Unpopular Opinion Time, complete with Sassy Scripture References.

Unpopular Opinion Time, complete with Sassy Scripture References. (And lots of links, for research purposes.)

Immigration in America is a hotbed topic, full of strife and conflicting POVs.

There are issues of the legality of arrival, the government’s extreme and, in many ways, cruel manner of response. Despite these risks, oftentimes people will come to the US anyway, because even with the horrors of crossing the border it is still safer than where they have been.

Article: On the Border With the Photographer John Moore
Article: This Is What It’s Like To Cross The Border Illegally At 13 Years Old

 
All these matters tear me apart, and sometimes I have to stop reading or watching news articles halfway through because it PHYSICALLY HURTS ME to watch.

Then, when people do arrive legally and take all the steps needed to become American citizens they are slapped in the face left and right with issues of Racism, condemnation, fear, and rejection.

Article: 5 Politicians Who Made Racist Remarks
Article: Traveling While Muslim: The Case of the Exploding Chocolate
Article: Gehrke: Echoes of Japanese-American, and even Mormon, persecution in the case of Trump’s travel ban

None of this is fair or right.

Yes, whenever possible we should do all that we can to honor, obey, and sustain the law. But we should also have mercy for those who have no other choice, who are running from drug lords and gang activity and warfare.

Nor should we tear apart families that have been living here and paying taxes and being excellent American citizens for decades.

Article: A family torn apart: Siblings fight to save their home after their parents are deported
Article: 'No One Is Safe.' How Trump’s Immigration Policy Is Splitting Families Apart

I also keep running into instances in which someone has no idea that they were brought here illegally as children, and have even served in the Military, but are still deported without a single by-your-leave.
 
Article: U.S. Army veteran who served two tours in Afghanistan deported to Mexico
Article: These veterans from Texas were deported. They say they deserve a second chance.
Article: Afghan war vet deported to Mexico is 'homeless and penniless,' his Chicago family says
Article: Facing deportation, wife of U.S. marine chooses to 'self-deport' to Mexico

 
Article: A deported veteran has been granted U.S. citizenship, after 14 years of living in Mexico

Justice and Mercy should be evenly balanced on a case-by-case basis, with being humane put as the focus in every situation. The US is a place of Asylum for those persecuted.

Article: A judge halts the deportation of a mother and daughter — and threatens Jeff Sessions with contempt of court

On the Statue of Liberty the full Sonnet by Emma Lazarus is an interesting read:

“Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, (there was another statue in Greece similar to ours, only male)
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!"”

National Monument: Statue of Liberty-The New Colossus

Mother of Exiles! How about that? America has and always will be the Mother of Exiles. Offhand I can think of waves of immigrants: Puritans, Irish, Italians, Chinese, Japanese, Jews, Dutch, French, Spanish and more.

Data: Waves of Immigration in America

Our country is built on the fight immigrants fought. Or, speaking for those who were oppressed and forced into slavery, the fight for freedom!

My Blog Article: Why We Need Black Panther

Every generation was faced with distrust and racism in their time. Much of this has died down, in the case of stolidly respectable “old American families.”

But a lot hasn’t! There’s still a fight being fought!

Article: With New Urgency, Museums Cultivate Curators of Color

Article: Crazy Rich Asians isn’t about money, it’s about entitlement—and that’s a good thing

And for those who are comfortably set in their ways, believing that America is better off without immigrants, legal or otherwise, your ancestors would beg to differ.

As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints the situation is even more poignant. Because while our persecution started in the 1830’s, it continues on to this day! Not visibly in Utah and, maybe, Idaho but in various corners of the world people are sacrificing everything including safety and sometimes family relationships in order to join the Faith.

We, who can understand persecution, must have empathy for the persecuted.

Article: The Ignorance of Mocking Mormonism It’s precisely the beliefs of Latter-day Saints that critics dismiss as strange which produce the behaviors those same critics often applaud.

Article: Why We Fear Mormons

Article: Wave of persecution against Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses and Hindus

Article: Mormon Kenyans jubilantly await President Nelson, hope visit helps reduce persecution

Article: Mormons: A look at church Kenyans crucify for ‘devil worshipping’

Plus, in The Book of Mormon (another testament of Jesus Christ that goes hand-in-hand with the Bible. The screenshots of scriptures refers to that before it gets talking about people) Christ comes after His resurrection to His people IN THE AMERICAS. (An event occurring well before Europe invaded. So He isn't talking to anyone of European descent here. :| )

Because all people of the world are God’s children. Let’s treat them that way.

Article: Agents conducted one of the biggest workplace raids since President Trump announced a crackdown on illegal immigration, detaining 97 workers in Morristown. But for residents, these workers were their neighbors.

The plight of immigrants, whether they come from Europe, the Middle East, Central and South America or elsewhere is OUR plight. Because we are a country of mostly immigrants.

