Loving our neighbors is a core Christian value

In what twisted parody of the Christian faith does the Lord smile upon our fear, hatred and persecution of our neighbors? How will we be judged for shifting our blind eyes away from the sight of families being violently torn apart, parents separated from their children, and good workers ripped from our communities, chained and shipped to distant camps and even torture prisons in other countries?

And for what? For wanting the same things that brought our own persecuted and impoverished ancestors to this country in search of the freedom and opportunity to make a better life for their families. The ugly lie that these are violent and dangerous people has long since passed its expiration date. We know, if we care to, that these are just people, no more dangerous than the rest of us, maybe less so. We have always had the means to protect ourselves from those - native or foreign born - who threaten our communities.

Is it because they are taking our jobs? But we have always had the opportunity to pick crops and shingle roofs in the hot sun for little pay. No one has ever prevented us from cleaning, cooking and caring for the sick, elderly and disabled in our understaffed nursing homes. Those are the jobs that are being "stolen" from us.

So when the judgement comes, what will we say? "I didn't know. It wasn't me. I didn't see?“ What mercy can we expect or imagine we deserve?

Tom St.Clair

Decorah