Neighbors
Daily I feel challenged to either keep silent which seems immoral or struggle to respond in a loving way to representatives of the government of these United States who, if news reports are to be believed, label those who are fleeing poverty and violence in some of our sister countries – also American countries – as “aliens” and “members of the “lawless caravan”.
I read the following:
“Approximately, 2000 aliens have arrived in Northern Mexico as part of a ‘caravan’ seeking to cross the border into Texas. Illegal entry will not be tolerated and we stand ready to prevent it,’ DHS Secretary Kristen Nielsen wrote in a statement.
“DHS will take all steps to ensure the safety and security of law enforcement personnel on the front lines,” she added.’ (From Associated Press article alleged to have been written by Morgan Gstalter entitled “Migrant caravan arrives at town on Texas border (-2/05/19 04:05 pm EST. The accompanying photo shows young children with adult men and women. The articles also asserted an estimated 46 unaccompanied youths between the ages of 15 and 17 were in the caravan. )
Often it seems such stories are labeled as fake news especially those stories asserting that there are American neighbors fleeing violence and poverty – not criminals or aliens – those neighbors the God of my understanding – tells me to feed, clothe and house.
Can we take in all the poor and all those threatened by violence? No. Have we reached the limit of our resources? Is taking in refugees going to solve the problems of violence and poverty which have multiple causes? Can we erase a history in which the people of these United States have played a role? Can we erase the changes in climates which causing some of the crop shortages?
There are obviously no easy or simple answers. I am not, however, convinced that we have reached the end of resources for helping neighbors. Neither am I convinced a new arms race, a border wall or more tax breaks for the very wealthy is money better spent than helping our neighbors.
What I do know is I am called to love my neighbor and not to label them in a way which masks the fact that they are mothers, fathers, children of mothers and fathers who are no different than my biological son or other relatives, friends, or other neighbors.
I must remind myself that Secretary Nielsen is also my neighbor. I am called to love her. If she appears at my door with a dozen family members, I must welcome them in and set a place for them at my table. At the same time, if given the opportunity, I would vote to have a DHS secretary who is able to embrace the needs of neighbors instead of dehumanizing them so as to justify mistreatment.
Written February 7, 2019
Jimmy F Pickett
Coachpickett,org
Neighbors
Daily I feel challenged to either keep silent which seems immoral or struggle to respond in a loving way to representatives of the government of these United States who, if news reports are to be believed, label those who are fleeing poverty and violence in some of our sister countries – also American countries – as “aliens” and “members of the “lawless caravan”.
I read the following:
“Approximately, 2000 aliens have arrived in Northern Mexico as part of a ‘caravan’ seeking to cross the border into Texas. Illegal entry will not be tolerated and we stand ready to prevent it,’ DHS Secretary Kristen Nielsen wrote in a statement.
“DHS will take all steps to ensure the safety and security of law enforcement personnel on the front lines,” she added.’ (From Associated Press article alleged to have been written by Morgan Gstalter entitled “Migrant caravan arrives at town on Texas border (-2/05/19 04:05 pm EST. The accompanying photo shows young children with adult men and women. The articles also asserted an estimated 46 unaccompanied youths between the ages of 15 and 17 were in the caravan. )
Often it seems such stories are labeled as fake news especially those stories asserting that there are American neighbors fleeing violence and poverty – not criminals or aliens – those neighbors the God of my understanding – tells me to feed, clothe and house.
Can we take in all the poor and all those threatened by violence? No. Have we reached the limit of our resources? Is taking in refugees going to solve the problems of violence and poverty which have multiple causes? Can we erase a history in which the people of these United States have played a role? Can we erase the changes in climates which causing some of the crop shortages?
There are obviously no easy or simple answers. I am not, however, convinced that we have reached the end of resources for helping neighbors. Neither am I convinced a new arms race, a border wall or more tax breaks for the very wealthy is money better spent than helping our neighbors.
What I do know is I am called to love my neighbor and not to label them in a way which masks the fact that they are mothers, fathers, children of mothers and fathers who are no different than my biological son or other relatives, friends, or other neighbors.
I must remind myself that Secretary Nielsen is also my neighbor. I am called to love her. If she appears at my door with a dozen family members, I must welcome them in and set a place for them at my table. At the same time, if given the opportunity, I would vote to have a DHS secretary who is able to embrace the needs of neighbors instead of dehumanizing them so as to justify mistreatment.
Written February 7, 2019
Jimmy F Pickett
Coachpickett,org
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