-
Thoughts on Immigration
I see in my email inbox an angry anti-immigration message entitled “Whose country is it, anyway?” The implication is that US citizens, especially European-Americans, were “here first,” so newcomers are not welcome. My heart sinks. In my opinion, a government’s responsibility to manage immigration wisely should never overshadow our shared human responsibility to treat all people with respect. But more to the point, whatever view one takes on immigration, surely the argument that “we were here first” is not logical in a country composed mostly of immigrants. The only people who were truly “here first” are the Native Americans. I imagine…
-
New on Vashon
I’ve just returned from Germany, finally home from travel. This time, I came home not to my West Seattle condo, but instead to nearby Vashon Island. Vashon is nestled in the Puget Sound, just offshore from Seattle and Tacoma. I’m at my husband’s family home on the island, so I’m officially ‘new on Vashon.’ When I reflect on the locations of my own homes, in light of First Nations’ history, I find that my mind follows a pretty predictable path. I am always wondering if any of my own homes was built on the site of a previous native settlement…