In 1976 during the Republican Convention, the late President Gerald Ford said, and I paraphrase, “ Everyone keeps talking about being an immigrant. The only non-immigrants are the Native American Indians.”
It was indeed refreshing to hear someone of the stature of President Gerald Ford make such a declaration.
Unfortunately, it has been my experience, many so-identified Anglos and/or Anglo-Saxons appear to believe this country, the United States of America, belongs to them alone. And anyone after them is an immigrant and addressed with the connotation of inferiority.
I pray within the current crisis at the southern border that the citizenry will open their hearts and hear the cries of desperation to those women, children and male adolescents or male adults seeking asylum who are felling from violence and/or extreme poverty situations.
Again let us all recognize this as a country of immigrants and we should welcome all non-violent immigrants. They are desperately needed as part of our work force, without them many enterprises cannot function.
I recall President Jimmy Carter referring to the United States as a mosaic of citizens. What a beautiful and artistic proclamation.
Princess Montpelier
Middlebury