Food for Thought, News

And I’m Back—With Two Stories

73 Comments

I know, I know. I said I wasn’t going to blog anymore, but here I am with a new post. What prompted me to write? Simply put, ICE. Not the kind you slip on and then maybe take a spill, but rather the organization — Immigration and Customs Enforcement — that rounds up people and detains them. Maybe these folks have papers, maybe they don’t. The prime sorting process seems to be based on skin color, brown and black.

For a while, the main action was taking place in Minnesota, where, among other brutalities, a young white mother was murdered, children were tear-gassed, and an elderly man in underwear was marched out of his house.

But now ICE has come to Lewiston, Maine, a small city about 15 miles away from where we live. Lewiston is home to a large Somali population that started seeking refuge here about 25 years ago. ICE has dubbed its Maine operation “Catch of the Day,” a sick reference to Maine’s coastal heritage and fishing industry, which prompted restaurants to offer “Catch of the Day” specials. And, as to be expected, people are being rounded up.

This has put me in mind of two stories, seemingly separate, but related.

The First Story

In October, we adopted two cats from the Lewiston Humane Society. I wrote about it on my blog, and readers might recall how I told of a mother and two little girls coming to look for a dog. The three were taken to a back room to meet a dog. Although I couldn’t see what happened, I could certainly hear the little girls exclaim, “Oh, you’re so cute! You’re so cute!” over and over again, and the dog’s happy barking in response. I smiled, the staff smiled, and a feeling of joy filled the shelter.

What I didn’t mention was that the mother and the little girls were black. The mother had an accent; the little girls didn’t.

What is happening to that family? Are they hiding in their home, too afraid to go to school or go grocery shopping or go to work? I wish them all the best, including the dog they adopted.

The Second Story

I am of Franco-American descent. My ancestors came from France, settled in Canada, and made their way down to the United States. On my mother’s side, I doubt all of them had papers. In Maine in the mid-1800s, it was very easy to slip over the border. Many of my ancestors came from Normandy, and in my younger days, my hair was almost black. Along with the dark hair came an olive complexion, and in the summer, the sun turned me brown. The same is true for my youngest daughter’s complexion, and one day, when she was little, while playing in my mother’s driveway, a neighbor came over and asked who my daughter was, using a racial slur.

My mother replied, “That’s my granddaughter.”

And that took care of that.

Except I wonder: what if ICE had come in the summer all those years ago? What if my daughter and I were walking down the street in Lewiston and ICE had driven by? Would they have rounded us up, locked us somewhere, and held us until we could prove we were citizens? We didn’t carry birth certificates. We didn’t have passports. As far as I was concerned, having to carry papers was something that happened in fascist regimes or Communist countries. In the United States, we could travel freely without papers.

My answer to the round-up question? Yes, it could have happened. In Minnesota, ICE has targeted off-duty cops. According to CBS News, every one of them was a person of color.

So here we are, at a nasty place teetering on something even nastier.

I hope we can  keep our balance and draw back from the edge.

 

 

 

 

73 thoughts on “And I’m Back—With Two Stories”

  5. I read about their presence, and it made me sick to my stomach. We also have a similar situation closer than 15 miles to us that will probably rise to their target list at some point. I have no words, I basically have no hope right now that it will get better either. They are on an ugly path, and I don’t see how we the people stop it. I pray a lot because it seems like that is all I can offer. It’s a scary time.

    1. So sorry to read that you have a similar situation close to where you live. Can’t say I’m surprised. It is happening in a lot of places. We do have elections coming up in November, and perhaps I’m being naive, but I’m hoping there will be a turning of the tide. As for prayers…sometimes that’s all we have. Surely a heartfelt prayer has to add to the goodness of the world.

  6. Trump is an immoral jerk, a fascist, a megalomaniac, a greedy bully, et al.
    He is ruining this country and has turned it into a rogue nation.
    There is something seriously and dangerously wrong with every person that supports Trump.

  8. It is so very frightening to be an American right now, where it doesn’t matter whether you have papers or not. Seems like they are taking whoever they want without asking any questions.

    1. Rupali, it’s terrible, especially for folks who believe that all humans have dignity and rights, that skins come in various colors, all beautiful, and shouldn’t be a basis for prejudice.

  11. I heard that on the morning news, and thought of you and your people. Like Judy, prayer is all I can offer.
    Evening Prayer from A New Zealand Prayer Book He Karakia Mihinare o Aotearoa 1989 p.185

  12. We all stand with you Laurie, it is so frightening to see how ICE recruits treat their fellow human beings. Many people here and in Europe aren’t visiting the US anymore, because they fear they may be targeted by ICE. Sending love and hugs to you all 💞💜💞 xxx

  13. It shows how simple it is to put a boot through the fabric of a functioning society if you have no feelings. What is scary is how easy it has been to recruit the ICE agents.

