The first week of Trump’s
presidency has been even worse than he promised it would be. I feel myself go cold inside as I listen to
the news and I realize this is a uniquely different feeling I am experiencing. Different than other times I’ve disagreed
with a political leader. Much
different.
It’s no longer about politics and
simple difference of opinion with an administration. It’s about so much more. Truth over bold-faced lies. Openness and inclusivity over isolationism
and walls. Helping the most vulnerable
among us over persecuting them. Dignity
over disgrace. Love over hate.
Where to start? What to say?
What to do?
I looked back on my own posts and I
decided to update this one. I wrote it when Republicans were still
deciding who their nominee would be. It
was during a week when some of them were competing over who could make the vilest
pronouncements about refugees and Muslims.
Looking back now, it seems so
naive. My worries only a hint of things
to come. Here is that blog post with my
more updated comments in bold.
I continue to stand with and for my
refugee, immigrant, and Muslim friends, colleagues, students and families. I will advocate for you and speak out for
you. This is not the America I want for
you or for me and my family.
___________________________________________________________________
My work revolves around teaching and supporting
refugee and immigrant children and their families.
I'm used to defending them
and explaining why they're here and why we should help them. I've done it many
times in many different settings, including family reunions.
One of the reasons I write this blog is so people can read the stories of refugees and immigrants and see how very much alike we all are. To diminish the idea of "the other." To see that we all struggle, and we all have hopes and dreams. At the end of the day, we all want to live in safety and peace and make sure our children are cared for and happy.
I believe I can probably best show this human connection through the stories I tell here. But, with all the events of the past weeks, I feel a pull to do a post in its entirety about refugees. So, today I am going to post more explicitly on these topics-what I have learned from all the reading and study I have done over the years. All my experiences. And, even more importantly, what I have learned from many, many conversations with refugees and their families- real-live people who have shared their stories with me and taught me so much.
Here is what I have to say:
1. You are entitled to your own opinions but not your own facts.
A certain person who enjoys national attention says that we need to keep Syrian refugees out because they are a danger to our national security. To support this, he makes the claim that thousands of Arabs were cheering after 911 in Jersey City. The mayor, the police and the governors of New York and New Jersey say it never happened. There are no documented reports that this happened.
This guy is the one who is dangerous and reckless, because right now he has a national/world platform for his hateful messages and he lies. Call a spade a spade and a liar a liar. He just admitted in an interview that he doesn't check his facts because he doesn't have time. Enough said.
I didn’t even want to say Trump’s name here. I never imagined at this time that he would
become president or that so many lies about refugees, immigrants, and Muslims
would follow.
Do not be persuaded for a minute that he is trying to keep America safe
through this action. Executive Order This is
religious discrimination and a heartless decision that affects some of the most
vulnerable people in the world. Here is another
good article. Faith and History demand better of us
2. Why does the discussion have to be so vile? And Why I missed George W. Bush this week
There is so much hatred and vileness being spewed on the issue of refugees and whether they should be allowed to come to our country. I am astounded at the level of hostility and fear in things people are saying and writing.
The issue of refugees is the current topic that my son is debating with his high school debate team. Last week I watched and judged four 1-hour debates on this topic. They were reasonable. They were professional. They were courteous. Nobody dehumanized a refugee. If 14-18 year-olds can talk about differences on this topic respectfully, can't we do a little better?
When the Paris attacks happened, I cringed for many reasons. I cringed because of all the people who lost their lives and the fear and uncertainty inflicted on us all by terrorism. I also cringed because events like this invariably lead to prejudice and retaliation against Muslims.
I am going to now post a video of George W. Bush giving a speech called "Islam is Peace." He made this speech shortly after 9/11 when anti-Muslim sentiment was running high. Full disclosure: I never voted for him. I protested against the war in Iraq. I disagreed with him on so many, many things. I think he had many disastrous policies that still reverberate today. But this was a fine moment for him. I love this speech, and I wish we had more people of his party speaking out like this today. I never expected to compliment George W. Bush on this blog, but for this 4 minutes and 17 seconds of his presidency, he got something very, very right.
