Skittles are candy. Refugees are people. (and other things that should go without saying)

I was as surprised as anyone that I woke up to the world going nuts about Skittles this morning.  Yes, Skittles, the rainbow-colored,chewy, delicious candy. In case you missed it, Donald Trump Jr. sent out a tweet yesterday comparing refugees to poisoned Skittles.

Skittles sent out a public statement that is drawing much praise and support for the company's handling of the event.  The statement read, 

Add this to the, "things I never thought we'd have to say out loud" file.

Skittles are candy.  Refugees are people.

The image of a bowl of brightly-colored candy representing refugees becomes not only ridiculous, but outrageous, wildly inappropriate, insulting and deplorable when contrasted with the image of a real refugee, Omran Daqneesh, who was injured in an airstrike in Aleppo, Syria, in August.  (His 10-year-old brother later died of his injuries.)

The level of discourse and marginalization of refugees reflected in the current political campaign means that we have to say things we thought went without saying.

With our words and our lives, we need to speak truth, goodness and light into a world that needs more brightness, more kindness, more love, more acceptance, more dignity and more respect than we have ever needed before.

Because Skittles are candy.

Because refugees are people....

...People who are created in the image of God, deserving of protection, peace and safety...

...People who belong to and in our world....

...People who deserve to be accepted and welcomed with open hearts, open minds and open arms.