Thanksgiving Action

Thanksgiving Action 

I am thankful that in this country we have the right and responsibility to speak out for truth in love. 

I am thankful that we are a country that carries values of justice for all even when we fall short in living out those ideals. 

I am thankful that we have a government system that is built around the premise of a balance of powers. 

I am thankful that the US District Court ruled that sanctuary cities for immigrants cannot be denied federal funds. 

And I am thankful for a unique window of opportunity to align with the hopes and settle the fears of Dreamers.  Within that thankfulness I am also concerned that we will miss this God orchestrated moment. 

President Trump in early September called upon Congress to pass a DACA immigration law within a 6 month window that would give people in this country brought here as minors legal rights and remain in this nation where they identify.  We are now close to halfway through the 6 month window of opportunity. 

I have written my US Maryland Senators and House of Representative member to let them know of my support and encouragement to pass DACA legislation granting law of the land protection and legal status. 

They have responded saying they are in support of such legislation.  But I have yet to hear of any bill being proposed. 

Friends, we are too silent. Please if you have not contacted your US Senators and Representative do so! Especially you who live in a state or House district that helped bring politicians to power who were promoting getting tough on immigration.  Simply google your Senators and US Representative names, go to their web page and click “Contact me”.

If you have never contacted your elected US Senators and Representative there will never be a more worthy first time. 

Today I re-wrote my elected officials not just to support DACA as a position but to

take the lead in drafting and guiding the legislation into law.

Our current President was elected in some measure by stirring unsubstantiated fears that persons born in countries not the USA and of non-Anglo ethnicity now living in the US and making their homes here was a grave threat to the well being of America.  This same President gave Congress the opportunity to pass a law that gives protected status to DACA recipients. This was not possible even during President Obama’s tenure. 

This is Thanksgiving when we give thanks to God for many blessings and celebrate the hospitality shown to Europeans when they arrived on these American shores without prior welcome nor documentation and were treated with respect, friendship, given survival skills and taught to survive and then thrive by the citizens of this land. 

My own Kauffman ancestors arrived fleeing religious persecution and for economic opportunity in the Americas before our nation was birthed.  They were given welcome by William Penn who had at least on some level treated the original citizens with respect and human dignity in carving our European settlements amidst the home for centuries of the original Americans. 

I am glad America had a place for my ancestors and thus for me. 

Let’s pass it forward and give a home and welcome to new Americans. The specific spotlight right now is on DACA.   Ask your federal government officials to act.