What’s one way to avoid doing what you should be doing?
Present someone not related to your responsibility as somehow responsible for your not doing what you should be doing so people’s attention is on the false enemy, and while they go after them, you can just sit back.
As the present administration cuts money from programs that help veterans while nothing is being done to deal with homeless vets and the number of vet suicides, and while vet payments are not being paid on time, people are sending around memes with some guilt attached with the notice that if you think vets deserve more than migrants you should pass it on.
There are rules, laws, and programs that deal with both groups and these is no overlap.
Neither is dependent on the other, nor is an increase to one a denial to the other.
Treating migrants according to our laws takes nothing away from the vets, but if people, politicians especially ,can get others to become angry about something like this that does not exist, the anger will distract people from seeing it is not the migrants who are taking things way from the vets, but it is the politicians who cut programs or do not act who are the real enemies of the vets.
The United States has a history of helping people from foreign countries, and the people of this country have not only had a problem with that, but have realized it has benefited this country.
Two examples:
In 1957 the Capelinhos volcano erupted off the western coast of the island of Faial in the Azores.
Between September 16 and 27, 1957, there were 200 related earthquakes. The eruption began below sea level, eventually breaking the surface, and after a series of eruptions throughout the following 12 months, added 593.05 square acres to the island. The island had been primarily dependent on whaling and agriculture, but the sand and ash from the eruption made the land untillable.
There were no deaths, but there was much destruction of homes and other structures with 164 families directly affected while 2,000 inhabitants of the island lost their homes to the tremors, projectiles, and ash.
Because of the historic relationship between Portugal and cities in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, Democratic Congressmen John O. Pastore of Rhode Island and Senator John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts proposed the Azorean Refugee Act and which was signed by President Eisenhower on September 2, 1958, authorizing the emigration of 1,500 people which became a total of 4,800.
These people established small businesses on the East Coast that contributed greatly to local economies, while many went to the Central Valley of California where they continued to make their livelihoods in agriculture benefiting the economy of that state.
Eventually this Act influenced a change in immigration laws resulting in 25,000 Portuguese citizens eventually immigrating to this country.
Those who came over were not fleeing a life threatening environment, war, forced gang membership, death, and rape.
Congress passed House Resolution 1438: Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Azorean Refugee Act of 1958 and celebrating the extensive contributions of Portuguese-American communities to the United States.
In support of this, Representative Devin Nunes, himself of Portuguese ancestry, praised the resolution and explained the positive results to this country when refugees are welcomed in.
“The immigrants arriving from the Azores reached the shores of the United States as manual laborers, and without much proper education they relied solely on the fruits of their hard work to earn their living. Portuguese immigrants distinguished themselves in farming, fishing, and other trades, and built for this Nation a solid foundation of honesty and pride in their work. Subsequent generations have rested upon this heritage to succeed in our society, with a great many Portuguese-American communities producing professors, lawyers, physicians, judges, politicians and other leading figures of our society.
Fifty years later, the admirable successes of Portuguese-American communities throughout California, New England, and elsewhere are a testament to their remarkable work ethic and integrity, which truly inspire us all. Their story is one of sweat, toils, and struggles before a new land, and in itself reflects the very spirit of this nation.
For all of that, this resolution recognizes the great importance, of the Azorean Refugee Act, and the vast contributions made by these Azorean communities, who truly turned tragedy into triumph. Let us never forget that America’s strength rests on the inclusion of people from all parts of the world and in the generosity that flows from our ideals of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
After Fidel Castro’s successful revolution on the Island of Cuba, members of the middle and upper classes of the island fled due to fear of widespread reprisals. They were mainly seeking political asylum. They were given different treatment under U.S. immigration statutes than immigrants who were not categorized as political refugees.
The United States instituted what is referred to as a “wet foot/dry foot” practice toward Cuban immigrants.
Those apprehended on water while attempting to reach land are returned to Cuba. Those who reach land are inspected by the Department f Homeland Security and are allowed to stay in the United States.
They are considered asylum seekers.
Those who are allowed to stay are fast tracked for a green card as they can apply for a Green Card after living in the United States for one year, whereas people from other countries may have to wait up to four years. Spouses and young children of Cuban citizens, regardless of the country they leave to come here, can use this law to get a Green Card, even if they are not Cuban citizens themselves. Someone who was born in Cuba but becomes a citizen elsewhere can get a Green Card under this law. Cubans who have had a family based petition approved can be paroled into the United States while he or she is waiting for a Green Card.
Asylum is based on
“abridgement of the right of citizens to change their government; government threats, intimidation, mobs, harassment, and detentions to prevent citizens from assembling peacefully.”
Upon arrival, besides the fast track to a Green Card, Cuban refugees receive funds for resettlement, financial assistance to meet the basic maintenance requirements, essential health services, surplus food, financial assistance for the care of unaccompanied children, and assistance in finding employment.
These advantages would have been lost after 58 years with the normalizing of the relationship between the United States and Cuba, and this may explain the opposition to President Obama’s attempt to accomplish that, especially the opposition by Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio.
When President Obama abruptly ended the wet foot/dry foot policy at the end of his second term in 2017, the Cuban Exile community went nuts.
In the former case we made it possible for refugees to come to this country although they were not threatened by the ravages of war, nor other threats to their lives from government upheaval, “government threats, intimidation, mobs, harassment, and detentions to prevent citizens from assembling peacefully.”
And we saw their coming here was a benefit to them and us.
In the latter case, we allowed for asylum seekers to get it, and we sweetened the pot by extending benefits that no one else gets.
There was no hew and cry that these programs took from vets while giving to refugees because they didn’t, just as being American toward refugee now doesn’t.
Consider this when refugees are used as political pawns.
Also, consider these as two real examples of how refugees and asylum seekers were a boon to this country, especially if these programs are part of your family’s experiences.
And, while you are at it, call on the politicians to do what they should be doing for vets, and stop falling for their self-protecting distraction.