This is a reply to Jeff Schnelz’ ‘overpopulation’ sentiments in the letters page.

If I remember correctly, these migrants are a Syrian family who fled the devastation of the Syrian war — that was fueled by the U.S. and its authoritarian Middle East allies in their effort to violently overthrow the Syrian government. This meddling is a violation of international law and contributed to the EU’s refugee crises. When 50,000 foreign militants are trained for urban combat and supplied with weapons, there will be civilian deaths and a lot of destruction. Just look at Mosul after months of coalition bombing.

My wife translates Soviet era films and cartoons for me each night. One cartoon, ‘Кошкин дом’ (female cat house) features a wealthy female cat who owns a big house. One stormy night, she denied two homeless kittens shelter. “I have no room.” The kittens get the same answer at each house they visit.

Unexpectedly, the female cat’s house burns down. Cold, drenched and homeless, she is denied shelter by all her friends. Finally, the female cat knocks on the door of an old house on the edge of NoviKoshkaya. The two kittens that had been homeless answer, and graciously invite her inside.

These innocent, communist cartoons teach meaningful family values. It feels like the anti-refugee crowd really missed the boat on what Кошкин дом teaches. It is my hope that if they ever have to flee from war, that they are also given refuge. I feel a sense of an ‘exclusion law’ mentality from reading the author’s letter. I don’t know if this is what the letter writer is trying to express, but it is my sense that in war, the aggressor is responsible for the destruction. So, in this sense, denying refuge to those who flee is callous and a few other labels I need help with.

— Dave Pekarek