Crisis in America
There is a crisis at the
border. Children have come in large numbers seeking refuge from the storm. These humble ones who come to the land
of immigrants are being turned away, Children, how dare we? This is America,
when our grandparents came here it was a land with open borders. There were
shameful episodes like the Chinese exclusion act of 1882 and the anti-Catholic
– anti-Jewish restrictions on immigration of 1924. But, pretty much from 1840
to 1924 our borders were open. All our grandparents came from somewhere else
and the borders were open and nearly unrestricted. Except for the American
Indian whose land was stolen and the African who had no choice being sold as
slaves. For the rest of us this America would be a sanctuary for the tired, the
poor, the broken, the oppressed, the huddled masses, the wretched
refuse from many
different teaming shores. They came with little more than their hopes. They
came on the decks of over crowded boats. They built America with their muscles,
sweat and blood. Many could not read or write; few knew English and they
created a nation. My grandparents were legal immigrants. That is just silly.
When they came the borders were not closed. Now we are turning away the
children.
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