Today in history
in 1882
Congress passed the Immigration Act
which banned immigration
from China
for ten years.
Two days ago in 2014
President Obama
chided House Republicans
for passing
"the most extreme
and unworkable versions
of a bill that they already know
is going nowhere"
allocating $694 million
to deal with the people
waiting in "crisis" at the nation's
Southern border
and this bill
did not pass
the Senate.
Really a "crisis"
is a moment for decision-making
and even the Democrats
originally-proposed
$2.7 billion investment
would only be the beginning
not the end
(and let it be said
that volunteer communities
in southern Texas
do a lot
to help immigrants
without the benefit
of government legislation).
Maybe when Congress
returns from recess
they (and really we)
can make a beginning
that reflects
who we are today.
This poem © 2014 Emily Cooper.