And if you don’t like that others are coming in, “taking our land, taking our livelihoods” then how do you think the Native Americans feel? :|

Article: Donald Trump’s long history of clashes with Native Americans
Article: President Trump Is Spurring Native American Women to Run for Office

We are called to love as Christ did. To love and get to know each individual we meet one-on-one, no matter how they got here. So let’s stop condemning one another for our differences and instead reach out in recognition of our similarities.

Article: “Coco,” a Story About Borders and Love, Is a Definitive Movie for This Moment

And on that note, according to my family history I am Swedish, English, Scottish, Welsh, German, Canadian-British, French, Irish, Swiss, Dutch, Greek and possibly more (that’s all my father’s side, I am still working on going through my mother’s side).

If it hadn’t been for them I wouldn’t be here.

 Scriptures: 2nd Nephi, Chapter 29, Verses 6-9, The Book of Mormon

Addendum:

This is a repost of what I wrote on Facebook. After posting it a person I know asked me about the likelihood that the scriptures Christ is speaking of refers to certain other culture's writings. They also asked where I get my sources from. Here are my replies and I have supplied examples of my news sources. This was all done congenially:

I get my news from all across the internet and also paper format. I get it from online newspapers, from the British Broadcast System which has been a media mid-ground throughout its entire existence. The links I provided at the end aren’t through MSN and are ones I looked up on my own. I read magazines and periodicals in their paper format including National Geographic and Time Magazine and Centennial Features. I listen to podcasts and watch YouTube videos about various issues, posted by individuals unaffiliated with big time media companies.

I don’t watch TV. I read my information, for the most part.

But most of all, I see the fear in the eyes of my friends through the YSA Ward, from school, and from my RM buddies as they talk about the likelihood their student visas will be revoked and they and their families will be deported. I worry about my Uncle, who like my mother was adopted, but he was born in Mexico and although I know he has legal papers for being here, what if we can’t find them and something bad happens? Because people don’t always care if you have them at home, just that you don’t have them with you in that moment.

As for your question about scripture, I am unfamiliar with the Bhagavad Gita but I know the Torah and the Quran and various Shinto and Buddhist records. “By their fruits shall ye know them.” Does the scripture talk of being good and loving and Christ-like and kind to others? Then there’s a high chance it was inspired by the Lord. All good things come from God. If it talks of doing bad things and revenge and cruelty then it’s not from God. We have that ability to know for ourselves whether something is of God or not by the Spirit and the results of following its tenements.



As an aside, one possible example of Christ visiting those scattered members of the Tribes of Israel is shown in the setup of Shinto temples as compared to the moveable Tabernacle of the Old Testament. They are nearly identical, with exception of the act of doing burnt offerings in the Old Testament.

Additionally, there are several kanji (the one for boat, which indicates 7 people like those in the story of Noah, and others) that have potentially hidden Christian symbolism in them. It was rather exciting to discover on my mission!

What's the chance that the Lord visited his people in Asia? High, but we'll never know until we get to ask Him in person or revelation is received.

Until then, we can only love our brothers and sisters from all over the world as Children of God. :)


Temple Link: Hebrew & Japanese similarities – sacred structures
 
Kanji Link: BIBLE STORIES HIDDEN IN CHINESE CHARACTERS A JAPANESE PERSPECTIVE

Why We Need Black Panther

A while back I had an interesting interaction.

I am not "fuming" from it, although others might have been in the same situation. Instead I feel rather calm but impassioned about the whole thing (in part because I know that I was in the right, and that he was left furious at the end because I was, well, in the right. And everything I said stumped him).

Over the summer I experienced Free Comic Book Day, and right before it I found an AWESOME Black Panther T-Shirt at Walmart for $5. I was overjoyed at the find, honestly!

So I wore it that day with a hip new green dress and some ballet-style flats with crossover strings and all in all was feeling pretty cool while also very much nerdy. :)

I went to Free Comic Book Day and picked up some awesome titles. I went to a Writing Group Meetup and did some really productive writing for an hour at the Watchtower Cafe! (Which is a legit place to go on a date if you're a nerd or geek, let me tell you. BEAUTIFULLY nerdy place. I loved it!)

Getting home on public transit took a little longer, and I seemed to miss every bus that I needed to catch. Eventually I was waiting for my last bus. I had been reading a book while standing, and a gentleman was nearby, with a crutch under one arm.

He approached me in order to compliment my backpack, as a lot of people do (it's shaped like a book. I'm used to people commenting on it), but then saw my T-Shirt.

Then he immediately said that he hated the movie, and that it was condescending.

I said, "that's too bad" that he didn't like it. And expressed that I had really enjoyed it as a representation of what should have been (had slavery never happened, which is a part of history that always breaks my heart) and what could be in the future! I feel like it's an optimistic vision. :D

Of course, I didn't get far enough to state that last sentence because he took that as an invitation to launch into his opinion about how it's condescending, and that it promotes segregation because it's giving those who are African their own movie.

