JaxPolitix

Post 1,010

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I’m making a mental health separation from the heartbreak in the Middle East, from the insanity in the House of Representatives and from the promise of the end of our democracy engineered by what passes for today’s Republicans and Der Fuhrer. Let’s talk about something else. Ed.

Immigrants

Should you take the ferry to Liberty Island to visit the Statue of Liberty be sure to wander inside the base to see the plaque with the poem by Emma Lazarus. She penned it in 1883 to help raise funds for the completion of the pedestal upon which Lady Liberty stands.

Here is what she wrote for new immigrants arriving at our shores.

The New Colossus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. 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!”

Of course, new immigrants weren’t able to read those words as their ships glided into New York Harbor. It seems to me, though, that Lazarus’ message wasn’t for those desperate souls. It was and is for all of us. Here’s why.

Not many arrived in the New World with wealth and power. Most arrived nearly penniless, clutching not much more than hope. It’s highly likely that your ancestors arrived just that way. I know that mine did.

We in America have consistently been challenged by how to deal with immigrants. There has always been a fearful, angry faction afraid that poor immigrants would take whatever position in society present Americans thought was their own, perhaps because they were here first or because the new immigrants were somehow “others.” They imagined that immigrants would be different and dangerous, that they would be criminals and wopuld rape the women and the land.

This is embodied today by those fearful and power hungry souls spouting so-called “replacement theory,” their voices screeching and their fingers pointing at imaginary caravans from the south. They chant, “Jews will not replace us” and they carry their primal call to fear and hatred.

I have questions for you about this.

1. If your ancestors were arriving in this country today from wherever their Old World was, should we as a country write a letter of welcome to them? Should we include a snapshot of the Statue of Liberty and the words of Lazarus’ poem?
2. What if they were my ancestors instead of yours coming from wherever their Old World was? They would arrive poor and “other” than your people who are already here, Should we write a welcome letter to them, too? What about the picture and the poem?

Think about it.

A Better Way

Niles West High School is just another suburban Chicago high school – except it isn’t. It’s one of the most racially, ethnically, nationality and religiously diverse schools in the nation. Surely, you can imagine blood running hot in this time of Israeli-Hamas conflict and the awful Palestinian suffering. It does, and the staff regularly deals with hate speech. They’ve heard lots of talk about walkouts and protests.

Nevertheless, groups of students in their clubs worked together to craft the statement below. It was written entirely by the students and is printed here exactly as they posted it. As you’ll see, they are far better than most of the angry, misguided reactionaries we see around the globe today.

Joint Solidarity Statement from Our Niles West J.S.A., M.S.A., and M.E.N.A. Student Leaders and Sponsors

In collaboration with the Niles West Youth Activism and Leadership Club

October 11th, 2023

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Yes, they are youthful idealists and things are never as simple as Rodney King asking, “Can’t we all get along?” Things are always far more complex and change is fraught with fear. Nevertheless, let’s hope these students can keep their values and their focus. We all need hope and they are our future.

Okay, Boomers

Just heard a song from the Way Back Machine. From Aquarius by the Fifth Dimension:

Harmony and understanding,
Sympathy and trust abounding.
No more falsehoods or derisions,
Golden living dreams of visions.
Mystic crystal revelation
And the mind’s true liberation,

Aquarius.

I guess we Boomers lost some of that sentiment along the way, as we became investment bankers, salespeople or just entered the slog through the realities of life. Some became absolutists with a permanent chip on their shoulders and taught their children to fear and hate, which they learned well. They’re now making death threats and shooting innocent people.

The sun that was supposed to shine in. Where did it go?

We better find it fast.

Question of the Week

Until recently Donald Trump labeled all Democrats, RINOs and everyone who didn’t buy Trump’s Big Lie such things as pedophiles, child traffickers, socialists, communists and more.

On Veterans Day last weekend he called the same people “vermin” and vowed to put them in concentration camps after he’s elected.

Here’s the Question of the Week:

Is “vermin” better or worse than pedophiles and the rest?

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Compare and contrast, referencing Nazi Germany, the American Confederacy, the shooter of Pizzagate notoriety and Trump’s claim that only he can prevent World War III and that it will be “very easy.”

You can get 10 extra credit points each if you can tie into your answer:

Trump holding a bible upside down and quoting “Two Corinthians”

Judge Aileen Cannon’s obvious crush on Trump

Proof that Trump had the biggest inaugural crowd “ever. Period!“

Today is a good day to be the light

______________________________

• Our governance and electoral corruption and dysfunction and our ongoing mass murders are all of a piece, all the same problem with the same solution:
• Fire the bastards!
• The days are dwindling for us to take action. Get up! Do something to make things better.

• 

  
  

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