Thread: CT: 'We can't all hate each other'

'We can't all hate each other'
Unity vigil aims to bring dignity, respect to area immigrants
By Susan Tuz
STAFF WRITER
| | |

The Rev. Linda Hansen of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Danbury speaks during Sunday�s vigil in Kennedy Park.

DANBURY -- For Angel Curillo it was important to bring his family to Sunday's unity vigil at Kennedy Park.
A native of Ecuador who has lived in Danbury for 16 years, Curillo came to pray with the clergy and others gathered at the downtown park.

"We can't hate each other," Curillo said. "We are all of different colors but we all come from one God. When God gave man the land (the earth) he didn't give him a passport or a visa. But now we do that and divide each of us from the other."

Curillo's sentiments were echoed by the seven clergy members and three lay speakers at the vigil. Some 60 people turned out for the gathering, and applause, song and prayer punctuated the afternoon.

The unity vigil was organized by Danbury resident Jean Hislop and the Rev. Gail Keeney-Mulligan of St. John's Episcopal Church with the goal of bringing respect and dignity for the immigrants in the area.

"This vigil was held in recognition that all of us hold the same dreams and aspirations," Hislop said. "We hold the same value in life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, regardless of our race, our religion or our legal status.

Hislop said the "blatant racism" seen in e-mails being circulated, reader responses to immigration articles on The News-Times Web site, and things she has heard people say to each other on the streets of Danbury had to be addressed and dispelled.

"This gathering is for the illegal immigrants in our community," said Deacon Marilyn Mitchell, of St. John's Episcopal Church, "who have tried desperately to get their green cards and been thwarted by immigration officials. Unless any of us here are American Indians, we're all immigrants."

Many of the speakers spoke of the Santos family, a family of native Brazilians who were deported Aug. 2 to Brazil from Danbury, leaving their American-born, 17-year-old daughter behind.

"I'm Brazilian with a green card for 25 years," said Rosalina Tipton, of Bethel. "I am a social worker studying to be a court interpreter and I wonder how legal some of the things are that are being done to immigrants are.

"Basicall, when ICE agents invade people's homes they are assuming the people are not well enough read in the law to understand their rights," Tipton said.

The message of the day Sunday was one of love and acceptance in common brotherhood. Lynn Mayer, of the Jewish Community Center, spoke of concrete actions that can be taken to help the immigrants of Danbury and throughout the country.

"If you want to get something done, you have to organize politically. You have to let politicians locally and in Washington, D.C., feel your opinion matters either by giving them money (for their campaigns) or letting them know you can deliver votes," Mayer told the gathering.

Mayer said we have a "history of panic" in this country. And as soon as we panic, "we turn against immigrants."

She spoke of the Russian Revolution at the beginning of the 20th century that led America to establish quotas on European immigrants coming into the country and enacted deportations of Russian natives. It was, she said, those quotas from that time that "kept Jews from escaping Hitler in 1934."

"Today, the illegal immigrant comes before us like Jesus ...asking for recognition and acceptance," said the Rev. Mike McGinnis, of St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church.

Contact Susan Tuz
at stuz@newstimes.com

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When God gave man the land (the earth) he didn't give him a passport or a visa. But now we do that and divide each of us from the other."

He didn't give us crime or extra financial burden or any of the other things that come with illegal immigration either.

Yes, we can't all hate each other. SO GO HOME!!!!

How can we miss you if you never leave!

"We can't hate each other," Curillo said. "We are all of different colors but we all come from one God.

Oh please...stop with the "different colors" crap. This isn't about race. It's about an invasion from 3rd world peasants into OUR country and the havoc and devastation that they're wreaking.

QUOTE-"We can't all hate each other,"Curillo said."We are all different colors but we all come from one God.When God gave man the land (the earth) he didn't give him a passport or a visa.But now we do that and divide each of us from the other."

Mr. Curillo and other religious leaders that support open borders and illegals "rights" need to stop twisting Gods words.This same God they are talking about broke apart the people at the tower of Babel.God also says to Obey the laws of the land. I am tired of hearing these people use religion this way,they seem to pick the parts that fit their agenda and "forget" the other parts.It is disgusting.They seem to be twisting human rights with citizens rights-they are not one in the same.



Head 'em up,move 'em out Rawhide![/quote]

It isn't a matter of hate and they know it.

It is a matter of their taking from our children and grandchildren the things that we and our ancestors fought, died and worked for.

It is understandable that those actions would not create great love.

While we can love them as God's creation, we can dislike their actions and feel they should have to correct those actions - and go home.

Its funny, ONLY the U.S has to open its borders.......

what a joke.....

Originally Posted by Ronster

Its funny, ONLY the U.S has to open its borders.......

what a joke.....

Yes, Ronster, why is it that all countries with a predominantly white citizenry are constantly told about the joys of diversity? Is the UN telling Africa, for example, that they should let millions of whites settle there? They would be outraged at the suggestion.
How about Japan or China--why don't they let millions of whites, hispanics, and blacks immigrate there so diversity can do as much for their country as it has for ours.
Plain and simple---WE ARE BEING REPLACED.