I am walking down east 10th street in New York city. It is 1959. The snow is already gray from the exhausts of so many cars.
I am walking down east 10th street in New York city. It is 1959. The snow is already gray from the exhausts of so many cars. I don’t care. I am on a mission. My grandmother’s orders.
“Look for Uncle Morris,” she wails. “I beg him to come to Hartford to live with us. Over and over I beg him. But he never answers. Maybe he’ll listen to you.”
I scan the addresses on the doors of the dilapidated rooming houses one by one. And just as I am about to approach number 249, a man bent and broken shuffles toward me. I know it’s him because my grandmother has a picture stuck in the mirror of her bureau. The shock of white hair, the ruddy cheeks and those shoulders that slump under the weight of heavy memories are unmistakably my Gramma’s baby brother.
She told me he turned prematurely white when they shot his wife and baby daughter in front of him. She said they kept him alive because he could copy handwriting. So forging papers became his job while he was a prisoner at Dachau, the second concentration camp that was liberated at the end of the war.
This is what I keep thinking while the Republican governors today are calling for closed borders, feeding into the fear by talking about the danger of Syrian refugees, the threat of Muslims period. Uncle Morris is what I keep thinking.
It’s bad enough that they won’t acknowledge that the 2003 Iraq invasion ripped apart the Iraqi state and allowed for the extremism we are experiencing today. How can they not see that the Syrians are running away from terrorists; that they are the victims?
My friend Julius is wary. He says, but you don’t know if there’s a terrorist hiding among the thousands who are coming in.
I say, for God’s sakes, it takes 18 months for these people to be vetted. Do you really think the one suicide bomber is going to get on a over-crowded boat, risk life and limb, pay a smuggler $1,000 so he can wait for almost two years, practically starving, in a freezing, overcrowded tent so he can slip into Chilmark and fulfill his death wish? And don’t you think the way to keep radicalization from happening is to give to these lost souls? Shelter, food, kindness, open arms? Wouldn’t that melt their intention to destroy?
Julius shakes his head at me and says you’re naïve. You’re a pathological optimist. You’re in denial.
I say, I wouldn’t even be here if someone hadn’t convinced Roosevelt and the rest of the ones who said, no Jews, don’t let them in. So how else can I thank whomever it was who made the decision to act not out of fear but from a place of compassion? How else to express my gratitude? What a great way for me as a Jewish-being to heal these ancient tribal hatreds by opening rather than closing my heart. Come on Julius, I say, this is kindergarten logic.
He says, yeah kindergarten innocent. You have to be smarter than that Nancy, he says.
I don’t want to be smart, I say. I want to be kind.
He is almost yelling now. You can’t trust everyone.
Why not I say. Why not?
Nancy Slonim Aronie is the author of Writing from the Heart (Hyperion) and the founder of the Chilmark Writing Workshop on Martha’s Vineyard.
Comments
Beautiful!
A R VHBeautiful!
Written from the heart!!! As
Naina Williams MarylandWritten from the heart!!! As the child of an immigrant, I wholeheartedly agree with the author's wonderful sentiments.
You've said so well, what has
Peter South Kingstown, RIYou've said so well, what has not yet been heard very well.
Thank-you.
Wonderful. Keep up the
Arnie Reisman Vineyard HavenWonderful. Keep up the kindergarten logic. We should all feel this way. On the way back to one of those moments of peace.
Good for you! The U.S. Has a
Nicky McG ScotlandGood for you! The U.S. Has a proud history of welcoming refugees and immigrants in need of a safe haven and the opportunity to prosper and contribute to their adopted home. Where did all your forebears come from, Julius?
Well said.
Randi Baird WTWell said.
Come from a place of compassion and hopefully it will be contagious to who you touch or tell.
So beautiful as always :)
Polly Simpkins Vineyard HavenSo beautiful as always :)
But what happened with uncle
Patricia TucsonBut what happened with uncle Morris?
I have the same question.
