Loved this piece. It is interesting that you associate things getting worse with 1990s INS raids. I admit I believed the creation of ICE in place of INS is when things really went to hell. Suddenly every foreigner was a possible terrorist. It's even reflected in the names, one about helping immigrants to become citizens and the other focusing on enforcement of immigration laws. Thank you for writing this piece. I will never understand why it is so difficult for so many Americans to put a human face on refugees and asylum seekers, and migrant workers. We can have secure borders and still be humane. Keep fighting the good fight. I encourage anyone wanting to help to see if their city has a chapter of Hello Neighbor.
I am glad that you enjoyed it, Ms.Laura. I can’t speak on politics with as much authority as GCV+Friends but can share my experience with the impact of policy on our people.
It can be difficult for many to humanize refugees and immigrants for various reasons: they weren’t raised in a wonderfully diverse environment as I was and they did not have parents who intentionally taught anti-bigotry lessons and-more importantly-led by their words and their example. They also supported me when I went against members of my own extended family and a domestic terrorist group.
Also, upon adulthood, many choose to stay in their comfort zone, which is typically an unhealthy, stagnant echo chamber.
My hope, in providing such personal stories, is to gently challenge folks to lean into the discomfort they feel and to hopefully broaden their awareness. Love the mention of Hello Neighbor! I’ll have to write an article on some similar organizations I’ve worked with in Texas!
In regards to your last paragraph, I agree that is an effective approach--people need to see and hear the human faces on these stories without feeling lectured. But I also think that is the perfect place (Nicholas Kristof is a master at this if you read him) to gently let people know what they can be doing. Because after reading stories like yours many people will want to do something. I know that is how I feel. Both in terms of writing checks and in terms of being able to offer hands on help. So I hope you do write that article!
He's always worth reading, even when he's wrong, which is quite often. YMMV. Read David French instead. He's the new David Brooks - a former conservative that left-of-center types like. NYT has some great writers and some really overrated foreign policy types (see Thomas Friedman).
I don't agree with Kristof all the time but I appreciate that he is on the ground in all sorts of places and brings a lot of issues to our attention. I also, as I said, really appreciate that when he shares horror stories he gives ideas of what we can do.
I used to like David Brooks but post Trump he has really ticked me off. I read the occasional David French piece--usually when it pops up in my local paper or is a pop up on my phone. I don't go to the NY Times and read it much, but I've been reading Kristof for decades. You might enjoy John McWhorter speaking of other centrist NY Times writers. His area is linguistics though, not any overseas conflicts or anything. But with the way people are using and abusing the First Amendment these days his stuff is always interesting. David Frum is an excellent never trumper conservative at The Atlantic that I also recommend.
Since the current administration is in the process of denying food and medicines to people worldwide it is probable that similar kindness and consideration will be shown to similar people currently residing in this country. Elections have consequences as the T. Rump criminal enterprise continues to implement Project 2025. Promises made, promises kept.
In case anyone thinks this is a recent development a quick glance at the history of my little nation may cause a reassessment of that view. ᏣᎳᎩᎯ ᎠᏰᎵ forever.
I agree with you, James, it is a recurring issue in our history. So those of us with eyes to see and ears to hear must be the hands to serve and the voices to speak up against injustice and bigotry targeting the most vulnerable living here, especially under the current administration. Especially those that have personally seen it happen before, sir.
“We are one people, united forever." Blessings and peace to a gentleman descended from the survivors of a horrific American genocide, from a Jewish woman who grew up dancing at Intertribals and eating fry bread tacos. We must study and remember our history, especially the parts many people try to completely ignore.
You are an amazing blessing to this world and this country. Thank you and your peers for the wonderful and heartfelt work that you do.
Thank you, you are kind to say so. We consider it both an honor and a pleasure to be the hands that serve, ma’am.
