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2020 DEDICATION
2020 DEDICATION TO ANA HUNA
By Diane Lilly aka Bubby, Miry’s grandmother
To Those Who Have Come to the United States in Search of a Better Life:
Welcome! I am an American-born woman whose grandparents came to this country from Russia in 1909. They, like you, were leaving a life of fear and repression in the hopes of finding a place where they could live in peace and safety. My grandparents came here with almost nothing except the clothing on their backs and a small suitcase....no money, no education, no English....just hope and the willingness to learn how to fit into this country.
They took classes in English and worked very hard to provide for their family, just as I'm sure you do. It was not an easy life, but they knew that if they kept working and learning, it would get better. And it did!
We are living through some difficult times with the election of a new President. He has said some very terrible things about immigrants, especially Muslims. I hope you will understand that he does not speak for all Americans. I believe that most of us are very upset with the very idea that he's going to deport all the undocumented immigrants* and ban Muslims from entering the country.....and so many other ridiculous ideas that are very un-American. That's not who we are. We are a country that has been a refuge for millions of people like my grandparents, and for you and your family. We have the blessing of living in one of the most accepting places in the world, and we have to protect that from people who would turn away those who are escaping from terrible violence in their home countries. People like you are entitled to be treated with respect and to be welcomed into our communities.
I hope that you will feel somewhat comforted by my words. They reflect the true feelings of everyone I know. I encourage you to become acquainted with English, which is a difficult language; it is vital for you to be able to speak, read and write in English so that you can find your way around and be able to express your needs.
Again, welcome to the country you hope to call home.
Love, Bubby
