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My humorous thoughts about life.

"My Humorous and Helpful Thoughts About Teaching / Educational Resources for Your Classroom / Music and Random Fun"

Sunday, January 21, 2018

#MMMM For the Dreamers

In 1904, the Czar of Russia had passed rulings where people outside of their church were not allowed to practice religion freely. Nicholas Romanov, who's been romanticized in books as a great one, was certainly not a friend of my people. The night before a planned departure, my grandfather argued with his brothers all night long. "Don't go to America," they said. "You do not speak the language, nor do you have any money." But my grandfather saw enough insight to know, he had to leave Russia and come to the land of opportunities.

A few weeks after settling in the U.S., he received a final letter from family saying, "We wish we had come with you." Many years later, we learned of Russian soldiers barring the doors of a synagogue and setting it ablaze; thus murdering my great grandparents and several aunts and uncles, who I will never know. Thank God my family was allowed to come here!

This week's post is a freebie, but the theme has easily come to me. I can't help thinking about the poor children / young adults who know nothing other than America as home, yet face possible deportation in March. Their parents came for opportunity or to escape bad situations outside of their control. These young people just want to live in our great country and be what they've always considered themselves to be–Americans!

The cruelty of politicians messing with their lives is inhumane. I don't understand why allowing them to stay and become fullfledged Americans, as my grandfather did, is such a struggle. As children, these people did nothing wrong, and for our government to send them back to countries where many do not even speak the language is cruel. Then again, if allowed to become citizens, these dreamers would probably not vote for those trying to kick them out, so I guess that's my answer to why the heartlessness.

For them, I've posted Aerosmith.


And the Beatles.


And "America" from West Side Story. It's interesting to note that this musical from 1961 relates prejudices that still exist, today. Did you know that Puerto Rico, a US owned territory is STILL without power? Disgraceful. Maybe there is something to their "white" comment.


I'm thankful my grandfather was allowed to immigrate into the U.S. He represented what America is all about -- a land of opportunity. Emma Lazarus said it best in her poem at the base of the Statue of Liberty.

“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”







9 comments:

messymimi said...

It's a deeply complicated issue that is beyond my ability to solve. My heart aches that people ever feel the need to leave their own homes and move to another land because of lack of opportunity in their own country. Wouldn't it be a blessing if every land could give its people what they need, and no one ever felt the need to move for any other reason than perhaps the adventure of living abroad for a time.

csuhpat1 said...

What an amazing family story you have shared. Thank you. This issue is hard issue as I know some "Dreamers" and it is not cool what the government is trying to do. 30 years ago, we came up with a solution for a path to citizenship, maybe we should go back, look at it and give them a path to citizenship just like Reagan did.

Cathy Kennedy said...

Joyce,

WOW, what an amazing story! I'm happy that your grandfather seized the opportunity to come to America to escape the horrid outcoming that many of his family faced. Your family went through the proper channels of immigration. The issues the way I understand it is those who are here illegally. These people are like line jumpers and I don't think they should be rewarded while there are many who are waiting in line. My heart aches for them. I know they want a better life but there are protocols to follow. Thanks for sharing the dance floor with us, my friend and have a rockin' good week!

XmasDolly said...

Thank you for sharing your family story with us. How interesting was that!!!! I'm just glad my family didn't have to go through something like that. Well, I've got the flu my friend and I think it's time for me to go back to bed. Loved hearing the West Side Story tune again. I haven't heard it in ages. Fabulous! hugs

Binky said...

I didn't know you had Russian ancestry. Russians certainly seemed to have suffered greatly over the years, largely from their own rulers. Sadly, a fair number of people are now fleeing your country for mine.

Mike said...

Serious topic, nice music theme

DUTA said...

The issue is not, and should not be immigration, but the refusal of a country's citizens to work at certain vital, productive jobs. Why is that? Bad, very bad education of the last two decades.
One should bear in mind that a country belongs ultimately to those who work for it.

Michele at Angels Bark said...

Amen Joyce! Amen. I was just watching an episode of The View and they had on Jorge Garcia's family and Jorge live from Mexico, to where he was just ripped from his family and deported to. The man came here when he was 10 years old, he's made a life here, is a hard-working tax-paying productive member of our society with NO CRIMINAL RECORD and had hired a lawyer several years ago and was on the path to citizenship. Why was this man deported?? I watched that episode and it broke my heart and made me cry. To see his young son who was crying so hard he couldn't even speak. To hear his wife tell what they've been through and what they're now facing because of his deportation is absolutely shameful!
The Mid-terms can't come fast enough!!!
Speaking of mid-terms, did you see the signage at the various women's marches around the country last weekend? There were so many good ones but my favorite was "Grab 'em by their midterms" LOL! Amen to that too! :)

Wonderful story that you shared Joyce. Thanks for that. I'm so sorry about the horror that happened to your grandparents and other relatives. Thank God your father was able to immigrate here.

Fabulous song choices for your theme.

Have a great weekend,

Michele at Angels Bark

Colette S said...

Thanks for sharing your story.
There must be a common sense way about this all but I do agree, politicians, are cruel.