2025-01-03
B R I G H T E R

"The darker the night, the brighter the stars."  -- Fyodor Dostoevsky

It's been three years since we've had a guest blogger here, so it's about time to give someone else a chance to speak. And boy, does this author and entrepreneur speak to an issue that is - whether we recognize or admit or like it or not - front-and-center in our world, and specifically though not solely in our nation, today. So without further ado, let me introduce you to Justice St. Rain of Special Ideas.

Lucki, thank you for the opportunity to share my thoughts on a subject I believe is dear to many people's hearts.

As the world grows darker, we must shine brighter.

What does it look like to promote world citizenship in the age of renewed nationalism and "America First"? One first step is to be supportive of immigrants. And one way to do that is to educate ourselves about immigration issues so we know how to respond accurately and respectfully to the anti-immigrant talking points that we hear or see on social media and in person.  

I always use 'Abdu'l-Baha's technique when talking to misinformed people. In summary: "Admitted, agreed, but now let's look at it from this other perspective."

So when they exclaim that immigrants are flooding the country, I may answer, "Yes, it can seem like a lot of people. But did you know that without immigrants, our population would be shrinking, which would really mess up our Social Security fund? Also, proportionally, it is much fewer than what came through Ellis Island when many of our grandparents arrived."

And when they state that those people are using our social services, I might respond, "Yes, it is true that for the first year or so, immigrants are a real drain on our resources. But studies have shown that in the long run, they actually give back in taxes, jobs, and services much more than they use."

And when they complain that illegals are taking our jobs, I can reply, "Yes, undocumented workers can be forced to work below minimum wage. That's why we should let them come in legally, so that employers can't take advantage of them at our expense. They also often do jobs that other people don't want to do."

And when they demand that they should just follow our laws, I will say "I agree. We are a country of laws. But did you know that according to international law, these people have a right to seek asylum, and we should be processing their asylum requests quickly? Otherwise, they run out of money and have few options but to try to cross illegally. If we followed our own asylum laws, they wouldn't be breaking them."

[ASIDE] BTW: My book club is currently reading Crossing the Desert, about one young Baha'i's escape from Iran. I discovered that after the revolution in Iran, it was illegal for most Baha'is to leave that country, and yet we welcomed them here anyway.[/ASIDE]

And when they insist that they're drug dealers and criminals, I need to counter, "You are right. Some of them are (though most of them are not). That's why we need to invite all of them to come through regular border crossings where they can be vetted, instead of being turned away and forced to try to sneak across. That way, only the criminals will have to try to cross illegally. But it's also true that most drugs are actually being smuggled across the border by Americans at established checkpoints. And it's also true that undocumented people generally have a lower crime rate here than citizens do, because the majority are being as law-abiding as possible in their daily lives so as not to risk coming to the attention of the authorities."

By acknowledging people's concerns about immigrants, but responding with facts, perhaps you too can help people see that if we behave like citizens of the world, it will benefit everyone. At the very least, you will let them know that some people see people from other countries as assets and welcome them as valuable members of the human family.

So are you ready to have meaningful conversations about our world from "this other perspective" of a world citizen? Then start sharing it at every opportunity. And believe me, if you want to share it, the opportunities will come to be a brighter, a brilliant star.

Thank you, Justice. There's a lot of food for thought there. And some well-put facts to share with others.

Readers interested in World Citizen T-shirts, tote bags, flags, lanyards, bracelets, mirrors, stickers, decals, temp tattoos, buttons, magnets, and ID cards will find them here at Special Ideas. Special Ideas is also featured as a panel in our Portals Quilt. Justice himself is also a staunch ally of the Tahirih Justice Center, a national, nonprofit organization that serves immigrant women and girls who are survivors fleeing gender-based violence.

Khoda hafez,
Lucki

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