In their discussion David Frum and Fareed Zakaria commented on what they called the “special sauce” of immigrants which built America and continues to build this Nation. They noted that we had always been a welcoming place where our ancestors as well as more recent arrivals had contributed to the special magic that makes us unique among the nations of the world.
As we have grown more inward looking, however, much of our welcome has changed and much of it due to the hateful rhetoric we have been subjected to over the past dozen years or so. This rhetoric combined with the anxiety many of us have felt over the economic and social inequities experienced here gave nativist forces its power.
This past week we learned of a new tactic by DHS/ICE: private bounty hunters. Now ICE has contracted with at least a dozen companies to hire bounty hunters using AI to hunt down immigrants. They are not even government employees, like ICE officers who at least have some training. They are indiscriminate persons contracted to hunt down people like prey in the woods. What have we become?
Prayer for the Day
What has happened to us as a Nation, O God,
That we deny our ancestor who came here with hopes?
What has happened to us as a people, O Lord,
That we betray our future for us and our children?
Open our minds to realize that in welcoming others,
Our country will be true to our history and heritage.
In the name of the One who welcomes all,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
We welcome refugees, not because they are American — but because we are American."
Krish O'Mara Vignarajah, Global Refuge, former special counsel
We lead the world because, unique among nations, we draw our people – our strength- from every country and every corner of the world. And by doing so, we continuously renew and enrich our Nation.
Ronald Reagan, President (1911-2004)
When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt.
Leviticus 19: 33-34