Linda Kester NY Open Center October 15I have the same question. What happened? Did he look at you & know you were related? Did he listen? Keep going!!!
he never came home to my
nancy aronie chilmark mahe never came home to my grandmother. he was walking barefoot in the snow which i forgot to put in the piece. he was shot ...basically gone. spirit dead. and died in a room with a hotplate and no family. we tried repeatedly . thanks for asking
Dear Precious, Naive, Jewish
Martha Magee Here, Now,Dear Precious, Naive, Jewish Being,
There are three rules in life.
The first, is to be kind.
The second, is to be kind.
And the third, is to be kind.
I love you.
This story goes deep. It touches me deep deep deep.
Next time you're on 10th Street, thinking about Uncle Morris, go to The Russian Baths and take a schvitz.
XXXOOO
Such a personal story that
Peter VermontSuch a personal story that gives this loving perspective its power. Is it not strange that the war drummers are not considered naive and unrealistic when we keep trying to bomb our way to peace and it just gets worse?
beaiutiuflly said
naqncy aronie chilmark mabeaiutiuflly said
Well said, written from the
Charlotte Jacksonville, FLWell said, written from the heart, a kind, caring one, as always. My God said we should love and care for one another. And, I add my own, we should respect other's beliefs that are based in love.l
The tragedy that just happened in California, did not come from a terrorist that "snuck in" with immigrants. We need to look at why, what causes a person, a US citizen, to become radicalized. It isn't Muslims, or any one religion, that this is happening with.
As sad as it is, we have people killing one another every day in our own backyard, all Americans, and many are young people. When I see a young man or woman in the news for killing someone; I have to ask, "What went wrong in their life?"
We have to teach, act and show caring love for each other, in our families and out in the world; be good examples in our daily lives and in the words we share.
We live in frightening times, but our mission is still the same: to love one another.
you're sooo wise!!!
nancy aronie chilmark mayou're sooo wise!!!
Inspired and inspiring. We
Susan Fritz Bali, IndonesiaInspired and inspiring. We can't ever forget why and where we came from.
Moved to tears...please send
Margot New YorkMoved to tears...please send it out nationally. "Light through the darkness. Love through the ages."
Ah Nancy! Your voice echoes
Elizabeth Lynn MAAh Nancy! Your voice echoes in my heart and I breath deeply feeling what a Sacred Place you hold in the world and I am renewed and Blessed. Namaste,my friend
I'm with you, Nancy.
Peter Mulraney AustraliaI'm with you, Nancy.
Amen.
Merrill Berger SandwichAmen.
My dad's job was to place the
Janet nina dockery Vero beachMy dad's job was to place the immigrants into homes with families who would account for them and in jobs too. It was more difficult as a jew coming into this country than for others to enter.I saw the numerical tattoos as a little girl ,and heard some of the horror stories. I agree with you wholeheartedly! Go girl, go!
It is a false illusion to
Joyce MarbleheadIt is a false illusion to think we are safer by closing our borders or living in a "gated" community. These ideas appeal to our mind and tribal tendencies, which can only take us so far. Everything belongs. All are welcome. As Nicky suggests, we prosper when we welcome the stranger. Thank you Nancy and Stephen Colbert too, for encouraging us to be a more humane nation.
Thank you for continuing to
sharan Mystic CTThank you for continuing to live in your kindergarten heart. Your words remind us to find and cherish our own. Peace.
The only way people can truly
Gerry Storrow Somerville, MAThe only way people can truly learn kindness is through models like yourself. All the commandments are of no use; we must see it done. You are a mitzvah to the world. God bless you.
Exactly right Gerry!
Stacy EdgartownExactly right Gerry!
I love you both!
I so welcome your wisdom in
Susan Fieldsmith West TisburyI so welcome your wisdom in the midst of the fear-generating news. Sometimes it's hard to remember to listen to truth that's inside of us.
Your writing inspires, Nancy.
Patty Carro Dublin, OhioYour writing inspires, Nancy. Thank you.
From across the road, my dear
zee gamson chilmarkFrom across the road, my dear Nancy. You are a gift to the world and a reminder of why we humans are here. To act with compassion, kindness in our dealings with fellow beings, and clear thinking. I was a little girl when the people with the tattoos on their arms started arriving after WWII. My parents, both immigrants from the Ukraine, took some of them in. I was afraid of them but watched my parents. My mom made her borscht and talked to them in Russian, Polish and Ukrainian, my dad talked and talked to them in Yiddish. My lesson then and now: Don't be afraid and keep on talking.