Excuse me, what?

I was seriously shocked but got some rejoiners in.

I mentioned that Black Panther has actually existed since the 1970's, to which he had no comment except to say, "well, it's existed since the Seventies, then, huh?"

He then went on to pontificate that it was similar to those who have disabilities (shifting his crutch slightly), and how they don't like the spotlight on them. That having a movie all about a single group actually makes things worse.

I have a couple of friends who have disabilities that don't like that kind of focus, which is very true, but that is not always the case. Especially when it comes to those with multiple disabilities--sometimes you need the focus in order for their voice to be heard. For example, the Deaf community is very vocal about their rights, but the Deaf-Blind community is virtually unrepresented, as the minority of all disability minorities because they are so small.

Thinking on this, I commented that I worked with individuals who are deaf and blind and that many are in wheel chairs, but that don't we have the Special Olympics and the Olympics for the Blind and Visually Impaired, and that it gives them the opportunity to really shine?

I also said that he is allowed to have his opinion, but I am allowed mine, and he has a different stand than I do. He took the opportunity to say, "what is that supposed to mean?" Trying to use is as a springboard to jump down my throat about me possibly saying that he, as a person with disabilities, "must" have a different standpoint. I quickly and calmly corralled the conversation and just said that he has different life experiences and that I have different life experiences and therefore we are allowed different opinions.

He ignored this and changed the topic. Discussing how 'don't I know that blacks put themselves in slavery?!'

Excuse me.

Then, thinking he had caught me in a lack of knowledge, he talked about how those in Africa would capture their enemies and then sell them into slavery. I countered by saying that, yes, that had happened (I am pretty familiar with history) but that they had to have buyers and that the Italians and Spaniards and English definitely had a part in things.

 (Okay, I just looked it up, and I was wrong about Italy. They didn't really play a part. But Spain and England and America were all heavy-hitters.)


This is when his face blew up like a bullfrog in anger. Because he couldn't counter that fact.

When people are in the wrong, and especially when they know it, they get angry and they get defensive.

From that point on the conversation devolved into him arguing about how I wasn't allowing him to have an opinion and that I had talked over him and that I was super-rude and that this is why he hated talking about race and that I apparently won't allow anyone's opinions others than my own.

Thankfully the bus came right then, because I was honestly ready to walk. And that was saying something--my cute little ballet flats were absolutely KILLING my feet (when I got home I had some blister-level rawness going on).

But I also was remarkably calm about the whole thing. Even now I don't feel angry--more stunned and puzzled and alarmed. And shocked that I just met someone so blatantly Racist...and he probably has no idea that he actually is Racist. :|

When I put on my Black Panther T-shirt that morning I was excited. I love the movie so much that I just HAD to wear it.

I love the characters. I love the story-line. I love the world-building and the brilliant array of traditional clothing and how it all ties back to different nations in Africa (I read an article about the work they did to aim for accuracy. I was impressed!). I love the strong females and the self-sacrificing, honorable males and the wonderful brother-sister dynamic. One that is healthy and funny and supportive. I love the gags and I love the fight scenes and I absolutely adore Chadwick Boseman for his sensitive portrayal of T'Challa.

Also Letitia Wright as Shuri is the best thing in this world. LOVE HER.

And Michael B. Jordan is the hottest villain I have seen. Hotter than Loki. He is...so hot.

HAWT. O__O

Look, I said it. He is hotter than Loki. And his motives are justified, in a tragic way. Just like Loki.

But I don't love Black Panther because I HAVE TO. I don't love Black Panther because it is POLITICALLY CORRECT to do so. I don't love Black Panther because it's the RIGHT THING TO DO.

I love Black Panther because it is Black Panther. Because it is awesome. Which is the way that it should be.

We need Black Panther. We need Moana. We need Miles Morales as Spiderman and MJ being played by Zendaya (speaking of awesome people that I would love to meet...) and freaking awesome Idris Elba as Heimdall. We NEED REPRESENTATION. So that People of Color are not just "Token" anything.

People in real life are never "Token" anything. They are just people; friends, neighbors, teachers, coworkers, business partners, people that go shopping and have lives and relationships and jobs of their own. And we're all a part of one another's life experiences. Why can't movies represent reality?

In the past only White characters dominated the scene, so when kids of all races looked at Hollywood's version of "beauty" and "strength" all they saw was what they couldn't be. Now we're to the point where

Having a whole bunch of white superheroes representing a nation that is also Latino, Asian, Middle-Eastern, European of all types (North, Central, East, West), and most DEFINITELY Black makes absolutely freaking no sense at all. :| It just doesn't.

This is why we need Black Panther.