My thoughts on Immigration

My ancestors came here by boat from many places and at different times in history.

Some of them came around the time of the Mayflower and soon after. And some of them arrived as recently as the 1800s. 

Most of my ancestors spoke English when they arrived on American shores; those that came from England, that is, and probably Ireland/Scotland/Wales, as well. But the Norwegians had to learn how to speak English, because in the times that they arrived in Chicago, they were expected to drop their native tongue. I'm told my great grandmother, Anna Jacobsen Sheahan, didn't speak much Norwegian to my grandmother. I've always felt sad about that. Grandma knew a few words, a table grace, and the names of some Norwegian pastries, breads, and cakes. She even taught me the table grace:

I Jesu navn går vi til bords 
At spise og drikke på ditt ord 
Dig Gud til ære, oss til gavn 
Sa får vi mat i Jesu navn

Amen

In Jesus' name we go to the table 

To eat and drink at your Word

You God to honor, We to receive

So we receive food in Jesus' name

Amen

I have this prayer framed (it was my mother's copy) in my dining room, and there's another copy of it pinned to my cubicle wall at work. 

My early ancestors would not have seen the Statue of Liberty, much less know the poem written to raise money for that lovely lady...the poem forever more associated with it, written by Emma Lazarus. I don't remember reading the entire poem until today:

The New Colossus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, 

With conquering limbs astride from land to land; 

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

A mighty woman with a  torch, whose flame

Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name

Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand

Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she

With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

But teenage Anna Jacobsen, my great-grandmother, surely saw her, if only in the midst of construction, as she came here via Ellis Island. And many many people after her. 

I remember my grandfather told me that he saw her on his way back from the ravages of World War I, and he remarked it was the most wonderful sight he'd ever seen as he made his way back home. 

Read that poem carefully; there are things contained in the lesser-known part that are just as important as the last five (and more familiar) lines. She says, "Welcome." She says, "You are free!" She doesn't say, "You must only speak English. You must only have a desired skill-set. You must not be poor. You must not come from certain countries."

We are a nation...a great melting pot...of immigrants. From everywhere. 

I understand the need to make sure criminals aren't allowed in (we have enough of native-born citizens that commit crimes already!)...but what about those that are trying to escape all sorts of horrible things in other countries? Good people, who just want to make a better life for themselves, and contribute to society. From all over the earth.

Must we let a group of privileged white men slam the door in their faces, or send them back to a place where--in many cases--their lives are in peril? Tear apart families? 

My Plymouth Rock ancestors came here to escape religious tyranny. And ancestors fought a war to break away from (at the time) tyrannic rule. A declaration was signed. A new country was formed. A country full of immigrants from all over the world.  

Many people wish to claim this is a Christian nation. I am a Christian. But I also believe in separation of church and state; our forefathers put that into the Constitution to protect us so that we could worship any way we wish...or not worship anything at all, if that is our desire. They were wise in doing so; citizens must be very careful how they interpret the Constitution.

I believe, and fear, that we're headed head-first into a whole new type of tyranny. Where we are told what to think, told what to believe, given lies instead of truths, calling truths lies. Belittling people who are different for us, instead of treating every human with the respect they deserve. Taking rights like health care out from under us. 

A friend of mine recently said a wise thing: 

"Don't be one of those who talk all about Jesus and ignore all Jesus talked about."

It's happening all over the place. 

So, if you're reading this, and are responsible for decisions made in Washington that affect us, your boss (we, as constituents, are your bosses...not your underlings), I urge you to consider all of us...even the huddled masses who yearn to be free. I'm one of them. A woman. An immigrant. A person with pre-existing conditions. 

Don't forget us, because just as people hired you, they can fire you.