I Am Thankful for My Roots

 

 My father and mother and all my aunts and uncles were born in Eastern Europe and emigrated to the United States. I knew some first-generation children who were embarrassed when their parents continued to speak in Yiddish, their native language and then English with an accent. I was not a part of that group. That my parents and other relatives were able to leave their homes and family members and emigrate to the United States, caused me to have the greatest respect for them. I firmly approve of immigration which I believe is an important and successful advantage to the country in which the immigrants settle. It upsets me when I read in the daily papers the rejection of immigrants, not just in the United States, but also in many other worldwide countries causing many deaths not just to adults but to children as well. Referring to the United States, there is no doubt it was built into what it became by the labor of immigrant settlers. The claim immigrants take jobs away from native born, is nonsense. Equal nonsense is a claim they cause much criminal activity. Native born are far more engaged in criminal matters than immigrants. Settlers often take a job that others do not wish to. In addition to accepting immigrants, we should make every effort to assist the country they are leaving so as to make it livable. In short, my roots are firmly in those those who emigrated to this country.

     Most immigrants entering the United States, did so through Ellis Island which is located in the New York harbor. I visited Ellis Island which is known as Ellis Island National Park and was so impressed, I wrote the following letter to the Superintendent.

Dear Superintendent:

     Each of my parents emigrated to this country from Galicia, Poland and settled in New York.

They Married and raised five children of whom I am the youngest. I recently visited Ellis Island

for the first time and want to commend you for the fine restoration and interesting exhibits. 

     As I walked through the buildings, I as I am sure most people, hoped to find tangible evidence of our parent's brief contact with Ellis Island. Of course, I did not but I would like to share with you a personal note. As I sat for a few moments on a bench in the Great Hall on the second floor looking through a large window facing downtown Manhattan, I was overcome by the thought my father or my mother may well have sat in that very same spot 75 years ago,

frightened, penniless teenagers, looking through that very same window at the “Golden land”.

They did not find gold in the streets, but they did find a measure of peace and freedom and an opportunity to raise a family free from pogroms and forced lifetime military service. Had they remained in Poland, they would have met the same Holocaust fate as did many of their relatives.

     Belated and on behalf of my father and mother both now deceased, I say, “Thank you America.”

Ben Habe