Jan 16, 2016 4 min read

Cologne, Germany, has been making headlines around the world in the past several days, but not for its famous Dom cathedral, its refreshingly light Kölsch beer, or its notorious Karneval celebrations.

Instead, the focus has been on the mass assaults on women that occurred near the city’s main train station, where as many as 1,000 men, reportedly of North African descent, circled around groups of young women before molesting and robbing them on New Year’s Eve.

This incident, coupled with the tragic Paris attacks in November, has fueled an intense debate over refugees in Europe. Some Europeans have urged the closing of borders in response, while their American counterparts have cited both Paris and Cologne in an attempt to prevent the United States from accepting more refugees this year. Reports of the Paris attacks and Cologne assaults have been shared on social media, accompanied by statements such as, “Just look at what is happening in Europe! Do you want that to happen here too?” These statements, however, are deeply misguided.

I have been in Germany since July, having spent two months in Cologne and now in Munich, as a recipient of a fellowship from the U.S. State Department aimed at increasing mutual understanding and cross-cultural relations between the United States and Germany. I volunteer as an English language tutor to refugees at Schlau-Schule, a school that helps young refugees, unaccompanied by their parents, garner the academic knowledge and “soft skills” necessary to succeed in Germany.

Although my students have experienced so much instability, danger and loss in their lives, they study German and English tirelessly. I am touched by the fact that they try to give me chocolates, oranges and handwritten cards to thank me for teaching them, although they do not have much to give. I am inspired by their courage and their determination.

Of course, the public should be outraged by the unconscionable lack of respect for human life in the Paris attacks, and in the heinous degradation of women in Cologne, and those responsible should be punished to the full extent of the law. We should be angry at the police and media for waiting so long to disclose and for trying to underplay the events in Cologne. But we should be equally frustrated by those trying to exploit these incidents to push racist agendas and limit refugee access to the safety and security they need to stay alive.

Do not be fooled into thinking that one of the Paris attackers, who potentially gained access to France through a Syrian passport, or the 18 asylum seekers of the 31 men arrested so far in Cologne, accurately represent all refugees. In fact, of the 31 arrested, two Germans and one American were also charged. To further put these numbers in perspective, Germany has taken in 1.2 million refugees at this time, the vast majority of whom are living peacefully in the country.

We would find an assertion claiming that all white men will shoot up classrooms to be absurd. Any portrayal of an entire group of people based on the depraved actions of a few who happen to belong to this demographic is irresponsible. Generalizing all refugees in this way has no place in a city known for its diversity, friendliness and integrity.

The United States plans to accept just 10,000 refugees this year, though the number is an increase from the 1,500 it has accepted since 2011. Pittsburgh is one of a rather limited number of American cities that has agreed to host as many as 500 of them.

As the city prepares to welcome them, I urge you not to rely on reductionist news articles to tell you who refugees are. Learn for yourself by volunteering, donating, offering English lessons and accompanying them to Pittsburgh’s unique cultural events. Take the time to get to know them.

I am so glad that I have.

Heather Painter is a South Park native.