Refugees have legal status so
Rule of Law BostonRefugees have legal status so please don't confuse people by comparing them to illegal immigrants who have no status except through executive order. The US will always continue to welcome refugees.
Millions of people are here illegally with no legal status. They are here to obtain the benefits our society. The negative cultural changes they bring threaten our security, financial prosperity, health and representative government. What they have brought feeds the divisions you see that assault our citizens American Dream. Especially when you can argue up to 20-30 million represent this base of illegality.
Id rather have a wall than another 9/11. The transfer of disease and extremism (criminal, terrorist) must be slowed down. Open borders and security are the issue here.
Giving extra vetting to refugees especially those of Moslum faith or any others that come into this country does not represent discrimination it represents common sense. The law of the land for devote Muslim will always be Shiria not the US Constitutional law. This is precisely why those of this faith need extra scrutiny and the rule of law should prevail.
Shall we treat the
Mr. B ChilmarkShall we treat the fundamentalist Christians the same way and give them "extra scrutiny?" After all, their law is the law of the Bible (or whatever their leader tells them that is). Recall the clerk in Kentucky just a few months ago? For her, her interpretation of the Bible beat the Constitution, hands down.
I don't have an Uncle Morris
Irene Tomkinson North Hampton, NHI don't have an Uncle Morris and I know you are right. Not naive just right. Hate begets hate. Fear begets fear. Love begets Love. What have all the wars ever created? Profit for a few. Destruction for the many. I am 70 years old, not 100, but old enough to have lived long enough to know you are right.
Love this and Miss you ,
Maureen sugar Loaf New yorkLove this and Miss you , an Open Heart , the gift of sharing , all things you taught me . god Bless you and those who raised you to be who you really are
Right on.
Juliet PhiladelphiaRight on.
While I agree with you on
William EdgWhile I agree with you on accepting more Jewish people during WWII would have been beneficial to everyone, I have to say that as a group they were willing to adapt to our lifestyle and had (even a small portion) little desire to kill us. Countless examples in our recent history demonstarates that people of Muslim faith are less willing to do so. Yes, 99% are in need and maybe that alone is good enough reason, but given Paris and California and even the instance in Canada where a teenage girl was beaten by aMuslim boy because she was provocatively dressed (from his point of view), where exactly should the line be drawn?
You made me cry, thank you.
Helen Green West TisburyYou made me cry, thank you.
How can we get this published nationally.
...being that it's December 7
Paul Florida...being that it's December 7 - and an 'anniversary' of sorts - let US not engage in 'blind trust'...but let us remain ever vigilant and aware...
Thank you, Nancy, Thank you
Kate Feiffer Oak BluffsThank you, Nancy, Thank you for this!
Lovely! What a treasure Nancy
Michele Lazerow TucsonLovely! What a treasure Nancy Aronie is - to the community of MV and the world. I miss her so. Thank you, Nancy. And thanks to the Gazette for publishing this gift.
"so he can slip into Chilmark
Realist Boston/MV"so he can slip into Chilmark and fulfill his death wish"... I think this pretty much sums it up. This is an easy view to have when you live in a place that is probably statistically one of the least likely to ever experience a terrorist attack. Nestled away up island, kindness does cure. In major cities, people are realistic and wary of attacks, I hope you appreciate being able to feel safe.
Nancy you have struck a
Richard Toole oak BluffsNancy you have struck a chord. I have never seen so many comments and all but one in agreement. Maybe there is hope we will get thru this horrible period in world history. Thank you !!
Hi Sis, beautiful piece.
Frances Curtis Barnhart Roanoke, VirginiaHi Sis, beautiful piece. Funny I knew nothing about the forging. He was a handsome man with those sapphire eyes.When I went to see him in his basement room I found him sitting at a table covered in blue and white checked oil cloth staring at a bowl of fruit looking like a Van Gogh painting. I'm with you 100% on this refugee business as you know. Just joining the record here. Love you All Ways.
Beautiful and powerful!
frank kramer CambridgeBeautiful and powerful! Thanks Nancy. I love your voice.
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