Olive’s story shows the value of compassion

Following my Dad’s death I inherited a plastic bin stuffed with papers passed down by my ancestors. In it I found an old black and white photo of eight year old Olive Harman.

Olive’s parents were trapped in London’s lowest social class, doing distasteful but necessary work for terrible pay. They managed to cross the Atlantic, did equally difficult work here until eventually establishing a successful store in New Jersey. As immigrants they endured prejudice and dislike from native born Americans.

My newly discovered great aunt Olive died at age 8 in 1902. Her parents struggled to pay burial costs. She lies in an unmarked grave beside sister Ethel, who died at 6 months in 1891 and Sofia, who died at age 6 in 1892. Great aunts I never knew existed.

I can only imagine the pain my great grandparents felt burying three daughters who likely died of childhood diseases now easily preventable by vaccines. If Olive could speak to Amercans today she’d say, “Get vaccinated.”

Fortunately my English ancestors had a fourth daughter who married a German immigrant. They became my grandparents.

Papers in the bin revealed that other ancestors came from Denmark and Germany. With no opportunity for a decent life at home, the United States beckoned. Like millions of others who poured into America from points around the globe, all of my immigrant ancestors faced discrimination and prejudice as they struggled to learn English, build careers, and raise families. Although only Olive would have sensed the hostility her parents endured and vibes from good people who helped them.

My immigrant ancestors did well. Their descendants were successful teachers, engineers, laborers and professors. Several of us served honorably in the military.

If Olive could speak I’m certain she would join me scolding Americans for the heartless, inhumane, and cruel way we treat modern immigrants. Although a few immigrants of my great grandparents' time were knaves and criminals, they were a tiny percentage compared to the hopeful people who came here to escape tyranny and poverty. While forging a better life they helped build our great nation. Most are honest and hard working taxpayers.

I join my great Aunt Olive in saying: Shame on politicians and their supporters who condone breaking families and deporting decent people do hard, essential work.

We can do better, much better, by being compassionate. They only seek the American dream that lured our ancestors to these shores.

Rich Patterson has backgrounds in environmental science and forestry. He co-owns Winding Pathways, a consulting business that encourages people to “Create Wondrous Yards.”