Immigrant/Internationalism

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I have always said that we, the Americans eligible to vote, freely chose the mess that we are immersed in now.  This does not go over well with those who voted, essentially, for a reasonably stable nation and world.  The problem is that more people voted for the regime presently in control, and by far the largest number of eligible citizens didn’t even bother to vote, or voted for someone with zero chance of making a difference.

Bill Kristol of the Bulwark shared a sobering analysis by historian Fred Kagan, and his article here: Kristol/Kagan on Chaos Is Coming.   Also, is this a snapshot of the future plans of the U.S. leadership?  Both worth your time.

But this post is mostly about a real-world example shared with me Friday evening by a local friend.  Succinctly, ICE has descended on the Twin Cities community to root out alleged and undesirable illegals.  For myself, probably for most of us, the street theater might seem distant and abstract, even if we live here.  It’s not happening in our neighborhood, so why bother?

Ann’s e-mail, following, helps to bring the issue closer to home.  I have slightly edited the original only to protect specific identities.  Otherwise, the e-mail is here in its entirety, and worth your time.

“We have friends from [S. America].  One of them was once in my… class, and he became almost a family member.  In fact, his parents were just here from… and we got together with them.  Then his cousin followed him here, and we have kind of “adopted” him also.  He has helped [my husband] a lot around the yard, etc.  They both graduated from college and obtained work permits and jobs.  [Sebastian] married and moved out of state.

[Francisco’s] green card is in the works, and he just received a notice that it would be here soon.  He looks Mexican, and I have told him more than once that he could be targeted.  He just kinda laughed.  Tonight he called, really distraught.  He said today Immigration pulled a good friend of his over on the road.  The guy is in the same situation – a valid work permit and a green card on the way.  [Francisco] said that the thugs in their vehicles passed him on the road, saw that he looked Hispanic, then pulled him over and pointed guns at him.  The friend was driving his own car but was delivering packages for Amazon at the time.  They threw him into some facility in Elk River, where he was able to call.  He doesn’t even know what happened to his car.  He said someone just drove it off (probably including folks’ Christmas packages…)

The friend has to appear in court on Monday.  [Francisco] and his friends were trying to find an attorney to accompany him.  (He later said that they found someone.  These immigration attorneys are making out like bandits right now…)

Francisco also said that ICE showed up at his worksite today and hauled someone off.  And that they knew of someone else who actually has a green card but was arrested.  We hear what’s going on, but to hear the distress in his voice and to relate to the terror of his friend is something else.  And to realize his shock that this can actually happen in… America.  I’m so ashamed and angry.”

Within those four paragraphs lie the problem, as well as the possibility, for all of us.

Ann’s report was second-hand.  I make it third hand – I’ve known Ann a long time, and I trust her reporting.  Then comes you, and on and on.

That atrocities are happening is visible every day on the news, but for lots of reasons, we can pretend it doesn’t directly involve us, so why bother?

The same relates to the summary executions in the Gulf of Mexico off of Venezuela, by the United States of America.  There is vivid evidence of what happened, but no evidence at all of who was killed and what they might have been carrying, and to what destination.

Each of us, I think, have to take stock as to where we stand in the survival or death of this great country of ours.  There is an old saying that comes to mindL “an injury to one is an injury to all”.  We do not have the excuse of saying we could not see, nor could we hear….

Do more than what you think you can.  The solution lies with all of us.

The comments of Sherrie and Sonya in the December 4 post are worth reading.  The illustration Sherrie couldn’t transmit is here;  Both comments are below the illustration.

Make Christmas or Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa or whatever your tradition a time for reflection on your place in the solution.

Sherrie: Greetings of the Season, Dick. I especially appreciate your reminder that keeping our democracy and caring for everyone in our human community is up to all of us. I’ve been asking acquaintances who uses “woke” as a pejorative, “Was Jesus Woke?”
I tried to attach my sister’s first contribution to the project, but I’m not technically woke enough. Here’s a verbal description of the image–it features a smiling Jesus surrounded by an ethnically diverse group of children. She’s working on a more inclusive version featuring Elijah, Confucius, Buddha, an Islam representation, Alice Paul (and/or Jane Addams), Gandhi, and Martin Luther King Jr. as well as Jesus.
P.S. I think your grasp of social justice and your memory of political and economic history more than compensate for a one-time lapse in remembering three randomly generated words.

Sonja:  I can attest to that report in the Star Tribune [Star Tribune Medical Dec. 1, 2025]. When I had an endoscopy in November, two of the nurses were Filipino, the anesthesiologist was black, the surgeon was Middle Eastern, and there were others with accents from I don’t know where. Of the dozen or so people involved in my care that day, only two were white and “looked like me.” Where would we be without immigrants and minorities in Healthcare and many other segments of our workforce?!

And I have to say, during the whole experience, I was treated with kindness and respect and was never apprehensive about the quality of care.

