I don't do
"political posts." I do, however, make my positions on certain
subjects clear, without regard for the political sensitivities of my readers,
because I address the history of these subjects, and the truth they possess,
which, despite the Internet, can still be determined through objective study.
But hey, it's the holiday season, so I'm going to structure my holiday
greetings according to the new national standard. Besides, I get to
address my running topic at the same time, so it's a win-win.
This new America
First attitude has been a goldmine for all lovers of historical irony. I have spent the past year, with but a few
exceptions, addressing the issue of IMMIGRATION. This past year has been
a perfect illustration of why I named my blog “The More Things
Change…” I have had opportunities to point out some of the
disturbing similarities between anti-Hispanic immigrant attitudes today and
anti-Italian immigrant attitudes a century ago. I’ve also mentioned
my distress when I see people of obvious Italian, Irish, German, Polish (or
whatever) extraction using the same arguments against the newcomers as were
used against their own ancestors. I, who am without ethnicity, have
watched inter-ethnic infighting take over the question of immigration. Today, that’s what many people are actually
talking about. When they speak of immigrants, they mean "people who are different from us."
As a historian, I
am also saddened by this debasing of our appreciation of the immigrant
experience in general. Our ancestors from northern and western
Europe were fleeing oppression and violence, seeking freedom and a new
life. When the Irish, the Germans and then the Italians began to
arrive, problems resulted. Eventually, most of these later
immigrants came to be considered as “Americans,” which meant—somewhat post facto--that their ancestors also
came here for freedom and a new life. Today, the descendants of this
flood of immigrants denigrate the herculean efforts made to come to America,
claiming that these new immigrants are only coming here for “free stuff.”
The third component
of this Terrible Trifecta is the fact that so-called “Christians” are
spearheading the America First movement. I find considerable conflict
between Scripture and America First, but it seems that those holding power in
Washington do not.
Christianity's
holiest season is upon us, so it seemed only fitting that I employ
Christmas to address the immigration issue in my December post. I decided
to get with the program and try to envision what a celebration of the birth of
Christ that is in keeping with the America First approach might look like.
Of course, I went on the Internet and found that someone already had. I
saw the image below at least third-hand, and cannot credit its creator, sorry.
So here's to those
of you who celebrate your immigrant history while simultaneously denying the
ability of others to earn what is yours by birthright; you who employ THE VERY
SAME arguments against newcomers that were used against your ancestors; those
who see immigrants as rejecting our values, speaking strange languages,
believing in false religions, determined to steal jobs from Americans, and in
general "foreign." You are proving that "The more things
change..." and thus validating the existence of this blog.
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