Separated

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POSTNOTE  3 a.m. Dec. 7, 2024: Excellent commentary on Pearl Harbor.  Link at end of post.

POSTNOTE noon Dec 8, 2024: We watched the entirety of the Separated film last night on MSNBC.  It is very well done and informative.  Of course, being on TV, there were lots of interruptions for commercials but no problem.  I don’t know when it will be available as a streaming or in theatre, but it will be worth your time if at all interested in the immigration issue.

Comment from Donna, who is a long time advocate for immigrants:  Good Morning Dick,

I watched with sadness the film on Separation.  What I didn’t know is that the separations occurred months before the public was aware.  I don’t know if people care anymore.  

We also attended the session on “Hope” given by [our Catholic pastor].  A few of us had questions. I asked him what hope our Catholic community is going to give to innocent immigrants that are forced to leave this country.  He seems to always defer to Catholic Social teaching.  Unfortunately immigration is always well down on the list with respect for life (abortion) always being number one.  Another question someone asked was when are we going to hear it full throated from the clergy that this is wrong.
Rich and I also attended the 5 PM mass [another Priest].  He is such a compassionate man.
In Peace,

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Saturday night, Dec 7, MSNBC airs the new film, Separated, about the dark side of border policy of the United States.  The MSNBC link is here.  Here is the text: Errol Morris confronts one of the most divisive chapters in recent American history: family separations. Based on NBC Political and National Correspondent Jacob Soboroff’s book, Morris merges explosive interviews with whistleblowing officials and artful narrative vignettes tracing one migrant family’s plight. Together, they reveal that the cruelty at the heart of this policy was its very purpose. Against this backdrop— with hundreds of families still separated years later— audiences can begin to grasp the US government’s role in this unthinkable horror and be warned that we are on the verge of allowing it to happen again. “Separated” airs December 7th at 9 p.m. ET on MSNBC.  I believe there is a pre-program hour before the film.

Any time, I invite you to register to Jose Feliciano’s classic, Felize Navidad and here’s another really precious rendition.

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I asked Donna, who with husband Rich, is a twin cities advocate for immigrants, if she knew of any resources.  Off the top, here’s her response: As far as what is happening at the border [here and here] are two websites from the border.

Locally, all of the groups that I am part of don’t really know what will happen.  People are very worried.
I am including [here] a youtube video that you should look at.   Fr. Korogi from Ascension gave this amazing sermon after the election.  Fast forward to the time 21:45 for the homily [in Spanish and English].  What a scary time for us all.  [I’ve known Fr. Korogi for 27 years, and he is a class act.]

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Here are some additional references which you may find of interest.  NAFTA was replaced by USMCA in 2020.  In my scrolling around, I found that Mexico has the largest Spanish-language speaking  population in the world.  Of course, in 1898, came Puerto Rico and Cuba and Philippines et al – all Spanish colonies.  And we have contributed substantially over the years to the instability in Central America.  And all efforts to rewrite the statutes that govern migration have been stymied.  Our national hands are not clean.

This is a good opportunity to learn.  We are, after all, a nation of immigrants.

U.S. Land Borders defined.

U.S. Coasts and Shorelines defined.

United States – Mexico border

United States – Canada border

Current United States-Canada- Mexico Agreement (USMCA)

Previous to 2020, North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

POSTNOTE: Overnight from Heather Cox Richardson on Dec 7 1941 and today, here.  Anyone who knows me, knows that my Dad’s brother, Uncle Frank, went down with the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941.  By a quirk of fate, I actually me him in person as a one year old at Long Beach CA in early July, 1941.  I have actually written most every year something about Frank and the Arizona.  Simply search ‘frank bernard’ for the references, if interested.

Henry, Josephine, Josie, Frank, Richard, Henry Jr and Esther Bernard at Long Beach CA early July 1941.

COMMENTS (more at end):

From Larry: We were stunned by the election—never saw it coming!  Thanks for all your information.