Unless you are a descendent of Native Americans, on both sides. your ancestors immigrated to this country. YOU are a product of immigrants. My grandfather came here from Sweden.
Not on this specific ship, but probably one very similar to it.
And, since you are a product of immigrants, you should know that your ancestors were, in all likelihood, not welcome here.My grandfather was told to go to "Snusville" where the rest of the Swedes lived. Irish, Italians, Greeks, Polish, Germans, Chinese, Japanese--all told they weren't welcome, did not need to apply for jobs.
And, since you are a product of immigrants, you should know that your grandfather, great-grandmother...someone in your family....studied in a classroom like this one.If they were lucky. Most kids had to go to work. The system, "welcoming" all these immigrants from all these places, was horribly overburdened.
The Emergency Quota Act was passed in 1921, when all of YOUR ancestors were probably already here. Or not.
So do me a favor, and don't get all "high and mighty" when you think about immigrants to this country in 2014. Because someone in your past was once an immigrant. So, you are absolutely no different from those who wish to stay in the United States now. And, the things President Obama wants to do today are the same sorts of things your ancestors received, in one form or another, in the 19th and 20th centuries: a better life for their children, education, and to escape the violence and poverty of their home country.
And while we're on the subject, if you are ridiculously shouting for the impeachment of President Obama, for taking executive action on immigration, let me remind you of two things:
1) He HAS tried, over and over, to work with Congress. There's been a bi-partisan Immigration Bill sitting in the House for 18 months. They won't pass it. The GOP are determined to screw this president, at the expense of the American people. And we keep letting them get away with it.
2) Where were you in 2008, when we had men in the office of the president and in office of vice president who were considered war criminals by many countries in this world? We had a president who allowed detainees to be waterboarded, and who lied to the American people about "weapons of mass destruction" in order to take this country into war. A war where too many Americans fought and died. Not only that, but who took us into another war, and it was clear, by their actions in Afghanistan and in Iraq, that the protection of oil was far more important than the protection of the civilian population. Where were you, and why were you silent then, instead of advocating for impeachment?
Here's how I see it: we are a nation whose memories are so very short. We have forgotten the time when we've had a truly terrible president, and we've forgotten where we come from. So, we are content to vilify, or to allow others to vilify, one president who is taking steps to make the lives of some a little better. Imagine if you were a child of undocumented immigrants (and many of you are a generation or two from those who were), and you're hearing that your parents are safe, and you are safe. That you all are going to be allowed to plan for a future. Imagine how YOU would feel.
Imagine.
And, since you are a product of immigrants, you should know that your ancestors were, in all likelihood, not welcome here.My grandfather was told to go to "Snusville" where the rest of the Swedes lived. Irish, Italians, Greeks, Polish, Germans, Chinese, Japanese--all told they weren't welcome, did not need to apply for jobs.
And, since you are a product of immigrants, you should know that your grandfather, great-grandmother...someone in your family....studied in a classroom like this one.If they were lucky. Most kids had to go to work. The system, "welcoming" all these immigrants from all these places, was horribly overburdened.
The Emergency Quota Act was passed in 1921, when all of YOUR ancestors were probably already here. Or not.
So do me a favor, and don't get all "high and mighty" when you think about immigrants to this country in 2014. Because someone in your past was once an immigrant. So, you are absolutely no different from those who wish to stay in the United States now. And, the things President Obama wants to do today are the same sorts of things your ancestors received, in one form or another, in the 19th and 20th centuries: a better life for their children, education, and to escape the violence and poverty of their home country.
And while we're on the subject, if you are ridiculously shouting for the impeachment of President Obama, for taking executive action on immigration, let me remind you of two things:
1) He HAS tried, over and over, to work with Congress. There's been a bi-partisan Immigration Bill sitting in the House for 18 months. They won't pass it. The GOP are determined to screw this president, at the expense of the American people. And we keep letting them get away with it.
2) Where were you in 2008, when we had men in the office of the president and in office of vice president who were considered war criminals by many countries in this world? We had a president who allowed detainees to be waterboarded, and who lied to the American people about "weapons of mass destruction" in order to take this country into war. A war where too many Americans fought and died. Not only that, but who took us into another war, and it was clear, by their actions in Afghanistan and in Iraq, that the protection of oil was far more important than the protection of the civilian population. Where were you, and why were you silent then, instead of advocating for impeachment?
Here's how I see it: we are a nation whose memories are so very short. We have forgotten the time when we've had a truly terrible president, and we've forgotten where we come from. So, we are content to vilify, or to allow others to vilify, one president who is taking steps to make the lives of some a little better. Imagine if you were a child of undocumented immigrants (and many of you are a generation or two from those who were), and you're hearing that your parents are safe, and you are safe. That you all are going to be allowed to plan for a future. Imagine how YOU would feel.
Imagine.
