Dr. Martin Luther King once stated, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
Challenge and controversy have certainly touched our neighbors in Springfield, Ohio as opportunistic politicians and surrogates use the most vulnerable among us to sow division, distrust, and hatred.
In troubled times, Christians find comfort in “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” A scholar seeks solace in our shared history “that all men are created equal, that their Creator endows them with unalienable rights that among these are life liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” An immigrant may find peace at the foot of the Statue of Liberty – “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.”
It takes more than writings and inscriptions to turn our shared values into solutions.
As a teacher of history, I see students of all races, religions, and socio-economic backgrounds daily. I can say without hesitation, that the lesson is the same for all my students. “We have a collective responsibility to learn from our past mistakes.”
Our lawmakers have a collective responsibility to debate and pass in good faith comprehensive immigration reform that reflects the values laid out in our Declaration of Independence. A responsibility to focus on creating pathways that facilitate the entry and integration of skilled and essential workers that reflect our nation’s values of dignity, respect, and opportunity for all. A responsibility to streamline immigration processes, remove unnecessary barriers, and ensure that America remains a destination for talent, hard work, and dreams. Now is not the time to delay or thwart comprehensive reform for shallow political gain.
County-wide elected law enforcement has the responsibility to live up to its motto of ensuring Shelby County is “a safe environment with an emphasis on integrity, fairness, compassion, courtesy, and professionalism.”
As individuals, we have a collective responsibility to love and welcome new neighbors. To not turn a blind eye, or call upon law enforcement based on rumor and misinformation, and to never wallow in falsehoods, xenophobic ignorance, and vigilante justice.
Our democracy, based on the foundations of freedom, democracy, and justice, will only prevail if we accept our collective responsibility to welcome new stakeholders into our American dream.
This will be our ultimate measure.
Heather Davidson
Sidney
