Where do I come from?
I know that I have Native American, Irish and possibly German ancestors. All three of these people groups were severely persecuted in our great nation's history. America has a bloody, shameful and shocking history of marginalization, abuse and fear of those who are "different" from the select group deemed "normal" or "acceptable".
This behavior is still prevalent today by handling immigration issues with intolerance and inhumanity. I hear too many white southerners say "we don't need anyone coming to our country and changing our ways" or "their beliefs and culture just don't mesh with ours and of course ours is superior". This belief system is ignorant and untrue. It is also feed by fear and an unwillingness to see outside their comfort zone.
American culture is always shifting and changing. When my Irish and German ancestors immigrated to the United States their culture was thought of as "weird" and "unamerican". Now their cultural ideals, religious practices, and familial structures are seen as American as Thanksgiving dinner. We forget our past and where our ancestors migrated from and how they were treated once they arrived. Maybe because of the lack of understanding of those around them in their new country did my ancestors choose to forget their customs and identity. Maybe they choose to adapt to "American" culture in order to fit in and be included. This would explain why I have no lingering customs from these people groups. My family plays a guessing game of where we originated from, because the lineage was lost in the quest to be accepted.
In light of the situation in our country at hand it is urgent that we treat immigrants with kindness, grace and understanding. We need to view their culture with an openness rather than being defensive and closed minded. We need to treat them as Jesus treated those who were not from his culture which he exemplified in his interaction with the woman at the well. Is this always easy? No. Is it acceptable to ignore injustice and turn a blind eye to it? The answer is no yet again. We have to move past our feelings of insecurity, being uncomfortable and insuring that things always stay the same.
"For God so loved the world.." maybe we should try that too.
