By Dave Gauger
Notice to all razor clam diggers on the Twin Harbors: Now that Little Donald is King, all those succulent razor clams are the property of Gillette, the corporation famous for close shaves. Naaah, that’s just another of those infamous “alternative facts.” But, it’s no harder to digest than all the lies regularly oozing out of the White House.
Years ago we were treated to Trump’s “birther” lie. In recent weeks we’ve been served inflated numbers about Little Donald’s inauguration crowd. And then to protect his over active ego Donald touts claims of voter fraud to explain his opponent’s popular vote margin “victory” of 2.9 million. Further, he claims a huuuuge fraud was perpetrated by illegal immigrant voters, you know those horrible “others” who are fake Americans. Note that his own daughter, her husband and close adviser Steve Bannon are registered to vote in two states. That’s an honest error since it involves true Americans.
Yes, the narcissistic buffoon is worthy of many laughs, but the humor quickly evaporates when the racial and religious bigot last week issued an executive order suspending all visas to Muslim refugees and travelers from seven countries — Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Yemen, Somalia — stranding hundreds already vetted and in transit. But as a magnanimous gesture of love, Donald is making some exceptions for Christians. It’s sad when our leader so easily implies that we’re a “chosen” people, a “chosen” nation. Think about that a moment: A “chosen” people is to say all “those others” are unchosen. I refuse to worship Donald’s petty little manmade god who fails to recognize that all of humanity is “chosen.”
Yes, I’m angry big time! Racism and its handmaiden religious bigotry curdle my blood. We all have a right to expect more from the White House. My family is mixed race. Two of my four children are naturalized citizens, as are two of my granddaughters. Our foster daughter, too, is a naturalized citizen. All are precious gifts from foreign countries and cultures.
Over a period of several years my wife and I have sponsored and brought to our two villages in North Pacific County more than three dozen refugees from Laos. In fact, there was a time a few years ago when as a percent of population there were only four communities in the entire United States with more Laotian refugees than Raymond and South Bend. More than half the refugees we sponsored were children, and heaven forbid, few were Christians. Ooooh that is soooo unacceptable in Little Donald’s new and “great” America.
It was not unusual for the process for one family to take two or more years to clear the U.S. immigration bureaucracy, formerly called Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). Far too often we found INS staffers were bullies, enjoying wielding their power over newly arrived people who were insecure and even frightened.
One of the children we sponsored had spent the first five years of her life in a refugee camp. This precious 5-year-old was immediately enrolled in the South Bend School District where she thrived. When a teenager she wanted to become a U.S. citizen, so she and I meticulously reviewed all her papers, completed all the requirements before she headed for the INS Seattle office with her file. Half way through the day she called crying. She had waited in line nearly two hours only to be told by the INS agent that he wanted another picture. Our gal showed him the INS prepared checklist confirming she had with her the required number of photos. The arrogant INS agent firmly explained that he was in charge of the rules that day and therefore she’d have to come back another day with one more photo. Since she was in Seattle she and I figured out a place where she could quickly get another picture. This she did and later that day returned to the INS office — getting in line for another long wait.
Once when re-entering the U.S. from a business trip to Canada I was in line immediately behind an Asian lady with an infant. The Canadian immigration person was highly respectful. But two feet farther was the U.S. immigration guy. He treated the lady horribly, quickly reducing her to tears. So when I stepped up he asked why I was writing his badge number on a note pad. I told him I was going to send a letter to his boss and beyond, chronicling his ugly bullying. He could not pass me through fast enough.
Once while helping one of my refugee friends in Tacoma we encountered two INS employees who were super sensitive, courteous and respectful. They both spoke broken English. They’d been on the other side of the table and were big enough to embrace empathy. Their egos did not require them to bully. In my considerable experience with INS these two gentlemen were unique.
I’m proud of Raymond and South Bend residents. With few exceptions old timers in our two villages treat their refugee neighbors as highly prized blessings. Our Laotian citizens have enriched all of North Pacific County! I’m particularly proud of South Bend Police Chief Dave Eastham and Raymond’s Chief Chuck Spoor. They have worked tirelessly with the refugees, helping them understand and adjust to our laws, from rules of the road to crabbing and clam digging, and more. Both men have been role models of respect and sensitivity.
The Eastham and Spoor examples are in sharp contrast to our newly installed president who is intoxicated with power used thus far primarily to feed his insatiable appetite for attention and adoration. But like Hans Christian Anderson’s little boy watching the parade of dignitaries, we too must embarrassingly shout, “Look mom and dad, the emperor is not wearing any cloths.” Only then can we reign in Little Donald’s authoritarianism that smacks frighteningly of fascism.
Dave Gauger lives in Raymond and owns Gauger Media Service, a company that helps broker the sale of newspapers. He formerly owned the Raymond Herald and other newspapers, and radio stations.
