[Oe List ...] Reflection by Del
Doris Hahn
dshahn31 at gmail.com
Tue Jun 25 14:03:44 PDT 2013
Thanks, Del.
Doris
On Tue, Jun 25, 2013 at 2:08 PM, Del Morril <delhmor at wamail.net> wrote:
> Reflection by Del on June 22, 2013
>
>
>
> As I watch the credits roll for a film about post-war Europe and the
> relocating of thousands of orphaned children due to WW II's destruction and
> concentration camps, I am in awe over the names that appear before me -
> names reflecting an amazing variety of backgrounds, cultures, and nations -
> Czech, Pole, German, French, English, on and on - all with something they
> are offering us and the rest of the world.
>
>
>
> And I reflect on all the peoples who came to this particular land, from all
> over the world at various times in our history - even back to the first who
> were here to greet those arriving from Europe.
>
>
>
> And I find myself recalling how the Chinese began their lives here, and
> what
> they went through to remain. And I recall the Japanese who established
> their presence and homes in our own area of the Pacific Northwest, and the
> hardships they faced as WWII imposed itself on them, as well. And I recall
> all the others who came - some to escape persecution of one kind or
> another,
> whether Christian, Jew or agnostic; some to simply have a better chance of
> surviving economically; some to join their relatives; and others to take on
> jobs that no one else wanted, or else needed cheap labor. Whether as free
> people, as indentured servant, slave, or those who continue to face the
> terror of crossing a border in order to feed their families, they continue
> to come, just as they did centuries or decades ago.
>
>
>
> Some families continue to arrive as refugees from more than a World War II.
> They come because humankind persists in fighting over politics, philosophy,
> religion or land, pushing out the innocent for whom they believe they are
> fighting.
>
>
>
> We are, indeed, an amazing land of diversity, expressing every country in
> the world, be it Asian, African, European, Australian or what-ever. It is
> what distinguishes us. It is what propels our creativity and humanity.
>
>
>
> Despite our own history of persecutions and murderousness against
> particular
> peoples who were merely trying to forge new lives in a new country, we
> still
> manage to hold together without destroying our towns and cities over our
> differences. We've had our eruptions - riots or protests gone wild - and
> yet remain a people of one nation, despite those differences. We will
> probably continue to have differences, and continue to struggle and debate
> over who should enter our shores. But I hope we never forget that our own
> forebears struggled so that we could have the very freedom and new chances
> in life that others desire to have.
>
>
>
> This includes those who have come to have more opportunities in their art,
> music or dance. It includes those who have become to escape political or
> religious persecution. As horrible as it might be, it includes, s well,
> those who brought there against their will so that others could have
> "more".
> And it includes those who continue to be brought here with a hopefulness
> that turns out to be the hell of prostitution due to others who want
> "more".
> It includes those who have come because they believed our streets were
> paved
> with gold, only to discover the same poverty from which they had escaped.
> And it does, indeed, include many others who seek merely to experience
> liberty for the first time in their lives.
>
>
>
> Those who continue to come to our shores are not much different than those
> already here. Some are born into a life they hope for, and others never
> are,
> but hope their children will find that new life. Regardless of the reasons
> for which all of our forbears came, and the reasons that people continue to
> come here, this is, indeed, one land and one people - not a melting pot but
> a kaleidoscope of creative energy and great gifts to us all.
>
>
>
> Most of our people have the opportunity of a second chance, a new life and,
> above all, freedom. As warped as that freedom seems, at times, it is still
> the underlying pinning of our country. We are ruled, no more wisely or
> unwisely as any other country, by the People. It is through our voices of
> support and complaint, for good or for ill. It is by our votes into office
> those who are to speak for us. It is hoped that our chosen representatives
> will vote wisely for our sakes - all of us, rich or poor, male or female,
> young or old. It is in and for this place called America! It is this
> country
> called the UNITED States of America.
>
>
>
> Del
>
>
>
> Del Hunter Morrill
>
> 3217 North Mason Avenue
>
> Tacoma WA 98407-5419
>
> H: (253) 752-1506; W: (253) 383-5757
>
> <mailto:delhmor at wamail.net> delhmor at wamail.net
>
> Web site: www. hypnocenter.com
>
>
>
> The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek. (Joseph Campbell)
>
>
>
>
>
>
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