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Let us not repeat history

By Jean Serino - Hudson | Jun 16, 2019

Historically, when times are bad economically, we look for something or someone to blame. This tendency becomes dangerous when it is a group we blame. This happened in pre-war Germany when, left devastated by World War I, the Germans blamed the Jews and the intellectuals. I see this same behavior occurring in our country: Certain media celebrity “stars” are making millions by telling us its gays, the elite, the immigrants, who are destroying this country’s financial solvency and, in the case of the gays, it’s morality. It reminds me of the scene in “Wizard of Oz” when Toto pulls back the curtain and the big phony wizard says, “Pay no attention to that little doggie behind the curtain.”

If only we had a little doggie to expose these creators of hatred and fear. We could solve the immigration dilemma by providing a pathway by which those who now live in the shadows, working two and three jobs, might be able to become American Citizens so that all might compete on a level playing field. Caring about the least among us is not a new idea. Jesus asked his followers to care for the poor and vulnerable among us.

For his defiance of the Roman Empire, Jesus was crucified. Let us not repeat history. I am a proud liberal, the daughter of an immigrant mother whose father came to this country to send money home ( Italy) to his hungry family. He , like all new immigrants was lured to America with promises of “gold in the streets.” He was abused as all new immigrants are. He worked 16 hour days hoping to go back to Italy. But , in Italy in the 1800’s , the church owned half of one’s yearly crop and the state owned the other half. So, not unique, he brought his family to America. Had there been a limit to Italian immigrants in those days, he would have come illegally because his family was poor and so hungry that they had to bury acorns in the ground in fall so as to eat during the winter. When he told us this story, my grandfather would cry. He loved this country so much. And so, when I see how vilified undocumented workers are, I think of my nono and I wonder how anyone who calls himself a moral person or who follows Christ’s teacings can fail to see this reality: the real American dream – liberty and justice for all. I recommend people rent the movie “A Face in the Crowd” starring Patricia Neal and Andy Griffith.

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