Our first Advent reading on the theme of hope included the passage from Isaiah looking toward a time of peace when swords shall be beaten into plowshares. But it seems all we hear are words of war, all we see are the terrors of war around the world. Whether it’s strongmen flexing their muscle threatening small countries or the continued bombing of cities, the death and destruction just doesn’t seem to stop.
We see troops in our cities creating fear, an Executive refusing to follow court orders, and discord in our communities. The discord in the Justice Department has led to the firing of over 70 immigration judges, who are DJ employees. The judges targeted have been those who have had a great deal of experience on the bench and knowledgeable about immigration law. Also, judges have resigned because of instructions from DOJ to ignore basic requirements of the law.
Certain groups of legal immigrants are also being targeted based on race, national origin, or religion. One example is the Somali community in Minneapolis, almost all of whom are US citizens, now called “garbage.” It’s not “Make America Great Again,” but “Make America White Again.” I think that’s called racism, and it’s pretty blatant.
Prayer for the Day
What’s happened to us, O Lord, that we deny who we are,
A nation of immigrants without whom we would be paltry;
How is it that we have forgotten the principles we espoused,
Thirteen small colonies, now a mighty nation, so long ago.
Restore to us, O God, our core beliefs and sense of community,
For all are created equal no matter their origin.
In the name of the One who welcomes all,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
[T]he socioeconomic challenges that Somali-Americans face aren’t unique. In fact, they tend to mirror the experience of several groups, most notable Italian-Americans. They were highly discriminated against because of their religion, and many people considered them to be a different race. So they had to become entrepreneurs to survive economically.
Ryan Allen, University of Minnesota
The Trump administration's willingness to fire experienced and impartial immigration judges and hire inexperienced or temporary 'deportation judges,' especially in places like California, has fundamentally impacted the landscape of our justice system.
Adam Schiff, US Congress
You must not distort justice; you must not show partiality;
And you must not accept bribes, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise
And the cause of those who are in the right.
Justice, and only justice shall you pursue,
So that you may live and occupy the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
Deuteronomy 16: 19-20