Trumped UP America Should Appeal to Our History of Immigration Instead of Fear

Tuesday’s Oval Office immigration speech: “This is a humanitarian crisis, a crisis of the heart and a crisis of the soul.” Abso-total-lutely! Exactly what we’ve been saying all along. We agree with what the president said. For America, the immigration nation, to be building walls to keep those legitimately seeking refugee status from having the chance to make their case is unconscionable. It is inhuman. It is Soulless. It is against everything that actually makes America great. All our ancestors came to America from somewhere else, most of them pretty recently. Those of us whose ancestors came freely owe a continuing debt to those who repaid their own debt by allowing our families the chance for a new home and for new opportunities. With no way to repay this debt to the past, we are obliged to repay to the future. This is the American way. Immigration is how we grew to be a leader among nations. Continued immigration is the only hope we have to persist in our leadership. And it’s also brought us the tasty food that gives this country Soul. What the 'typical' American "hyphen" (think, "Irish-American, Polish-American, Italian-American, German-American, Scandinavian-American) may not realize is that more immigrants have entered this country since the 1960s than the entire 130-year experience of Open Doors Immigration envisioned by us in our mind's eye. The Face of Immigration has changed once again. And, so, too must we. But, our expectations, rights and responsibilities must change beyond these privileges that we 'believe -- we honestly believe we deserve.' We don't. Just like Our Creator tells us intrinsically, it is a constant debt that we must pay forward. And, Donald J. Trump, who had the extreme priviledge and great fortune to mary and immigrant and get citizenship for his now-wife, Melania and her parents should know better. Okay. So, now he knows. And, so, too, do we. Do Better. Starting today. And, stop holding the rest of the American people--citizens and taxpayers hostage as pawns in an immigration game gone all wrong.  Have distant immigrants--thinking they are fully incorporated into the American Democratic Fabric-- felt or thought in the past that they have paid these debts already with their hard work? If so, those of us who know better, or have shifted our mindset thinking in recent days,  need to continue to be the role models and the examples of hard work. Labour. There is Dignity in work. Working together engages us and allows us to stay connected to the Human Experience. We must have lost sight of this. Working in kindness and support is healthy and wellness for those of us priviledged enough to know that we will never pay this debt of American citizenship forward. We must labour on this daily. And, extending the hand of kindness first, friendship second and inclusiveness third is just the start of a lifelong legacy in the American Experienc. This is just another example of how to Love Thy Neighbour and Love Thy Neighbour Well. The safe return and enthusiast, cohesive love, kindness and outpouring of assistance for Jayme Closs in Wisconsin is just another miracle of human beings coming together to hold together a strong foundation for humanity. This weekend's Miracle in Barron County, Wisconsin, serves to Teach & Instruct all of us well--to do better as a Nation of Immigrants who love and support each other through small, consistent Acts of Kindness, Grace & Mercy.  What are you doing today to advance both the thoughts and the actions towards a More Perfect Union? Let me know.