Reykjavík Grapevine - 11.09.2015, Blaðsíða 4

this issue's most aw esome letter!

Check it out! Whoever sent in this issue's
LOVELIEST LETTER gets a free Grapevine
T-shirt, featuring the regal G that adorns
our cover. DON’T PANIC if your letter
wasn’t found to be this issue's loveliest.
You can still get a tee for a low, low price
over our website, www.grapevine.is.
And guess what: we always give out
SICK prizes for each issue's LOVELIEST
LETTER, so be sure to send in some fun
and/or interesting missives.
Give us your worst: letters@grapevine.is
LOVELIEST LETTER
FREE GRAPEVINE TEE HEE HEE!
Last week, the municipal government of
Ísafjarðarbær (where I serve as mayor)
made a declaration on behalf of the com-
munity it serves. We declared that we,
the people of Ísafjarðarbær, are ready and
willing to welcome refugees to our town
and host them to the best of our abilities. It
is our civic duty, and it is a show of social
responsibility.
The municipality of Ísafjarðarbær
hosts a good-natured and child-friendly
community, with a variety of qualities
that anyone should find appealing, not the
least those who are tasked with starting a
new life. Our infrastructure is sturdy, and
the closeness of our tight-knit community
enables us to offer a steady and warm
hand to those in need—to those who would
entrust us with their future.
We are also experienced. Ísafjarðar-
bær accepted thirty refugees from the
Balkans in 1996 (which proportionately
equals the number of Syrian refugees Ger-
many plans to admit). The endeavour was
such a success that it became the basis of
a model for subsequent refugee arrivals to
Iceland.
The key to this success was the direct
and active participation of many of our
townspeople. Local support families vol-
unteered and were consequently trained
and educated in preparation for the refu-
gees’ arrival, ready to welcome them to a
new home and a fresh start. Every family
of refugees was assigned a support family
of their own, allowing them to immediate-
ly enjoy the comfort and support network
only a close group of friends can offer.
A few years later, our town’s economy
failed. There was unemployent, and job
opportunities were few and far between.
Fortunately, after successfully integrat-
ing into our community, the refugees were
well prepared to relocate to anywhere they
wished. Success!
Some eventually chose to return to the
places they fled once the situation allowed
for it. The rest are spread all over Iceland.
All these years later, they have become a
vital part of the Icelandic nation, while
those who left still foster close ties to our
country.
Our community’s experience of ac-
cepting a group of thirty refugees in 1996
was a pleasant and rewarding one. In-
deed, many of those who played a part in
welcoming that group regularly express a
sincere interest in repeating the project.
They have retained the knowledge, expe-
rience and expertise that accumulated in
the process—it is preserved within our lo-
cal Red Cross chapter, our social services
and among the many volunteers who
pitched in, serving as support families or
otherwise.
We, the people of Ísafjarðarbær have
much to offer—and it seems that at the
moment, much is needed. Our neigh-
bouring municipalities have furthermore
pledged to work with us in this effort,
should we be called upon.
It is in light of our positive prior ex-
periences with accepting refugees, in
tune with our civic duties, and out of
our shared sense of social responsibility
that we foster a sincere will to help in any
which way we can, and do our part.
Dear Mr. Mayor,
Thank you for taking the time to write
us and explain your community’s
stance on this very pressing issue. It
seems like a noble one, and we applaud
it and wish you success. If nothing else,
you’ve certainly earned that t-shirt.
Hey! Wait! Are you maybe just pander-
ing to our obvious and blatant bleed-
ing heart liberal sensibilities to score a
free t-shirt? Is that it? Is it?
Say your piece, voice your
opinion, send your letters to:
letters@grapevine.is
SOUR GRAPES AND STUFF
A Letter From The Mayor
Of Ísafjarðarbær
Or: Why we will gladly welcome
refugees to our community
Words by Gísli Halldór Halldórsson
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