Loved this piece. It is interesting that you associate things getting worse with 1990s INS raids. I admit I believed the creation of ICE in place of INS is when things really went to hell. Suddenly every foreigner was a possible terrorist. It's even reflected in the names, one about helping immigrants to become citizens and the other focusing on enforcement of immigration laws. Thank you for writing this piece. I will never understand why it is so difficult for so many Americans to put a human face on refugees and asylum seekers, and migrant workers. We can have secure borders and still be humane. Keep fighting the good fight. I encourage anyone wanting to help to see if their city has a chapter of Hello Neighbor.
I am glad that you enjoyed it, Ms.Laura. I can’t speak on politics with as much authority as GCV+Friends but can share my experience with the impact of policy on our people.
It can be difficult for many to humanize refugees and immigrants for various reasons: they weren’t raised in a wonderfully diverse environment as I was and they did not have parents who intentionally taught anti-bigotry lessons and-more importantly-led by their words and their example. They also supported me when I went against members of my own extended family and a domestic terrorist group.
Also, upon adulthood, many choose to stay in their comfort zone, which is typically an unhealthy, stagnant echo chamber.
My hope, in providing such personal stories, is to gently challenge folks to lean into the discomfort they feel and to hopefully broaden their awareness. Love the mention of Hello Neighbor! I’ll have to write an article on some similar organizations I’ve worked with in Texas!
In regards to your last paragraph, I agree that is an effective approach--people need to see and hear the human faces on these stories without feeling lectured. But I also think that is the perfect place (Nicholas Kristof is a master at this if you read him) to gently let people know what they can be doing. Because after reading stories like yours many people will want to do something. I know that is how I feel. Both in terms of writing checks and in terms of being able to offer hands on help. So I hope you do write that article!
Thank you for the great constructive criticism and the author recommendation, I’ll check him out! 🙏🏻
He writes for the NY Times.
He's always worth reading, even when he's wrong, which is quite often. YMMV. Read David French instead. He's the new David Brooks - a former conservative that left-of-center types like. NYT has some great writers and some really overrated foreign policy types (see Thomas Friedman).
I don't agree with Kristof all the time but I appreciate that he is on the ground in all sorts of places and brings a lot of issues to our attention. I also, as I said, really appreciate that when he shares horror stories he gives ideas of what we can do.
I used to like David Brooks but post Trump he has really ticked me off. I read the occasional David French piece--usually when it pops up in my local paper or is a pop up on my phone. I don't go to the NY Times and read it much, but I've been reading Kristof for decades. You might enjoy John McWhorter speaking of other centrist NY Times writers. His area is linguistics though, not any overseas conflicts or anything. But with the way people are using and abusing the First Amendment these days his stuff is always interesting. David Frum is an excellent never trumper conservative at The Atlantic that I also recommend.
nicely written
Thank you
Since the current administration is in the process of denying food and medicines to people worldwide it is probable that similar kindness and consideration will be shown to similar people currently residing in this country. Elections have consequences as the T. Rump criminal enterprise continues to implement Project 2025. Promises made, promises kept.
In case anyone thinks this is a recent development a quick glance at the history of my little nation may cause a reassessment of that view. ᏣᎳᎩᎯ ᎠᏰᎵ forever.
I agree with you, James, it is a recurring issue in our history. So those of us with eyes to see and ears to hear must be the hands to serve and the voices to speak up against injustice and bigotry targeting the most vulnerable living here, especially under the current administration. Especially those that have personally seen it happen before, sir.
“We are one people, united forever." Blessings and peace to a gentleman descended from the survivors of a horrific American genocide, from a Jewish woman who grew up dancing at Intertribals and eating fry bread tacos. We must study and remember our history, especially the parts many people try to completely ignore.
The fact that this state of affairs recurs means that the lesson has not been learned.
Absolutely agree with you on that front.
I can foresee a grassroots effort for another event of this kind. You never forget your first protest.
https://smudailycampus.com/102111/news/up-to-half-a-million-march-for-immigrant-rights-in-largest-protest-in-dallas-history/