Not One Came from an Insane Asylum by Ben Jacques
I’ve gotten to know quite a few immigrants, some of them recent arrivals, others who came earlier, fleeing wars, earthquakes, poverty or political oppression.
I’m thinking of Cindy, who works at a nearby nail salon. She was 12 when she left Vietnam aboard a fishing boat with 30 other refugees. She works long hours so her children will have a better life. Her daughter is in graduate school to become a pharmacist.
Then there’s Sylvestre from Haiti. His English isn’t great, but he’s enrolled in English classes. Working as a janitor at a nearby hospital, he’s a prolific artist. His bold paintings were featured in several recent exhibits.
I could also tell you about Thaer, a Palestinian from Iraq, who survived imprisonment, torture, and a perilous boat crossing on the Mediterranean Sea. Also an artist, his paintings are visionary. They tell stories of suffering, but also hope.
Or about Hari, an immigrant from Nepal. A noted Nepalese poet, Hari is also a Hindu priest. Working as a chef, he waited ten years before his wife and son could get a visa and join him.
I also know immigrants from Venezuela, Guatemala, Mexico, Turkey, China, Korea, Ukraine and beyond. And the amazing thing is—none of them was released from an insane asylum or prison. None of them is a criminal. In fact, they are some of the most productive, creative and gentle people I know.
In the coming days, we will continue to hear Republicans rail against criminals and terrorists entering our country. We certainly don’t want that. But it doesn’t take much intelligence to differentiate between a call for responsible action and racist and dehumanizing rhetoric.
And if you think the hysteria of the right is harmless, take a look at the Republican playbook, Project 2025. Topics include:
- Mass Detention and Family Separation
- Attacks on Dreamers and Parents of US Citizens
- Raids on Schools, Hospitals and Religious Zones
- Suspending Due Process
- Use of the Military
Kevin Roberts, president of the Heritage Society, the group that produced Project 2025, recently stated: “We need to have the biggest mass deportation system ever.”
There is no easy fix to the problems of immigration. I certainly don’t have the answers. I do believe, however, that wise and compassionate men and women can find solutions.
In the meantime, rather than to be part of the problem, I choose to be part of the solution. Rather than rant about immigrants, I prefer to find ways to support them.
One way to do this is to get to know immigrants in our community. Listen to their stories. Find out what organizations are providing support, including your church, synagogue or mosque. If you can, volunteer as an English tutor. Become an ally for immigrant rights.
One of the most effective organizations in our area is the Immigrant Learning Center (ILC) in Malden, founded by Diane Portnoy, whose Jewish Polish parents miraculously survived the Holocaust.
Diane grew up in a Yiddish-speaking neighborhood in Malden, became a teacher, then dedicated her life to operating a school for immigrants. At the ILC, adults get up to 13 hours of English instruction a week. Free. They also take classes in citizenship.
Responding to the current influx of immigrants, the Center has hired more teachers and opened three new classrooms. Since 1992, they have helped thousands of immigrant adults become productive members of our communities. You can read some of their stories at the ILC web site at ilctr.org.
To do the essential work it does, the ILC relies on donations and grants. By supporting them, you can be part of the solution.
