My grandfather, Joseph Aloysius Bodey, immigrated to Southwest Missouri in the early 1880s. There he met Margaret, a daughter of immigrants, married her, and together raised four children. One was my father. Over the last few hundred years this is the story of America. With hard-work and determination, immigrants have made our country better.
But today’s immigrants are mistreated and demonized by the current administration, even though most Americans are descendants of immigrants. Regardless of where they came from, these human beings are mostly hardworking individuals with families, who have jobs, pay taxes, lived here for many years, and have no criminal record. Examples of this cruelty are:
Innocent immigrants are accosted and arrested at their homes and places of work, often only because of their nationality or color.
The ICE officers grabbing them wear masks, military uniforms, give no identification, and carry guns. The victims do not receive “due process”, are taken to unknown detention centers, and frequently deported, while their families wonder where they are.
When an immigrant does commit a crime, blame is put on all immigrants by certain news outlets and politicians. But the truth is that the crime rate for the immigrant population is far less than that for US citizens.
Hopefully more Americans, including our politicians, will realize that most immigrants, regardless of country of origin, culture, color or religion, are good people who want to participate in and contribute to our democracy, just as our grandparents did.
I love the image of a diverse America, a melting-pot of people, sharing their individual talents and ideas, and living here freely together, with respect and kindness for one another. Good leadership is needed, plus the words, actions, and will of us citizens.
Will you help support this vision? We’ll be a better nation as a result.
Bud Bodey
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