<div dir="ltr"><div>Thanks, Del.<br></div>Doris<br></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, Jun 25, 2013 at 2:08 PM, Del Morril <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:delhmor@wamail.net" target="_blank">delhmor@wamail.net</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">Reflection by Del on June 22, 2013<br>
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As I watch the credits roll for a film about post-war Europe and the<br>
relocating of thousands of orphaned children due to WW II's destruction and<br>
concentration camps, I am in awe over the names that appear before me -<br>
names reflecting an amazing variety of backgrounds, cultures, and nations -<br>
Czech, Pole, German, French, English, on and on - all with something they<br>
are offering us and the rest of the world.<br>
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<br>
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And I reflect on all the peoples who came to this particular land, from all<br>
over the world at various times in our history - even back to the first who<br>
were here to greet those arriving from Europe.<br>
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And I find myself recalling how the Chinese began their lives here, and what<br>
they went through to remain. And I recall the Japanese who established<br>
their presence and homes in our own area of the Pacific Northwest, and the<br>
hardships they faced as WWII imposed itself on them, as well. And I recall<br>
all the others who came - some to escape persecution of one kind or another,<br>
whether Christian, Jew or agnostic; some to simply have a better chance of<br>
surviving economically; some to join their relatives; and others to take on<br>
jobs that no one else wanted, or else needed cheap labor. Whether as free<br>
people, as indentured servant, slave, or those who continue to face the<br>
terror of crossing a border in order to feed their families, they continue<br>
to come, just as they did centuries or decades ago.<br>
<br>
<br>
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Some families continue to arrive as refugees from more than a World War II.<br>
They come because humankind persists in fighting over politics, philosophy,<br>
religion or land, pushing out the innocent for whom they believe they are<br>
fighting.<br>
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We are, indeed, an amazing land of diversity, expressing every country in<br>
the world, be it Asian, African, European, Australian or what-ever. It is<br>
what distinguishes us. It is what propels our creativity and humanity.<br>
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Despite our own history of persecutions and murderousness against particular<br>
peoples who were merely trying to forge new lives in a new country, we still<br>
manage to hold together without destroying our towns and cities over our<br>
differences. We've had our eruptions - riots or protests gone wild - and<br>
yet remain a people of one nation, despite those differences. We will<br>
probably continue to have differences, and continue to struggle and debate<br>
over who should enter our shores. But I hope we never forget that our own<br>
forebears struggled so that we could have the very freedom and new chances<br>
in life that others desire to have.<br>
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This includes those who have come to have more opportunities in their art,<br>
music or dance. It includes those who have become to escape political or<br>
religious persecution. As horrible as it might be, it includes, s well,<br>
those who brought there against their will so that others could have "more".<br>
And it includes those who continue to be brought here with a hopefulness<br>
that turns out to be the hell of prostitution due to others who want "more".<br>
It includes those who have come because they believed our streets were paved<br>
with gold, only to discover the same poverty from which they had escaped.<br>
And it does, indeed, include many others who seek merely to experience<br>
liberty for the first time in their lives.<br>
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Those who continue to come to our shores are not much different than those<br>
already here. Some are born into a life they hope for, and others never are,<br>
but hope their children will find that new life. Regardless of the reasons<br>
for which all of our forbears came, and the reasons that people continue to<br>
come here, this is, indeed, one land and one people - not a melting pot but<br>
a kaleidoscope of creative energy and great gifts to us all.<br>
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Most of our people have the opportunity of a second chance, a new life and,<br>
above all, freedom. As warped as that freedom seems, at times, it is still<br>
the underlying pinning of our country. We are ruled, no more wisely or<br>
unwisely as any other country, by the People. It is through our voices of<br>
support and complaint, for good or for ill. It is by our votes into office<br>
those who are to speak for us. It is hoped that our chosen representatives<br>
will vote wisely for our sakes - all of us, rich or poor, male or female,<br>
young or old. It is in and for this place called America! It is this country<br>
called the UNITED States of America.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Del<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Del Hunter Morrill<br>
<br>
3217 North Mason Avenue<br>
<br>
Tacoma WA 98407-5419<br>
<br>
H: <a href="tel:%28253%29%20752-1506" value="+12537521506">(253) 752-1506</a>; W: <a href="tel:%28253%29%20383-5757" value="+12533835757">(253) 383-5757</a><br>
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<mailto:<a href="mailto:delhmor@wamail.net">delhmor@wamail.net</a>> <a href="mailto:delhmor@wamail.net">delhmor@wamail.net</a><br>
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Web site: www. <a href="http://hypnocenter.com" target="_blank">hypnocenter.com</a><br>
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<br>
The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek. (Joseph Campbell)<br>
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