I was at the recent meeting of the Cook County Commissioners on Tuesday, January 14. Resettlement of Refugees was one of the first things on their agenda, and most of us in attendance spoke regarding that issue. I spoke against it for many reasons: we have a shortage of affordable housing in our county for people already living in our county, or who would like to live here for a myriad of reasons; we have a county budget of $10,000,000 (all paid by taxpayers) $2,000,000 of which is for Health and Human Services. Can we afford to pay for refugees to settle here when we cannot even take care of our own?
Cook County is an expensive place to live, and we have heard from concerned, over-burdened taxpayers at county board meetings who are working two and three jobs just to live here. The median perperson wage in our county is $500-$600 per week. The median house price in our county is $247,000. No median-wage earner can afford that house; not even two married, median-wage earners could.
I am a descendant of immigrants, as probably most of you are. I am surely not against legal immigration. When my forefathers immigrated to America, “the Land of the free, and the Home of the brave,” they came for a better life, with very little in their pockets. They came to find work, to raise a family, to assimilate culturally, legally and socially, and to begin a new way of life. They did not come expecting to be supported by the government, which is “we the people.” No taxpayer dollars would be used to provide them housing, food, education or health care. They would be working hard to supply their needs. And they were eager to learn English, and certainly that English was the language their children would be learning and speaking at home. I am the third generation, and I regret that I know very little of the language of the “old country” as my Grandma Larson called it, because Daddy did not speak it at all in our home as I grew up, and Grandma did not try to teach my siblings and me, either.
One of those who spoke in favor of resettlement of refugees in our county identified himself as the DFL chair for Cook County, though he said he was speaking for himself. Then I read in Letters to the Editor last week the position of the Cook County DFL regarding refugee resettlement, and their party’s position on many issues. A glaring omission in their platform was THE RIGHT TO LIFE.
Many democrats speak eloquently of open hearts, the American way, and how can we turn our backs on someone wanting a better life? What about the over 60,000,000 unborn, helpless American babies who have been killed in the womb since the legalization of abortion on January 23, 1973? Where is the caring heart for them? Tiny, innocent, unborn babies, formed by the hand of Almighty GOD, as each of you were, for whom GOD had a very special plan, as He does for each of you. Sacrificed on the altar of someone’s greed, selfishness, convenience, career, you name it! Those babies were not part of their mother’s body. All they needed from her was oxygen and food. They could have had a different sex, blood type, hair color, talents, interests, and certainly had a different DNA. And, they are no more.
May GOD have mercy on us! And He has. “For GOD so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever (put your name there) believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” GOD loves sinners, you and me, and He provided a way that our sins could be forgiven. Jesus paid our price, and His blood, alone, can wash away the stain of our sin. Only repent, ask Jesus to take over, and find the true purpose GOD has for your life.
Look into your heart. Are you supporting the killing of innocent, unborn babies?
Rae M. Piepho, Lutsen
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