In a twist of irony, President Barack Obama compared Syrian refugees to the Pilgrims in his Thanksgiving message Thursday, appealing to Americans to be more generous and welcoming to the fleeing travelers.
"Nearly four centuries after the Mayflower set sail, the world is still full of pilgrims – men and women who want nothing more than the chance for a safer, better future for themselves and their families," Obama said, according to Reuters.
While refugees from Syria are clearly seeking a better future, can they really be considered pilgrims?
Dictionaries define a pilgrim as someone who travels for religious purposes. The Pilgrims who came to America in 1620 fleeing religious persecution in Europe were no exception.
Filling in for Glenn, Mike Broomhead shared his reaction to the news on radio Friday.
"Interesting how he talked about religious persecution and he talks about building a new land," Mike said. "Did they want to come here to build a new land? I don't think that's what the president meant."
Glenn has often talked about the plight of Christians in Iraq and Syria, whose situation is much more comparable to that of the Pilgrims. That's why he launched the Nazarene Fund to help rescue Christians seeking asylum from the Middle East. The first group is set to be rescued before Christmas.
Listen to more from the radio program below.
Featured Image: Migrants walk after crossing the border from Greece into Macedonia, near Gevgelija, Macedonia, November 25, 2015. REUTERS/STOYAN NENOV