Let Us Be Thankful for Our Common Humanity
“We are a nation of immigrants — whether our ancestors came from Ireland or from Mexico, or whether they immigrated here generations ago, or whether our parents brought us to the United States.”
“But today, this fundamental characteristic of our country — the diversity that makes us great and enriches each new generation — is being eroded. Our outdated immigration laws no longer meet our economic needs, our national security imperatives, or our values as a people. They fail to reaffirm our founding ideal, e pluribus unum — that out of many, we are one.” ~ Martin O’Malley
Some Republicans want to deport millions of new Americans. They apparently don’t care that doing so rips apart families, and I suppose they could care less about their names. But Martin O’Malley has empathy for new Americans. He is opposed to senseless deportation, and he just recently sang about one of the tragedies it has caused.
“Goodbye to my Juan, goodbye, Rosalita, Adios mis amigos, Jesus y Maria; You won’t have your names when you ride the big airplane, All they will call you will be ‘deportees’” ~ Woody Guthrie
And now nearly all Republican politicians, and even some Democrats, want to shamefully shut the door on refugees from Syria who are not Christians. But Martin O’Malley says,
“President George W. Bush deserves great credit for visiting a mosque just six days after 9/11 to make clear that while the United States would rightfully go to war, it was not a war against Islam. Those now casting suspicion upon an entire faith community with millions of adherents in the United States and billions across the world have forgotten that lesson. ISIS’ goal is to start a religious war, and some politicians are playing into their hands.”
“The truth is that Syrian refugees already go through a very laborious vetting process. And for us to say, as a nation, ‘we’re not taking any, or we’re only taking the Christian refugees,’ is for us to play into the hands of ISIL and to give them a huge recruiting tool in their effort to try to portray this as a war between two world religions, which it is not. It is a war against a genocidal, barbaric group of terrorists.”
“We are going to be able to defeat ISIS because of the Muslim Americans in our country and throughout the world who understand that this brutal and barbaric group is perverting the name of a great world religion.” ~ Martin O’Malley
Scottish-born singer-songwriter Eric Bogle wrote The Green Fields of France in 1975. The soldier in Bogle’s powerful song is Irish, not by chance, but for a reason.
Martin O’Malley knows a lot about the anti-Irish sentiment that prevailed in America when his Great-grandparents first arrived here. And he knows the song about Private McBride.
As so many who’ve been through the experience tell us, “War is hell.” Which is one reason nearly all politicians tell us it should be a last resort. Even so, far too many of them seem all too eager to risk that “last resort” rather too quickly. But not Martin O’Malley. He opposed the invasion of Iraq, for example. As a big-city Mayor at the time, he was all too aware of the chaotic and lawless aftermath that would likely occur in the wake of any such military invasion. And having attended too many funerals of uniformed officers, he knew in his heart the price of any such invasion would ultimately be very high.
“My son is not a pair of boots on the ground.” ~ An Iowa Serviceman’s Mom
“Thank you for your service”, are words that Veterans appreciate. But words alone are not enough. That’s why Governor Martin O’Malley granted in-state tuition to all military families and signed the Veterans Full Employment Act. First Lady Michelle Obama praised the legislation as one of the best laws in the country to help military personnel and their families.
Americans have fought and died in many wars since the days of General George Washington. But did you know that more Americans have died from gun violence than from all those wars? Martin O’Malley knows, and he is on the side of #HonorWithAction pledging to do something about it.
Gun violence, police-involved shootings, and death in police custody are three of many issues which disproportionately impact communities of color. From his years as Mayor of Baltimore, Martin O’Malley knows this all too well. Hence, he was respectful when #BlackLivesMatter activists interrupted his presentation this summer at Netroots Nation 2015.
He was then the first candidate to issue a comprehensive plan for criminal justice reform.
These are very difficult times, and some are inspired to violence and division. But we’ve been through difficult times before, and Martin O’Malley is inspired to justice and inclusion. His humanity very much reminds me of another Irish-American who flew into my life many years ago.
Through the centuries, Irish people have been slaves, refugees, and immigrants. We’ve worked just about every dirty and dangerous job that’s come along. We’ve known terror and oppression, but we have served our country and humanity well. And perhaps because of all this, Ireland has produced some of the world’s finest literature and poetry. I think that’s part of the reason Martin O’Malley can “Scare Away The Dark”.
So, even though we face many challenges, during this holiday season let us all be thankful for our blessings. Let us be respectful of one another, and fully aware that this beautiful and spacious land is still our land, not just the land of the rich and powerful………………..And let us laugh, and move Forward Together in hope and in style.
“Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life.” ~ Plato