 

 

 

Another anniversary

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PRENOTE:  Other recent posts: Murder in Washington DC (Nov 29); and Incidents (Dec 3).  I had sent the “murder” post to several who I thought had a particular interest, so it includes several interesting comments.

There have been a number of comments to the post on Ken Burns American Revolution (Nov 22) which you may find of interest.  If you haven’t watched the series check your local PBS station for information.  It is worth your time.

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Under the Knife: Seven Years ago today, December 4, 2018, I spent the day in an operating theatre at Fairview Southdale Medical center in Edina.  I was subject of the days work for a medical team giving me a new valve in my heart.  I went to sleep probably before 8 a.m., and didn’t wake up until the middle of the night maybe 18 hours later.

I woke up to two or three muscular male nurses standing me up and asking if could move or feel one leg.  I couldn’t.  Apparently I had a small stroke which was noticed.  That dilemma cleared up quickly – I don’t remember anything more about it and it certainly didn’t follow me out of the hospital.

But my adventure wasn’t over.  I was transferred to  rehab facility, which almost immediately sent me back to the hospital because of AFIB, perhaps a consequence of the surgery.

I was back at Southdale for a few days.  A memory is of a attendant who had to stay with me, and who loved the Hallmark Channel movies for the Christmas season.  This was certainly okay, I’m sure.  She was there to be immediate assistance if needed, and it wasn’t needed (though it could be).

Then I went back to rehab, and didn’t come home until Christmas Eve.  My three week “vacation” was over.  I don’t recall any dramatic events other than those described above.  At rehab they did the requisite physical and cognitive things like climbing three steps and descending them; showing them that I could make a grilled cheese sandwich – finding the utensils, and the ingredients and the process,  Everything made sense.

I have no sour memories at all.  I was fortunate to be ill in this community. The staff was great.  (The December 1, 2025 Minnesota Star Tribune had an excellent column on “The people behind your health plan are often immigrants”.  You can read it here: Star Tribune Medical Dec. 1, 2025)

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It is now seven years later, and I am seven years older, still living in the same house and occasionally being reminded that I’m 85 years old, and not 40 anymore,  All elders can tell the same stories, perhaps the only variation the particular body part or the degree of physical or mental dilemma.  You can pretend only so long.  The body starts to wear out.

Today I did my usual 11 laps around the indoor soccer field nearby.  It’s a very long time habit 2 1/2 miles five days a week.  It’s boring, but I have a ritual, starting usually at 7 in the morning, ending about a quarter to eight.  Once in a while the body or the mind isn’t interested in 11 laps, but I almost always walk through the dilemma and complete the personal olympics, like all of the others engaged in the same activity in the same space.  Sometimes the soccer field is closed.  On those days it’s off to Lifetime Fitness and the tread mill….

My annual physical is coming up and for seniors comes the dreaded cognitive test – the three words, and the clock.  So far, I’ve always passed, but last year I only got two of the words….

I’ve started to say to those who know me, “if you see something, say something”.

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I came face to face with being an elder last year when Kamala Harris and Tim Walz were candidates for President and Vice-President.  I looked them up, and found that my oldest son was a little older than both of them.  My youngest granddaughter just turned 19.  Ouch.

These are signals to start to let go – it’s the younger persons turn to make or break their future.  On the other hand, what I and other seniors know that the Youngers cannot is that we do have some accumulated wisdom gained by experience that might well be mined by the young, so that they can hopefully learn from our mistakes, and survive the future that we will not see, since we are nearing the exit.  Will the youngers come through for themselves?  I think so.  Peter Leschak STrib Aug 17 2025 wrote an excellent column on how progress happens.  It’s a very homespun column and you’ll enjoy reading it, and youngers will too.

This is nothing new, of course.  Every generation of every culture has the same stories about the Youngers and the Elders and Themselves.  Wisdom has to be accepted, it cannot be forced.  It is useful.

All best wishes for an enjoyable holiday season, though there is much to be concerned about as we end a tumultuous year, and prepare for a possibly even more tumultuous 2026.  I’m ‘on the court’ and I plan to stay there as long as possible.

COMMENTS (more at end)

from Carole: What a memory — clearly your work was/is not finished.

from Jim: Great to “see” you!  Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving, a better Christmas, and a fantastic New Year.  (It’s up to us to work for a better future – as you know – and we will.)

from Brad: happy to see some Minnesota people resisting ICE, and supporting their neighbors against Trump’s racist and discriminatory policies.  Lots of work to do!

from Gary: Dick you don’t look a day over 80. Thanks again for reminding us all of our own past.

from Judy: What a wonderful positive update.  I am pleased you remain healthy.  I too have AFIB and am enormously grateful to the immigrant staff who have cared for me at my many health care appts.  I am age 83.  Who would have ever imagined in our lifetime ( post WW2) that we would be living in a country who has resorted to our current political climate.

from Fred: I liked the entry and applaud your wisdom  “to start to let go.”  Wise words. Your coda noting that you will keep going as long as you can, is even wiser.

from Brian:  I love your selfie–you’re lookin’ great!    And thanks for posting–I love reading your post.  For instance:

 “I came face to face with being an elder last year when Kamala Harris and Tim Walz were candidates for President and Vice-President.  I looked them up, and found that my oldest son was a little older than both of them.  My youngest granddaughter just turned 19.  Ouch.”
 