3. Be consistent.
I was raised Catholic. Although I no longer practice this religion, I have deep respect for what I consider the best and holiest parts of this faith: love, compassion, forgiveness, service, and social justice.
However, I see a lot of inconsistency in what some Christian politicians, leaders, and others are saying. I don't understand going to church on Sundays and professing love for God and Jesus Christ and then taking a stand against refugees on Monday at the office. Religion should not be theoretical; it should be put into loving and bold action.
I am not a biblical scholar but my friend Cathy knows a little something about the Bible. She says that "there are over 100 passages that mandate we welcome the stranger into our midst. And, close to 2000 passages that encourage us to care for the widows, orphans, and poor."
Also, here is a quote from Hubert Humphrey. It's a message that I would like to give to the governors that want to deny entry to refugees and to the legislators who passed the House bill restricting them:
"It was once said that the moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped."
Friday at the anti-abortion rally in Washington D.C., Vice
President Pence said, “I believe a society can be judged by how it deals with
its most vulnerable. The aged. The infirm. The disabled. And the unborn.”
Refugees are some of the most vulnerable
people in the world.
Refugees are running out of homes that are being bombed to
stay alive. They are taking enormous risks to flee a
country they love in order to save their lives and the lives of their
families. They are being persecuted by
the people Trump says he wants to protect us from. I would be hard pressed to think of a more vulnerable
group of human beings. Be
consistent.
4. Listen to a refugee's story.
It's easy to think of people as "other" until you are face to face with them and you listen to their story. I think the best advice I have for anyone struggling to understand the refugee experience is to spend some time with a refugee listening to their story.
These are some of the stories I have listened to over the years:
"We had an upper class lifestyle in our country. We had friends, a community, and a life. We went to restaurants. But, things changed. And, finally, we had to come here to give our family a better life. We don't have much here. We've lived in shelters. We don't know anyone. It's hard to get used to." (from a mother)
"My father was killed in our country." (from a 13 year old)
"There were bombs falling all the time. Our family left our house and country with nothing- not even a backpack." (from a 12 year old)
How can you not be stirred by these stories?
Ilhan Omar,
a Minneapolis Democrat and the first Somali-American lawmaker elected in the
nation, invited Trump to spend a day with her. “The irony in this is
that this country, too, is being one of tyranny, is becoming one of
dictatorship and is becoming one that is turning its face against the values that
it is supposed to stand for,” she said. Broken Dreams: Trump's actions on refugees dismay local Somalis and officials
5.
Love will conquer fear.
“Love is what we are born with. Fear is what we learn. The spiritual journey is the unlearning of fear and prejudices and the acceptance of love back in our hearts. Love is the essential reality and our purpose on earth. To be consciously aware of it, to experience love in ourselves and others, is the meaning of life. Meaning does not lie in things. Meaning lies in us.”
I am so impressed with the open
letter that some of Minnesota's legislators wrote to Syrian refugees, welcoming
them. Those who had courage during these times and acted out of love
instead of fear will be remembered.
I really do believe that these hateful policies will be the eventual unraveling
of this administration. This is not what
I want America to stand for. Take action
if you are moved to do so.
-Go to marches and stand in solidarity with your refugee, immigrant,
and Muslim neighbors.
-Write and call your elected representatives. Let them know how you feel, and encourage them to fight for justice.
-Donate, volunteer for, and support organizations that help refugees.
-Educate yourself so you can challenge misperceptions and lies when you
hear them.
6. Life is arbitrary and unpredictable.
In a grand and cosmic sense, I'm not sure why I was born in the United States to a family who had the resources and love to raise me and give me a great life. I feel lucky. I have so many choices, so many freedoms. But, you never really know what life holds for you. Or what you might need to do to go on.
The eloquent poet, Warsan Shire, reminds us:
you have to understand,
that no one puts their children in a boat
unless the water is safer than the land
If something happens here one day
and I need to leave or flee this country, I hope that another land and another
people might open their door to me and say....
I'm so sorry you had to endure that. Come in.
You'll need some extra help for a while. Come in.
We see you with compassion. Come in.
You are part of our human family. Come in.
Come in.
