December 5, 2025 - Good Morning! It’s Friday, December 5.
Have you heard of the “Einstein Visa?” It’s intended for foreign nationals who have “extraordinary abilities” in business, science, the arts, sports, education, etc. It provides these extraordinary people with permanent residence status in America. It’s named after the truly extraordinary Albert Einstein.
On December 5, 1932, Einstein was granted a U.S. visa. He had fled Nazi Germany and was looking for a better place to live, a place where he could work, where he could provide for his family, a place of safety. In 1940 he became a U.S. citizen and called America home until his death in 1955.
Some of my ancestors were truly native to America, they were Indians. But most of my forefathers came, as Einstein did, from Europe, they were immigrants. America has struggled with the issue of immigration throughout its history, and that struggle continues today. I have had the blessing of knowing many immigrants through my work as an ESL teacher (English As a Second Language). I’ve had students from Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, South America, and Mexico. And, overwhelmingly , they have been hard working people of good character, people of family, people of faith - extraordinary people.
The issue of immigration is a complicated one. An issue upon which I am definitely not an expert. An issue with many sides, many situations, many points of view. I leave you with one point of view this morning - from the Book of Exodus. “Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord, your God.”
Meet you back here on Monday, when we’ll begin a series looking at the culture, the carols, the scriptures of Christmas.
David
cindertex50@yahoo.com