Sweet! 🙂

from Rebecca: Lets keep our eyes on the prize ahead– a more just and joyful human civilization.

Incidents

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Today is Wednesday and for the last few days and continuing the issue is the extrajudicial killing of alleged drug traffickers in small boats off Venezuela.  In particular the second shot on September 2 – the “kill ’em all” alleged or at minimum implied order to finish off two survivors of the first strike on a boat.  The battle is on to figure out who is responsible, or if anyone is responsible.  There is no physical evidence since the boats were destroyed at sea, as were their occupants.  Great visuals of course,

For some reason, there seems to be collective amnesia about some fairly recent history which may speak to the current situation.  For instance, back in November, 2017, in the first year of his first term, Donald Trump was flying around the world, and stopped by the Phillippines to visit then President Rodorigo Duterte.  This was the PBS report: Trump visit to Philippines Nov. 2017 .  

I noted at the time that the President seemed to admire Duterte’s solution to the Philippine drug problem: just kill ’em.  No niceties about trials or anything.   Like most news, this revelation disappeared from view as old news.  But it has never escaped my mind.  More in postnote, below.

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As it happens, about a week ago I was at a small community conversation involving two Woodbury police officers as presenters about the impact of a new bus line from St. Paul to Woodbury.  The issue was impact of the bus route on local crime.  The program was very interesting and the two officers were very well informed.

For context, Woodbury is a major St. Paul suburb of 83,000 where I’ve lived for 25 years.  After years of effort, in March, 2025, a new Gold Line bus service was initiated which comes from St. Paul to Woodbury with several intermediate stops.  There was active opposition.  The line was dubbed “crime line” by some, alleging it would bring criminals to our community.  Of course, the line was new, and thus expensive, and just starting to attract ridership.  Apparently some wag suggested that it was the BMW line – you may as well give the few riders BMW’s….

The officers brought out the data and gave all of us a copy.  It is two pages, here: Incident Report.  It speaks for itself.

Of course, being a city of 83,000, stuff happens which requires a police force and sometimes makes news regardless of the community.  The second page describes the calls in Woodbury, which would happen in any town of any size everywhere.  Of course, one incident can have many component parts.  For instance somebody arrested for Trespassing, may also be found to have a Warrant filed on him or her.  Etc.

What was most interesting was that from March 24 to November 19, 2025, there were 210 incidents relating to the new Gold Line.  This amounted to about one incident a day, only a tiny fraction of the total calls for service and incidents in the same time period.

Of course, this will not stop the memes about this alleged pipeline of crime to our town.  But it always helps to have a few facts to add to the conversation, local, state or national.

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POSTNOTE on the War on Drugs.  This mornings Minnesota Star Tribune. had long front-page story headlined “Honduras’ ex-leader is freed by Trump.  Hernandez was found guilty in transfer of 400 tons of cocaine to U.S.”

This while the U.S. is bombing boats in the Gulf of Mexico – no evidence, no survivors, no names, just allegations.  And good visuals for the news.

Quite frequently I scroll through History, Discovery, National Geographic and Weather Channels.

Frequently, especially on Natgeo and Discovery, the program is about the drug war as played out at the border or airports in U.S, and other places.  It is interesting viewing, and always frames suspicions as alleged, and suspects as possible subjects of prosecution.  This is true at any airport be it U.S. or South America or Europe…. Nowhere are kill-on-accusation orders suggested.  The Rule of Law apparently prevails at inspection points.  No doubt marketers of drugs are innovative, and their opponents are perceptive and overworked, given the immense number of border crossings daily.

I suppose – at least this is my personal fear – that some hapless American who drives into Mexico becomes a mule without knowing it.  If they’re caught in the act, I’ve not seen them on film, at least not when I’m watching.

Of course illicit drugs are huge driver in the American economy.  Somebody has to supply the goods to the addicts, and odds are its an impossibility to ever control it – think “prohibition”.  Hernandez seems to have been caught up in it, and cut a break because he was a big deal in his country, just trying to make a buck.  Part of the Oligarch fraternity.  Or so it seems.

Then there’s the legal yet illicit trade back to Mexico.  Another special talked about the export of American weapons and ammunition, apparently legally through licensed outlets in the U.S. over the border.  Everybody knows the ultimate destination and use of these firearms, but they’re good business.

And Americans continue killing themselves and others as the outcome of the trade.