Mr. Trump, Meet a Hero Whom You Maligned
Obviously, we need to stand up to racist xenophobia even when it emanates from the White House — particularly when it emanates from the White House — and in addition, if Americans are looking for a constructive way to respond, here’s a suggestion: Donate to an immigrant rights organization like the National Immigration Law Center, or to an aid group
that works with people whom our president just insulted.
That is true not only of Norwegians but also of penniless refugees from impoverished, war-torn countries, such as my father — a
Polish-Armenian fleeing Eastern Europe, whose first purchase in the U. S. was a Sunday New York Times to teach himself English.
Trump once showed a willingness to be big-hearted to immigrants who break the rules: He married Melania, a Slovenian who came to the U. S. on a visitor visa
and then earned money as a model before she was authorized to work, according to an investigation by The Associated Press.
A few days ago, the Army posthumously awarded Mensah the Soldier’s Medal, its highest award
for heroism outside of combat, and New York State awarded him its Medal for Valor.
President Trump himself repeated this lie in his 1987 book, “The Art of the Deal.”
Yet Trump hypocritically joined the modern Know-Nothings by reportedly railing
against immigrants from “shithole countries” like Haiti and those in Africa.
