Remembering U.S.

I have written several times about my ancestry on this blog. I am from eastern European and Jewish ancestry and a third generation American. From time to time (often in January) I look back into my ancestry to see if there are any new records or discoveries. The stories of my family are interesting as they capture the difficulty of immigration and assimilation into a new country. The United States is built on the strength and determination of immigrants.

Immigration Hall at Ellis Island in New York

I am amazed at how often people in our nation forget (or do not care) about the heritage of our nation. Foreigners face many problems including intense persecution and vetting. I have personally faced some of this and hear stories about discrimination from within my family. But my family was strong and we survived and have did well in a new land despite, or possibly because of the hardships. Because when you face difficulty it forces you to work harder in order to overcome.

Ellis Island in New York Harbor

The first immigrants to this nation faced many difficulties. These difficulties are recorded in history. The Pilgrims (of Thanksgiving fame) immigrated to a new land in order to escape systematic persecutions and imprisonments. Many of the first settlers in Virginia were tradesmen who sought to better themselves by finding either treasure or a new life. The colony of Georgia was founded by debtors who came to America for a fresh start. In all three cases most of the settlers died in the first two years. The persistence of those who died and those who lived have encouraged Americans for generations. These founders of our nation worked hard to established strong communities which survive even to this day.

My Grandfather saw these buildings in the lat 1890's

As I researched my family I visited the Tenement Museum in New York City. We learned how lower Manhattan was populated by waves of Italian, Irish, German, Jewish and Chinese immigrants. These families were poor. Some were persecuted. All of them were able to find a way to cross the ocean to America. And once in the United States they contributed to our greatness as a nation. These poor immigrants, many from non-Christian faiths became leaders in the real estate, food, energy, space, education and banking industries.

Solomon Tobachnikof and ship log. Also Yankel Levine

My grandparents came to the United States in this time period. Simon Tobachnikof sold clothing and later was involved in the real estate market (as was uncle Abe). Ben Finkelstein was worked in the garment industry. The Schulmans were leather workers and later owned restaurants in Cincinnati.
Many immigrants have come to escape hardship or to find a new life. Our President’s grandfather came from Germany in this time period. Ivanka Kushner’s in-laws were eastern European survivors of the concentration camps. The United States of that time welcomed refugees.

The New Testament teaches God is love - 1 John 4:8

Because of my connection with the past I have been given opportunity to connect with immigrants of the present. I have ministered to people from Mexico, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Colombia. Some of these people are legal, others illegal. All of these people contributed to our economy, many I knew worked in agricultural and construction. I have attempted to assist the illegal internationals in their effort to become legal, only to find the wall insurmountable for many who have helped the state of North Carolina prosper.

Many immigrants have lived in lower Manhattan

I have worked with Chinese and South Korean immigrants. I also know Palestinians who seek to live peaceful lives with all others in the United States. The struggles and dreams of many immigrants are similar to my grandparent’s struggles and dreams.

The Statue of Liberty welcomes immigrants to our shores

In time periods when our doors are open to immigration the United States flourishes. During times of isolation our economy suffers. Immigrants are the new customers who shop at our stores, join our workforce and purchase homes in our communities. They proudly desire to join our ranks through the immigration and naturalization process if we provide them opportunity through a well planned pathway. When we make the process difficult or impossible through poor planning, spontaneous decisions (or orders) the result is confusion, closed doors, distrust and illegalities. I pray for our government and a plan that will bring clarity rather than confusion. I look forward to a time when we will help persecuted peoples assimilate rather into our land with an absence of hate. From the very beginning every wave of immigrants has brought greatness. I look forward to the next wave which will make us great … again.

Constitutional Marriage

The Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples can marry nationwide,, but should they?  Our courts rendered a religious ruling on marriage, breaching the wall called Separation of Church and State. The definition for the word "marriage" was set over 4,000 years ago...  

“Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, ‘This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman, ' for she was taken out of man.’ For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:22-24), This verse defined marriage as between a man a woman thousands of years before the constitution was written.

To declare otherwise is hypocrisy for those who believe in a wall of separation between Church and State. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Separation_of_church_and_state_in_the_United_States>, for marriage is a well defined religious term.  Since the beginning the state has chosen to recognize and affirm marriage (Jewish, Christian, Islamic, etc.) as good for the nation.  Our founders and lawmakers confirmed marriage as an act of faith by the sanctioning of ministers to perform marriages.  The state recognized some would wish to affirm this religious principle outside the church, allowing magistrates, ship captains, and others to perform this rite.

Marriage promotes stability for the family and protection of children who are born to a man and a woman.  Marriage is not about liberty or a selfish pursuit of happiness (14th amendment), it is about surrendering our rights for the benefit of others.

Egocentric self interest has allowed the ideal concept of marriage to be watered down.  Divorce has been allowed for those who lose interest in their spouse; has allowed couples to split in order to avoid hardship; and is used to circumvent the need of each individual in the home to change for the betterment of others.  In recent times we have become more interested in tax privileges, insurance benefits and property inheritance than in shaping of character.

The state should use the term “Civil Union” when the government desires to give (or take) rights to those who cohabit together.  For the state to have its own term could be tremendously freeing.  As rights and privileges are given to same-sex couples (or to those of other orientations), religious discussion becomes secondary.  Those who have objection to religion (atheists, agnostics, etc) will find it easier to fit into state regulations.

The decision of the court on June 26 was written in total disregard to the first amendment, which states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church & State. Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties. - "Jefferson's Letter to the Danbury Baptists - The Final Letter, as Sent on January 1, 1802". Library of Congress. Retrieved13 February 2014.