least we must provide assistance financially.

Time and time again, the U.S. fails to use its wealth and power for constructive programs, rather, we take land in other countries and claim it as our military base. Americans have a tendency to view the global stage as a reality show, where the U.S. acts as an instigator, a hero, and a peacekeeper all at the same time.