We refuse refugees to our eternal shame

The governors of Texas, Arizona and Florida have transferred immigrants seeking refuge and salvation from their respective countries to New York, Washington D.C., and to Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts. The immigrant problem has been going on for decades across the world. The governors’ action here in America in this case is nothing more than a cruel political ploy that does not sit well for our reputation as a nation, a citadel of freedom and opportunity.

The action of those governors brings to mind the story of the German luxury liner the St. Louis (named after the city) that left Germany in 1939 with more than 900 Jews seeking sanctuary in the Western hemisphere. The boat had a swimming pool, musical entertainment and a dining room where the German boat captain, in deference to the Jews aboard ship, removed Hitler’s portrait from the dining room wall.

The boat first arrived in Cuba, but the refugees were refused entry. One passenger slit his wrists and jumped overboard. He recovered in a Cuban hospital. The St. Louis headed to Miami, and again the refugees were denied entry. President Roosevelt was aware of their desire for safety, but did nothing; he was busy negotiating Lend Lease with England. His secretary of state, Cordell Hull did not approve of accepting them, either. He was accused of being anti-Semitic, but answered how could he be accused of being anti-Semitic when his wife was Jewish?

Wealthy Jews from America offered money to help the refugees, but to no avail. The St Louis went back to Europe, and 254 of the Jews aboard ship were sent to concentration camps and were murdered. Some of the passengers survived the camps, while others hid in various European countries.

It wasn’t until 2012 that the U.S. government acknowledged our country’s indifference at that time in history, as well as the incarceration of Japanese Americans during WWII.

The good people of Washington, D.C, New York and Martha’s Vineyard will see to it that these immigrants will be fed, clothed, housed with the basic necessities of life. They will not be cast adrift like the people locked aboard the St. Louis. The governor of Florida proudly announces that sending these folks elsewhere cost $10 million and is asking his state legislature for more money as his sycophants behind him on TV news roundly clap approval.

Shame on those Floridians who approve of him. All this political nonsense from a man who is obviously angling to represent his party to be president of the United States.