I am attempting to come to terms with our border crisis and have to admit that I have more questions as the days pass. Allow me to give you a brief description of my cultural background so you may understand my viewpoint.
I was born and raised in Germany in the post WWII era. My father was sent to the Russian front in the latter part of 1944 (the very young and the old were forced to fight for the country to the bitter end). He came back, broken in spirit, physically scarred from battle but he did come back only to die at home. My 6 year old brother was torn to pieces by a hand grenade, he and his friends found in the neighborhood. I never did get to really meet him nor my father. Both became real through the many stories my mother shared. She never tired repeating the same stories as my older sister, my older brother, and I were huddled in front of her. We did not have much money but a huge yard, lovingly planted by my mother with vegetables, fruit, and yes, flowers. As you know from your own history courses, Germany was occupied for many, many years. Our particular area was a stronghold for American soldiers. I remember American tanks rolling through our little town and soldiers throwing candy to the waving children. I also remember French and Canadian soldiers where my relatives lived. My mother was a gentle, wise but also strong woman. How lucky we were that she insisted that we learn foreign languages at a very early age so we could understand the foreign cultures surrounding us. Every single Saturday, my sister and I were bused to town, to attend English classes at the Amerika Haus, a place for dependents and Germans to meet and learn. My brother had different interests. His story is for a later time. It should suffice to say that he was musically inclined and played the violin... such delightful memories. My sweet mother also took in a refugee, in tow with a 6-year old son, from eastern Germany. She lived with us for many years and we shared what we had. Eventually, her American boyfriend moved in as well. Can you imagine, a boyfriend moving in? A foreigner? Unmarried? Ah, the talk in town! You see, all of these childhood experiences and encounters with foreigners, my mother's welcoming of foreigners shaped my viewpoint of our current so-called immigration crisis.
I admit, I do not understand the American mentality toward foreigners. Has this country not been built on the backs of hard working immigrants? Do Americans really think that these immigrants came squeaky clean and nicely shaven, dressed in freshly pressed clothing or with a command of the English language? No, they came broke, hungry, dirty, and most likely infested with scabies and lice after weeks on crowded ships. Why is it that so many have such a difficult time embracing these new immigrants? Is it because they come from countries where the color of the skin if something other than white? I have been told that I do not know what it is like to have "hordes" of illegals invading "your" town. Oh, yes, I do know. I have been to the Mexican border many, many times...El Paso and Laredo, to be specific. I have observed the comings and goings at the border and was astounded that Americans would come back from Juarez, packed with Mexican treasures. At the same time, Mexicans schleppt their American treasures back to Juarez. The same took place in Laredo. In fact, the hustle and bustle is pretty much the same at every border I have ever crossed. I am also told that these immigrants come here and take our jobs and just want freebies. I do not understand. The immigrants come here because their lives are much tougher than ours. They have the same desires and dreams for their families as Americans do.
In a nutshell: during the post-WWII era in Germany, the very intelligent Chancellor Adenauer realized that he not only needed to negotiate with former foes but also that Germany needed a workforce and thus, foreign workers from Italy, Greece, Turkey flooded the country. They were Gastarbeiter, guest workers. The term itself was indicative that they were expected to leave. Work permits were initially granted for a year. Later longer. I must interject here and emphasize that they did not speak German just as the refugees and undocumented immigrants do not speak English. One can learn the language of a host country! Eventually, many Gastarbeiter brought their families and grew roots. Were all Germans happy about the development? No. They still aren't, especially not after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the influx of Russians, and more Turks...especially not after the market was saturated with workers and unemployment rose. There were and still are riots, neo-nazis, skin-heads. That, though, is a whole new can of worms, as Americans say. For the most part, though, Germans and Europeans have learned to live in relative harmony ...open borders...same currency...job exchanges etc. For the most part, foreigners are accepted as an integral part of the European culture. The German government understandably is most generous in accepting refugees. Today, my homeland is as colorful as the United States...it has become a melting pot and so it should be.
I am an American by choice. I love this country dearly and thus, take my responsibilities as a citizen seriously. I am most dismayed when I see my fellow American flag-waving, bible clasping, poster swinging countrymen surrounding buses filled with refugee children. I believed that nothing could shock me. I was wrong. I am shocked when I read/hear comments such as 'send them to wherever they came from; they have diseases; they are filthy; the democrats only want them as voters'. I am shocked by the racism. I am shocked by the disrespect toward the president. I am shocked by the rhetoric of republicans and right-wing media whose goal is only to spread and fuel discontent and, yes, hatred. They are doing a great disservice to America as a whole. As a result of the current political climate, Americans are not as well-liked around the world as they believe they are. For crying out loud, these are children, not voters; if they are dirty, give them a bath; if they have scabies or other little critters, treat them. The anger is utterly displaced and solves nothing. Speak up and demand from those who waste billions and do not legislate, to do the job for which they were elected. Speech, however, is cheap...one must actually do. There is a bright light in this dark tunnel, in Dallas, to be specific, where businesses, professionals, ordinary citizens have come together to offer help, real help. Good people in many states have joined. There is hope for our society.
And so, here I am...caught between two worlds: the American when in Germany, the German when I am here. In both worlds, I am looking in (mostly), observing, seeing, trying to understand. Most likely, many will not agree with my viewpoints, neither here nor in Germany. That's OK. After all, I am a work in progress...we all are...
