Humans … Just Like Us

Posted on by under Economic issues, education, Global Issues, Law and justice, Political commentary, Racism & Bigotry, Social commentary

They are all humans.  Like you and I, they have arms ‘n legs, hearts, lungs, kidneys and brains.  They have children who they love just as you and I love our children.  Yes, my friends, they are all humans, just like us, the only difference being that they have not had the opportunities and advantages that you and I have had.  So, they came north to the United States, the “land of milk and honey”, the land of opportunity, the land where “All men are created equal.”  They brought their children, their spouses, and they hoped to make a new beginning, to give their families a better life.  Instead, they found themselves on Christmas Eve, unceremoniously dumped on the sidewalk with the temperatures at a frigid 15° F, in front of Vice-President Kamala Harris’ home in Washington, D.C.  Some were dressed in naught but shorts and t-shirts, for it had been warm when they left Texas.

Fortunately, local aid groups had become aware of the buses and took the immigrants to shelters where they were provided with warm clothing, blankets, food and shelter.  Human essentials.

The three-bus convoy was the idea of Texas Governor Greg Abbott … no surprise there.  Abbott is not a humanitarian, does not believe in human rights, and in general is not a good nor kind man.  And yet, Texans re-elected him less than two months ago.  One of those things that makes you stop and go ‘hmmmmmmm.’

Abbott’s purpose was not hard to figure … publicity, attention, kudos from other bigots like himself.  Anti-humanitarianism, which seems to play well with the people down in Texas, and in Florida.  It’s what I’ve long called the ‘me-istic’ society … me, me, me … as long as my needs are met, to hell with the rest of the world.  I’ve got mine, let them get their own.

Well, Mr. Abbott and all those others out there who see immigrants as something vile and evil … let me tell you a few things.  Just briefly, since I’m writing a blog post and not a book …

From the Anti-Defamation League (ADL):

The following are basic well-documented facts about immigrants: 

  1. Immigrants do not endanger public health.
  2. Immigrants cannot vote until they become citizens.
  3. Immigrants create jobs and improve the United States economy.
  4. Most immigrants in the United States hold lawful status.
  5. Throughout U.S. history, the percentage of immigrants has remained steady.
  6. Immigrants are less likely than U.S.-born citizens to commit crimes or become incarcerated.
  7. Immigrants are usually ineligible for social service benefits.
  8. Terrorists have rarely entered the country illegally via the U.S.-Mexico border.

Pay particular attention to #3 and #6 … these are the antithesis of the talking points of fools like Abbott and his ilk.

And from the organization CitizenPath:

  • Immigrant business owners have created millions of American jobs through major corporations and countless small businesses. In the most recent analysis, nearly 45 percent of firms on the Fortune 500 list were founded by immigrants or their children.

  • Immigrants are often exceptional inventors and creators that drive “American” innovation. They’ve experienced challenges and adversity that forced them to come up with new solutions and often take a more difficult path than others. Some would say the immigrant experience drives ingenuity. It may also make them more empathetic, finding a better solution from the customer’s perspective.

  • Already, foreign-born workers make significant contributions to healthcare for Americans. There are an estimated 2.8 million immigrant healthcare professionals, playing a vital role on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis.  In fact …

And there’s more … much much more that immigrants contribute to this nation.  I may have a follow-up with greater detail at some point in the future, but for the moment, I want to make it clear that Governors Abbott and DeSantis, and all the rest who would vilify and even play foolish games with the lives of immigrants are naught but cruel racists.  They are not humanitarians, they are not even the ‘Christians’ they claim to be, as I understand the definition.  I am friends with a number of immigrants and I can tell you that they have enriched my life in countless ways.  They are humans, just like us, they are not evil nor somehow lesser than you or I or Governor Abbott.

32 thoughts on “Humans … Just Like Us”

    • Thanks, Carolyn! I just cannot understand the idea that some people have about others being of lesser value because of their origins or skin colour. WHY??? Are humans really so stupid? Sigh. ❤

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        • Apparently there is a large part of the population who are, indeed, that stupid. And not only here … there is some of the same in most every country, although it feels like there is more of it here, possibly because of our history of genocide and slavery. Sigh. If one must judge others, they should do so by what’s INSIDE, not what’s on the outside.

