I'm remembering him as my first and
quite personal experience of a refugee fleeing his own country in a time of
war. Russia invaded Estonia in 1940 and the country became a pawn of the Soviet
Union. Mr. Napp and his family fled.
We live in a time when some 30
million people have fled their homes because of persecution and violence. They
fear for their lives should they return. The United Nations Refugee Agency
terms it the greatest refugee crisis on record.
At the same time, the United States,
historically a welcoming country for those tired and poor streaming toward our
shores, has turned it's back and closed the doors. In the early 1980's, we took
in more than 200,000 refugees a year. In later years we averaged some 67,000 a
year. The present administration capped the number at 30,000 refugees in 2019
and has cut that back to 18,000 for 2020.
We have the infrastructure, perhaps
the best on the planet, for incorporating refugees into our midst. Most of this
is provided by private faith based agencies in partnership with the federal
government. These include Church World Service, Episcopal Migration Ministries,
World Relief, and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service. The latter is the
agency at work in South Dakota to settle and support those residing in our
area. In 2018, LSS in Sioux Falls settled 400 refugees. This year the numbers
are down to 103. As this administration continues to close the door, the faith
based infrastructure weakens and the light of the lady in the New York harbor
goes dark. If the administration doesn't want refugees coming to this country,
they should at least get out of the way of private faith based agencies who
welcome them. How do we practice our faith of loving the neighbor and welcoming
the stranger when we are blocked by the government from serving them? Perhaps
the government should be sued for denying us our religious rights and our
religious freedom to practice the gospel?
I first met Joe at a conference in
Cambridge sponsored by the Einstein Institute. Founded by Gene Sharp, foremost
scholar of alternatives to war in the U.S., the Institute brought together a
diverse group of people, from Generals in the military to activists from
Tiananmen Square. During one break, Joe and I found each other, perhaps because
we were the only ones wearing jeans among the participants.
Joe was born in Germany. His father
worked there for an American corporation. Fortunately for them as a Jewish
family, that corporate relationship enabled them to leave the country on the
last train before the Nazis began the final solution. They came to this country
as refugees. Perhaps because of that history, Joe went on to teach Peace
Studies at a leading University. He was also one of the most generous persons
I've ever known. Contrary to the usual wisdom, those who have experienced
violence are often the most knowledgeable and committed advocates for its
alternative. And they demonstrate that alternative in their lives.
This is the season when many will
hear the story of a family fleeing to another country, because of their fear
for the life of their child. A King, informed of a threat to his power and
position by a new born infant, goes on a rampage of killing the innocent
children of the land. It's known in the Christian faith as the Massacre of the
Innocents. Mary, Joseph and Jesus became refugees and fled to Egypt. Jesus is
saved.
As the story suggests, even
welcoming one refugee can make a difference. Even better would be if we took
His life and teachings seriously, and lived in a way that massacres of the
innocent ceased.
Carl Kline
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