WanderPapa and I saw this bumper sticker on a car in Provincetown over the past weekend. Such a good one.
WP is an immigrant, so the anti-immigrant rhetoric hits close to home. But it’s not just that.
As a human being, I am offended by politicians’ efforts to stir up xenophobia. Let’s face it – this country has lost the respect of many around the world in recent years. Yet, it is still a place where, regardless of language or faith, you can build a life. At least for the time being.
Efforts to build walls, to ensure English as the only language, to intimidate migrant workers smack of fear to me. The thing I find scary is that these efforts might succeed. Then America, which has long been the destination for the poor but ambitious, will lose a powerful economic driver and a wonderful part of its identity.
