Immigrants

Friends Dan and Madeline recently crossed over South Pass. Here is part of what they wrote in their blog:

"Large numbers of Americans emigrated west in the 1800’s on the Oregon, Mormon and California trails. In fact, the Western states were all settled by immigrants, many of them traveling under extremely dangerous circumstances. Many died. South Pass and Fort Bridger are now nearly deserted, but were once the site of many people passing to new homes.
We need to remember we are a nation of immigrants, who have largely displaced the Native Americans, the original inhabitants. This should give us pause when we see people who in very dangerous circumstance come to our country seeking an opportunity for a better life, much as were those who passed through South Pass and Fort Bridger, less than a hundred years ago."

This is a terribly important observation! The people coming across our south border today are coming for quite different reasons from those described by Dan and Madeline. However, we should remember that indeed we are all immigrants in this world. Somehow, we have to begin to think of creative ways we can deal with those coming across our southern border, in ways that will help them and help us as well.