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.
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
No comments:
Post a Comment