Week of January 2

Here’s another round-up of what we’ve been doing and watching this week, from in the news and around the web:

As we all return from a long-deserved Holiday break, we are reminded of the importance of staying engaged and fighting the battles worth fighting. If you haven’t already, read our founder’s reflection on how veterans absolutely changed the narrative in 2016.

Also this week, Jacob Shapiro, VFAI member and Woodrow Wilson School of Public Affairs professor at Princeton, writes in TIME about the strategic importance of welcoming refugees from a national security perspective. “Conspicuous generosity to the innocent victims of terrorism presents a huge opportunity for public diplomacy,” says Shapiro. “For example, we could do more to help refugees who are clearly victims of terrorist activity. Helping refugees will remind potential supporters of violent groups and, more importantly, their communities, of the vast difference between how the West treats victims of conflict and how they are treated by terrorists at home”.

Shapiro’s sentiments strongly echo what national security experts and retired military leaders have long been saying. Last year, for example, General Michael Hayden and Admiral james Stavridis, wrote that “welcoming refugees regardless of their religion, nationality, or race exposes the falseness of terrorist propaganda and counters the warped vision of extremists”.

And Shapiro isn’t the only VFAI leader raising their voice. Iraq war veteran Kelsey Campbell appeared on San Fransisco’s popular radio program KGO810 with Chip Franklin to discuss how veterans are getting involved with some of the nation’s toughest issues: “When we join, there’s this process of swearing to protect and defend the Constitution. When you leave the service, there’s no swearing out. Once we leave, we maintain those core values,”

Campbell continued, “[We] never walk past a problem. If it’s one of your battle buddies . . .you’re going to step in and help them. Same thing, we’re not going to walk past homophobia, xenophobia, anti-Muslim rhetoric, anti refugee rhetoric. We never walk past a problem.”

Campbell is one of VFAI’s hundreds of veteran leaders whose service to American ideals continues, long after taking off the uniform. Kelsey is joined by Tony Clapp, a retired Navy EA6-B Prowler pilot who thinks his service to the nation shouldn’t stop after 25 years in the service, “The job shouldn't be over when the uniform comes off…We owe it to everyone—veterans, interpreters [our wartime allies], the American people in general—to speak up and do whatever advocating is required to make sure the right actions are taken at each level.”

Clapp has advice to any veteran wondering what his or her next mission can be—stay engaged. “You can play a huge role . . . [by advocating], you can shed light on many issues [people] may not have first hand knowledge of.”

Read about what Tony Clapp and other Veterans for American Leaders are doing in our featured leaders spotlight here!

Have reactions to share, or want to learn how you can be involved in our efforts to raise veteran voices in support of refugees? Find us on Facebook or Twitter, or contact us at vfai@humanrightsfirst.