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Kurland: Asylum seekers in Scottsdale should be embraced

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Brown people staying in a hotel for up to three consecutive days? What will ever become of our beloved Scottsdale? Sounds pretty ridiculous right?

 

Yet, I don’t know why I am always surprised by behavior coming from some of our residents that should be totally unsurprising but, here I am yet again, picking my jaw up off the floor.

 

One day it’s the Fraudit, the next day it’s people decrying vaccines and masks, then it’s saying our littles are going to get a case of the sads if we teach the atrocities of our past in our public schools, and now we have people up in arms because some folks walked across the desert to try to escape unimaginable terror to claim legal asylum.

 

“Bring us your tired, your poor, your huddled masses...psyche! Just kidding.”  

 

I ran for office and lost. Some might see this and say that I have some sour grapes. That’s a fair point but this is really more than that. This is about my town, my neighbors; this is about basic common decency.

 

I am disgusted that our city issued some flimsy statement that, and I’m paraphrasing here, was basically:  “Don’t look at us. We didn’t have anything to do with it.”

 

How about living up to being a Golden Rule City? Maybe something along the lines of, “Our hearts go out to these asylum seekers and we are proud that one of our local businesses was able to extend a helping hand. We wish them all a safe journey and good luck as they seek a legal remedy to their dire situation.”

 

I was out at a counterprotest trying to show these women and children some compassion. It was so disheartening to see Ma and Pa Racist waving their flags and holding up signs bemoaning illegal immigration.

 

So many people with guns. So much hate. We are so much better than this, Scottsdale!

 

Please, if you are a leader in the Legislature, say something. If you are a leader in the business community, say something. If you are a leader in the tourist industry, say something. If you are just an ordinary person like me, please say something.

 

I leave you in this summer heat with a quote from Mark Twain: “It is never wrong to do the right thing.”

 

Editor’s Note: Eric Kurland is a Scottsdale resident and was a candidate for Legislative District 23 state representative.

 

Eric Kurland,