“Born in the USA!” We say it and sing it like it was the result of extraordinary perseverance, vision and courage. We act as though just being born here confers some deep commitment to democracy, freedom, justice and decency. Baloney! Our current president completely disproves that. Every child gets born somewhere. If you were “Born in the USA” consider yourself damned lucky.
There are, however, people whose presence here really is the result of extraordinary perseverance and courage. These are people who have left their families, trekked thousands of miles, risked their lives, traded their meager fortunes, endured rape and robbery, hunger, heat and danger all for the prospect of living in the USA. Just to be here they are willing to work harder, longer and for lower pay than most “natural borns,” and at jobs that most of our absurdly overpaid CEOs and certainly Donald J. Trump couldn’t handle for half a shift.
These are people with a real right to be proud of their mere presence here. Being born here is the easy way. Being born filthy rich with a tax dodging father “paying” you hundreds of thousands of dollars when you’re two years old? Really easy!
Shame on our “president” for disparaging immigrants and refugees. I’d rather have them for neighbors than him any day. Can you imagine living next to him, mirror-lined vanity wall and all? What’s that noise? Oh, just my neighbor. “Mirror, mirror on the wall….”
Ken Dammand
Tulalip
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