After lunch, Robert and I parted ways. On the way to my car, I pulled out my phone and glanced at the screen—“ICE shoots Venezuelan man in the back.” The news about ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) is relentless. I am angry and heartbroken. I remember being taught that the root word for complaint and lament is the same. Complaining is not the same thing as whining. It is a declaration that something is not right, that something is unacceptable.
I am proud of The United Methodist Church’s unwavering support of migrants, immigrants, and refugees. At UUMC, we put these words into action by financially supporting Austin Region Justice for Our Neighbors. ARJFON is a non-profit law office that welcomes refugees and immigrants into our communities by providing free, high-quality immigration legal services, education, and advocacy. Their Annual Homecoming Gala is this Sunday. Several in our congregation will be attending, and many of you give additional financial support to ARJFON (thank you!). You can learn more about ARJFON on their website.
One final story I learned about recently. Criselda Vasquez is an artist; in 2017 she painted a picture of her parents, who are both immigrants. They hold house cleaning supplies and tools of manual labor. Reimagining Grant Wood’s well-known American Gothic, the painting is titled The New American Gothic.