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  2. Sadly the US is not alone in vilifying immigrants. My family and I were technically refugees not immigrants, but we still received much the same treatment from ‘real Aussies’ who only saw the negative side to immigration. What negative side? Immigrants arrive with next to nothing but hope. So they’re hungry, not for food, but for a better life. That makes them work harder, which probably makes them more attractive employees. And so the resentment builds, especially when that resentment is fueled by outright lies. Soon, those pesky immigrants are the reason for every bad thing that happens in people’s lives.
    Othering comes naturally to humans, just as lying comes naturally to [most] politicians. Sorry to be so cynical. 😦

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    • You are so spot on about how refugees or immigrants get a bad rap, get the blame for everything that is wrong with the country from crime to inflation, when in truth they are guilty of nothing but trying to make a life for themselves and their family. I am surprised, though, to hear that it is the case in Australia as well, for I always thought you guys were so much better when it came to humanitarian values than we here in the U.S. I absolutely despise the “pack mentality” that seems to be second nature to so many people. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

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  4. Jill, this is just poor form all the way around. Treating human beings as pawns in some political game reeks of autocratic thinking. Folks that do this need to take a hard look on the mirror, regardless of party, country or position of authority. Full stop. Keith

    Liked by 2 people

  5. Saw this and is perfect for all this.

    “The metamorphosis of Jesus Christ from a humble servant of the abject poor to a symbol that stands for gun rights, prosperity theology, anti science, limited government (that neglects the destitute) and fierce nationalism, is truly the strangest transformation in human history”.

    I’ve been watching Finding Your Roots on PBS and the whole background of the genealogy research they do, is that we ALL come from immigrants. That is what America has always been…a beacon for people wanting a better safer life ( except for slavery, of course).This has all changed with the republicans and the religious right, which if you really think about it, is not a religious movement at all. The religious right is merely a political movement and an arm of the Republican Party pushing their agenda through the brainwashing of the ignorant and cruel. And the agenda is, we don’t want hispanics or more blacks.

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  8. Somehow it feels unreal that we still need to say these basic things, to say them over and over again. And it feels unreal that sociopaths like the two you mention continue to be elected to positions of power.

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    • I agree fully. We shouldn’t have to keep reminding people that we’re all on this planet together, that humans are only a single species out of thousands, and that if we don’t help each other, then all is lost. People … I cannot understand the concept of one being better than another simply because of such as skin colour, religion (a man-contrived aberration), gender identity, or other superficial criteria. Humans seem hellbent and determined to extinct themselves!

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  10. This is, the, mirages of the, American, dream, and, people who crossed the borders, are all, misled, into believing, that life will be better, on the, other side, of that, long, fence, but, it really, isn’t, as, only the few chosen, make it, once they, flip over, yhe border, with some little, luck…

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  11. “They are all humans. Like you and I, they have arms ‘n legs, hearts, lungs, kidneys and brains. They have children who they love just as you and I love our children. Yes, my friends, they are all humans, just like us, the only difference being that they”
    … are poorly informed, and kept in the dark by the White House.

    That’s what one guy said when reporters asked around what Russians think of Americans.

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  12. You did not mention the greatest statistic of all — 100% of white Americans were immigrants, or children of immigrants, in 1776. Just as importantly in that same year 100% of black people in America, albeit through force, were also immigrants.
    All these white racists can bluster all they want, but they are welcome to leave anytime they feel want and go back whence their forefathers came from.
    If only my ancestors had had the wisdom to block white immigrants from coming to this continent. But the immigration doors were open then, and their racist descendents have no right to block anyone who want to come here now.
    If they don’t like it, THEY CAN GO HOME.. where no one will let them in.!

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    • I’ve mentioned that so many times that it should be embedded in the mind of my readers! But yes, this is a nation of immigrants who is not determined to whitewash the history of our nation and tell their children what wonderful people {cough, choke, splutter} their ancestors were. Why, allowing those dark-skinned people to work 16 hours a day picking cotton was such a great thing, and then to give them a potato or a cup of rice to boot … my goodness, where does the generosity end! BAH HUMBUG!

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  13. Pingback: Humans … Just Like Us | Ned Hamson's Second Line View of the News

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