  14. Laurie – thank you for coming out of ‘retirement’ to write this story methinks every decent American would like known. From across the ocean Down Under we watch in absolute horror at what is happening in the States. How on earth can so many agree with and follow such utterly unfair cruelty and madness . . . the whole world is shivering and other despots are laughing and making their plans . . .

  15. My thoughts and tears are with you. On Monday I was talking to an American lady where we live. She does not look English. Olive skin and almond eyes. Black hair. She is trying to get residency in Portugal and the day of her appoinment with a govenment office in the US for certain papers they closed the office. Now to be done online. She is struggling. HAd to go back to the US to sort out her bank which had blocked her account. Long story short. She was walking along the street when an ICE vechile slowed up and followed her. she had forgotten to take her papers with her. She told me she had NEVER been so scared in all her life. Even though she is third generation.

    This remnds me of a fasist state. Germany and the Jews. Sorry to say but America has lost its way.

    1. My heart goes out to your friend, whose looks are a lot like mine, at least when I was young. Yes, a fascist state. Not completely. The press is still free to criticize Trump, and so far no journalist has been jailed for telling the truth. But man oh man are we on the edge.

      2. I think folks who have filmed ice agents have been threatened, but I have not heard of any actual prosecutions. And many, many brave people are still filming, despite the threats. There is push back. There is opposition.

  17. As an immigrant, I am with them all, and because I happen to have pale skin and green eyes, I don’t worry (although I have started carrying my passport). Here is a sort-of funny story I heard yesterday, but it’s a sad commentary on our times: A friend and her husband were approaching El Paso, and they saw a sign that said “ICE PREVENTION OPERATION AHEAD.” They wondered if they were driving into some kind of interventionist situation, until they discovered that it referred to actual frozen water that might develop on the roads. SAD, huh? We need another name for the goons: I suggest Secure Homeland Immigrant Tactical Services. How’s that for an ACRONYM?

  18. If you had told me 25 years ago, that this would be our world today, I would have not believed it. Every day a new shock. I pray the nightmare ends soon. 🙏🏼

  19. Yep. This is horrible. I have been calling my NC reps. I am sad for all people targeted. We all must stand together until this has been defunded and defunked.

  21. No-one anywhere seems to be safe from the current American administration. Repercussions reverberate around the world.

  22. This makes grim reading. When I was growing up, in the mid-60s to mid-70s, we younger people truly believed that (with our help) the world was becoming a better place. Guess we got that wrong!

    1. Grim reading for grim times. Yes, we boomers thought we would make the world a better place, and we did make some progress with civil rights, women’s rights, and gay rights, but we are long way off from a decent, caring society.

      1. I guess you’ll be familiar with this song; there are various versions around. It dates back to 1968, and highlights the philosophy you and I both hold dear. Its message is just as relevant today, methinks, as it was at the height of the civil rights movement.. Yes, progress has been made in some areas, but there’s still a long way to go before the world we dreamt of becomes a reality. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDoCJDzLMS4&list=RDFDoCJDzLMS4&start_radio=1

  24. Good to see you Laurie, though it’s a shame about the circumstances. I have nothing to add, as your two stories tell us all what we need to know about the way things are going. Don’t let yourself be dragged down – keep smiling, keep writing. 🙂

    1. Thanks so much, Quercus! Yes, maybe the solution is to keep writing. If I were younger and my knees were in better shape, I’d be on the streets with the protestors.

      3. I thought I answered this, if I am repeating myself, I apologise. What I said was that I find it easy to push other people. As today’s blog post shows, I’m not so good at pushing myself.

  27. Your story of the little girl at the shelter highlights that we need to see the humanity in everyone. Human beings of any age, gender, color, or religion etc. should not be dehumanized and treated like garbage. I fear for what our children are learning, and feeling, about all that is going on around them.

    1. Those little girls—two sisters—were so joyful and excited about getting a new dog. Where area they now? Are they hiding with their parents in their home, afraid to go out? Makes me feel sick just to thinking about it.

  28. I read about what your government is doing and am horrified. I read about the push back and rallies in protest and am heartened. I really thought we had got beyond judging people on the colour of their skin, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation but seemingly those old prejudices are easy to resurrect when people are scared and leaders want scapegoats for their own failures.

  29. Laurie, I’m so sorry to hear this has landed in your community. It’s unconscionable and unrecognizable in a country that once took pride in its democracy. Imperfect, yes, but a far, far cry from this.

  30. Laurie, I’m so sorry that this is what has prompted you to write us again. 😦 I spent many summer & fall visits in Maine (from Canada) in my younger years – it’s a wonderful place.

    Many Canadians are deeply concerned about what is happening to your wonderful country and the people therein.

  31. I can only imagine your level of aggravation to bring you back from BlogRetirement.

    We live in such strange and frightful times. Frightful.

    Sending you hugs and positive energy.

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