History Rhymes

Some have called this the Best Book of 2016

Some weeks ago, I read the above novel, which uses a conceit by making the historical Underground Railroad an actual railroad line with various stations that transport runaway slaves to the North. Whitehead's alternative history novel is at times heartbreaking, at times inspiring, and even at time horrific. I highly recommend it.

I feel very strongly that this book has lessons for our own situation as we face the Trump presidency. 

In our present time, I feel there are parallels between the 19th Century Fugitive Slave Laws and the "seize and deport" actions by federal immigration officials.In both cases, American citizens have been asked to act as some sort of posse comitatus to inform on neighbors and co-workers whom they believe are wanted by the law. In both cases, we are told that these people are not, well, fully people; they are property, or they are illegal.

Now the knee-jerk reactions to that statement will run thusly:

They ARE illegal! What part of "illegal" do you not understand? 

Answer: The slaves were "illegal" once they tried escape their bondage. The law called them property. Their attempt to escape was theft for which the property owner could administer any punishment he saw fit including torture and death.  The law makes the undocumented "illegal." Perhaps the above response begs the question. The question should be, is the law just? Does it do good or harm? My answer is the law is harmfully unjust.

Illegal immigrants are NOT slaves! They came here on their own and can, and must, leave either on their own or by force if needed.

Answer: True, in so far as that goes; in fact, the two examples are nearly mirror opposite images. Slaves were forced here against their will and tried to escape their forced labor. Undocumented workers came here by their own free will and wish to remain so they can labor for a better life for themselves and their families. 

However, what unites these two groups is the question of justice and human dignity. Slaves tried to regain their dignity by fleeing the owners' attempt to degrade them to the level of animals. Undocumented workers try to regain their dignity by escaping poverty, oppression, violence, and the real possibility of forced slavery at the hands of dictators or gangs. 

This brings me to the historic Underground Railroad and the present day Sanctuary Movement about which I wrote in yesterday's post. 

In both cases, citizens have taken upon themselves the burden of protecting vulnerable people from unjust laws.

In both cases, law enforcement officials and some politicians wish to punish those operating the sanctuaries for aiding and abetting "law breakers," slaves and undocumented workers.

In both cases, the officials have no qualms about breaking up families, subjecting citizens to arbitrary search, seizures and arrests.

In both cases, these "hunters and catchers" do not care that those they arrest may be subject to abject poverty, assault (often including rape), danger and death.

Again, there are differences, but enough similarities that those of us calling for sanctuaries in cities, churches and now colleges should feel that we have precedents that show that we are fighting on the side of justice. 

Oklahoma Methodists Challenge Immigration Law

A United Methodist task force in Oklahoma is calling for reconsideration of House Bill 1804, the 2007 state law on immigration.

The group urges state legislators to revamp the law in their 2008 session and rallies the grassroots to express their opinions at the Capitol.

A formal statement was released Jan. 30, 2008, by members of the Oklahoma Conference United Methodist Immigration Task Force. The statement references biblical examples, Church resolutions, and written policy of the worldwide denomination.

I am glad to see faith groups getting involved in opposition to House Bill 1804 because that law has to be one of the most anti-Spirit of Jesus law ever written. One day we will look back on it and wonder how we could have so betrayed the Our Lord's teachings.

Faith group urges review of 2007 state immigration law

Oklahoma Immigration Laws Lead to Death of 10 year old

Mother and Child

from MNBNC:
TULSA, Oklahoma - Edgar Castorena had diarrhea for 10 days and counting, and the illegal immigrant parents of the 2-month-old did not know what to do about it.

They were afraid they would be deported under a new Oklahoma law if they took him to a major hospital. By the time they took him to a clinic, it was too late.

A ruptured intestine that might have been treatable instead killed the U.S.-born infant, making him a poster child for opponents of a bill months before it was enacted as the Oklahoma Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act of 2007.
Complete Article Here:
.Oklahoma Law Blamed for Death of 10 Year Old Child

I know that there will be many who will make the False Analogy between illegal immigrants and felons such as rapists and murders. How they can equate families who have come to this country in search of a better life (remember the Pilgrims?) and those who commit violent crimes against their fellow human beings, is beyond me.

To my way of thinking, the statement, "Illegal is Illegal." merely begs the question. Why are these people forced to use illegal means to better themselves? What is it about our immigration "policy," if we can be said to have one, that has created this problem?

For if you do much research into the history of immigration laws in America, you will find that they have been based, for the most part, on race and religion. Once we tried to exclude Germans and Irish because they were thought to be too Catholic for Protestant America. We also tried to exclude Asians during the so-called "Yellow Peril" because, as Pres. Woodrow Wilson believed, they never would be able to assimilate into American culture.

We need to step back and take a long, hard look at ourselves. I don't think we will like what we see in our attitudes towards those different from us.

Persian-American Reception
Hispanic-American Reception


We have had two receptions at Oklahoma Democratic Party Headquarters recently. The first was sponsored by our Persian/Iranian American community. They are concerned about the Bush administration's attempt to lead us into another war in the Middle East, this time with Iran.

The other reception was for Hispanic Oklahomans. They are concerned about a wave of anti-immigrant legislation sweeping the nation in general and Oklahoma in particular.

The Iranian reception was a little better because they served Baklava. You cannot go wrong with any meeting if it has good Baklava, and theirs was some of the best I've ever had. However, I also liked the carne verde the Hispanics served. (No, I don't go primarily for the food!)