I think I understand the whys and hows of Oak Park’s efforts on behalf of the cause of sanctuary.
And I not only understand, I agree.
What I’m not so clear about is the argument – or is it more of an assertion? – that the United States has the right and duty to defend its borders.
I read and hear this even from people who are not sure building a wall across our southern border and denying admission to people from selected countries are the right things to do.
So, it is fair to ask: Against whom are we defending our borders and from what?
Defense implies attack.
I have not read or heard of any attacks upon the United States.
At least not from the outside.
That is not to say there hasn’t been an increase in violence against American citizens and others living in this country.
But that violence has come from Americans on Americans.
Each day seems to bring terrible news of American citizens attacking, injuring, even killing people within the borders of our country.
Who are the victims?
Sometimes Muslims. Sometimes people the criminals wrongly believe are Muslims. Sometimes the victims are gay. And lately there has been a spike in anti-Semitic crimes.
This violence is not defensive. It is not directed at a foreign people threatening the borders of the United States.
But I believe there is a relationship between the call to protect our borders and the hate crimes in our country.
The one conjures up the other.
The constant harping on the danger from foreigners has unleashed some dark corners of the minds of some Americans. People who are different from them are bad. They are not part of my country.
In a recent murder of a person from India, the alleged killer reportedly shouted, “Get out of my country!”
And there lies the danger in our new preoccupation with borders and foreigners.
Too many now think of the United States as “my” country.
The United States is “our” country.
We forget that at our peril.
Paul Sassone is a freelance columnist for Pioneer Press.
