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everyone deserves a home

1/30/2017

9 Comments

 
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We are a tribe of immigrants. Yes, we Americans...but also this little tribe of four. There is usually not much reason to talk about it, but this weekend pushed and pulled at things that run deep. Mr. Tribe is a permanent resident with a green card, and we brought our Julia to this country through adoption almost exactly fourteen years ago.

This weekend I thought about how Mr. Tribe was detained when we arrived in Chicago from the UK. It was probably about an hour of uncertainty and bewilderment. What if it had been days or weeks? I wondered what would have happened if we were told that our daughter was not welcome in this country when our plane touched down. Things can apparently change in the time it takes for a plane to fly from one part of the world to another these days. 
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Our hearts go out to those caught in a cruel, sudden web of fear and hate. Refugee families boarded planes with hearts full of nervous hope and disembarked into a nightmare of uncertainty and confusion. Others who thought their road to resettlement was about to begin find themselves back in the limbo they have experienced for years on end already. Ninety days is a very, very long time (and noone is saying that this will all be over in 90 days). It is the exact amount of time we spent living in my wonderfully generous and compassionate sister's family's home after our visas were unexpectedly denied in the UK. We were told we'd have to leave 5 days before we needed to be gone. The four of us left our home in London and arrived in Chicago believing we'd be there for three weeks. Day after day, we made inquiries into the progress of our visas. Days stretched into weeks, and weeks stretched into three months.

Uncertainty is a gut wrenching soul suck. ​
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Our lives were put on hold...and for us it was only three months. We had family and a home country to come home to. We did not have employment, health insurance, transportation or friends, but we knew the language, had a bank account, and a place to sleep. I can't even begin to imagine the terror and loss and pain and death and peril that these refugees have experienced. They have gone through years of vetting too.

I've been helping Mr. Tribe study for his citizenship test. One of the questions asks why the first colonists came to America. An answer is: "for religious freedom". Another question asks two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy. One of the answers is: "publicly support or oppose an issue or policy". 

Our tribe spent this weekend making and writing postcards to our Congressmen. We stood with fellow compassionate souls at the International Airport. It felt like a tiny something.

Refugees are victims of war. Please don't make them victims of our fear. 

Everyone deserves a home.

Love,
Jane
9 Comments
Celia
1/30/2017 02:55:46 pm

I'm writing postcards with friends tomorrow. Lots of love to your tribe + every tribe.

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Jane link
1/31/2017 11:18:36 am

I'm so glad. Lots of love to you too and to your tribe + every tribe. So well said.

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Kari
1/30/2017 03:43:12 pm

I have no words for any of this madness. Only prayers. And a great deal of concern as I watch these attitudes gain ground here in Canada, too.

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Jane link
1/31/2017 11:16:25 am

My prayers are with you too. We are so sad to hear of the events in Canada this weekend as well. So. much. sadness.

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Julie link
1/31/2017 10:43:20 am

It can feel vulnerable to share a personal story, but I'm so glad you went out on a limb here. If issues aren't made personal then change is unlikely to happen. My husband is also an immigrant (now US citizen) from one of the banned countries, so this issue is personal for us too. Your family's beautiful postcards and courage to speak up are moving. Thank you! xo

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Jane link
1/31/2017 11:13:01 am

Oh my goodness! Thank you for sharing this with me! So true that personal stories are really the only thing that give these issues any real gravity. Tons of love to you and your family!!

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Elisa
1/31/2017 01:16:08 pm

This whole thing makes me so angry! I was born in Germany and moved back to Berlin last year after staying in two other European countries (or ex-European countries. Yes, I talk about you, UK.) for two years in total. I am so grateful for the European Union and could not imagine my life with harsh national borders being rebuilt.
All I can think is: How can this be legal? I really hope this madness will come to an end soon somehow. All the best wishes to your family and everyone else in the US.

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Jane link
2/1/2017 03:10:08 pm

I hear you! I don't know how we have grown so polarized. My prayers are with you and the European Union too.

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Heather link
2/16/2017 02:16:14 pm

It was so interesting to learn more of your story. Thank you for sharing, Jane! Also, the cards are beautiful!

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