BLOG POST Nov 2016

Some background –

I’m 72 years of age, so I’ve been around a while. I’d studied and taught History. I’ve voted for Democrats, one Republican, and an independent. I consider myself balanced in my social and political views, though a few whose views are far right have termed me a Socialist. I don’t consider that term derogatory.

My mother was born outside the USA. She was born in Ireland, in 1905 and before there was a Republic. As Catholics her parents, grandparents and other family were repressed socially, politically, economically … like many of the refugees coming to the USA now.

My parents’ parents were all born outside the USA. I can describe myself as a second generation immigrant or American.

One of my Aunts was born in Mexico, only becoming a citizen after her marriage to my Uncle. Many of her family now live in Mexico, and represent the whole spectrum of political, educational, and social spectrum there.

My first wife’s family trace their roots to Mexico. They have collectively lived in this country for longer that parts of it have been states. In fact, my ex-wife’s grandmother started her life as a Spaniard, then as a Mexican, then as an American.

Among the surnames of my aunts and ex’s family are sixty seven family distinct names. Two of these are Pena and Nieto, which are the family names of Enrique Pena Nieto, the current President of Mexico.

I am currently a volunteer for the Catholic Immigration and Refugee Center in Fredericksburg, VA. As such I and my family have assisted many refugees seeking shelter from war, political, social and religious intolerance. While many of these refugees are Muslim, others are Christians, Hindis, or Buddhists. They all deserve our understanding, tolerance, and support – just as my grandparents and mother did.

Building a WALL along the Mexican border, and precluding refugees from oppression are UNAMERICAN. If implemented they represent turning our back as a nation on those welcomed by Emma Lazarus’s words on the Statue of Liberty –

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!"

If we allow the exclusion of refugees purely on the basis of their religious beliefs, or build this wall,

we should collectively and individually hang our heads,

and put a black shroud over the Statue of Liberty.

This blog was started years ago, and has been dormant. Circumstances dictate that I re-devote efforts to speak out. I urge you all to do the same.

Write your US Senators and Congressman/woman.

Speak out against intolerance and hatred.

Hope in the Center blog (August 2012)

US Health care - U.S., which came in 50th out of 221 nations for life expectancy in the latest edition of the CIA’s World Factbook.

Obamacare, as a term of disdain or derision, offers support – for the first time in American history, to support more in terms of health care availability…

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

My particular intended candidate has a few interesting characteristics –

Has released all his tax returns

Supports cutting the relief for the richest

Supports abortion for survivors of rape and incest

Has no hidden investments in the Bahamas, Cayman Islands, or

I voted for the candidate who is for all Americans, not just the 53 percent, or the 1 percent.