Separated
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.
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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.
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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.
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.
A U.S, Court ban on family separations at our borders will not stop Trump from fighting to reverse this ruling; hence, reinstalling his horrific immigration policies. Of the 5000 families separated by his separation policy, 1000 remain separated. Be prepared for more in the future as detention (internment?) camps are being planned in many states. I can only pray that our civil rights legal teams prevail once again. It surely is a time to worry and also to act up.