We need immigrants who love the haven
Immigration dominates news and politics, despite dangers abroad and a raging war in the Middle East. Immigration and immigrants’ rights provoke debate and street protests, dissension in Congress and the division in cities with large numbers of immigrants, often congregated in one separate community with its own leaders.
But we are a nation of immigrants, after all, founded about 250 years ago by Europeans who demanded freedom and liberty and ingeniously created a government system that symbolizes and defends freedom around the world. Generations of future Americans arrived here with hope of finding a better life, as did most.
They came in the 17th and 18th centuries, risking their lives for the unknown, but finding opportunities to rise. Some are old enough to know the family lore about those who came before and assimilated into the American way of life, hanging on to family traditions and recipes! Those who migrated in the late 1800s and early 1900s were the grandparents and parents of the “greatest generation”: hard-working, patriotic, and grateful for the decisions they and their families made.
Sadly, there are far too many immigrants today who came here for a better life, I’m sure, but brought their anger with them, especially those from the Middle East. Many, we see, have an allegiance to the country they left behind, while taking advantage of the benefits of our system. And many have broken our laws, crossing the border and disappearing into cities and towns in need of help. Not assimilating.
Today, in cities where one ethnic group is dominant, the disdain is out in the open. Big cities in Illinois and Michigan are two states that come to mind. It is obvious many there do not like the American way, clinging to their former life, so you must wonder why they risked life and limb to get here. And some are the sons and daughters of immigrants who are politically active and progressive. This is the way immigration will play a role in our elections. They’ll side with our adversaries and often are helped and defended by homegrown Americans. That’s when the politicians take over. We note that leftists and progressives have found a home in the Democratic Party, openly challenging the Old Guard, and taking a stance for immigration rights and even no-ID voting as we watch them haggling in Washington.
It is disheartening to see immigrants, legal or not, influenced by insidious politicians and their fellow travelers, politicians like Zohran Mamdani in New York who spent part of his St. Patrick’s Day speech sympathizing with the Palestinians in Gaza who are always under siege from “you know who.” Mamdani’s antisemitism, socialism, and bizarre ideas carried him into the New York Mayor’s Office by those who didn’t see who he was, the powerful, smiling man from an immigrant family ready to change and possibly destroy the great American city, one that welcomed hundreds of thousands of immigrants into the land of opportunity – my ancestors among them.
What I’m thinking about are those with the true immigrant soul who experienced an uprooting and went into the unknown to survive hardship. The immigrant soul embodies resilience, rising from adversity stronger and even more resilient, and confident they did the right thing. They continue to inspire future generations in this immigrant nation of ours.
Pat Wandling is a veteran journalist, formerly of the Bucks County Courier, and was a mainstay on WBCB for over 20 years.
