Page 12
Untitled
by J.R.T.
Being bom at 40
Is quite the condition
The babbles been processed
And come to fruition
My pain? I swallowed
The poison that followed
The darkness complete
My heart was hallowed
When my gauge was read
And finally said
“E”
E is for everything’s empty
And also for ending
The eventuality product
Was to stop my pretending
While waiting while wanting
A sign from the sky
It felt like an eon
Went crawling on by
A lightning strike!
An angel to fall
Or anything showing a cause
For it all
A key, a code? An order too tall?
That question still echoes
Commentary
Street Roots • July 8-14, 2016
Deadlock decision puts millions of lives on hold
BY CYNTHIA ADAMS, NICHOLE
MAHER AND DOUG STAMM
C O N T R IB U T IN G C O L U M N IS T S
A
s philanthropic organizations, we work hard
every day to support thriving Oregon
JL ^communities: We seed small businesses and job
opportunities. We partner with communities to provide
kids and families with quality, affordable care and
education.
We create safe welcoming spaces for people of all
cultural and religious backgrounds. We invest in
affordable housing, clean rivers and healthy
neighborhoods for all Oregonians.
And most importantly, we support diversity, because
inclusive communities are strong communities. Our
immigrant ancestors and our immigrant neighbors
enrich our understanding of the world, our
communities and ourselves. Oregon and the U.S. are
stronger with all of us.
Last week’s 4-4 tie decision by the Supreme Court
of the United States in Texas v. United States leaves in
place a lower court decision halting the implementation
of expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
(DACA) and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans
(DAPA). It puts the lives of millions of immigrants and
their families on hold. This deadlock prevents an
estimated 5 million immigrants from gaining work
authorization and protection from deportation. It also
prolongs the worries and fears of their 6.4 million
family members, not to mention their friends and
neighbors. Our friends and neighbors.
The original Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
(DACA) program has benefitted nearly 730,000
individuals and their families, allowing young adults to
stay in their home - this country - while working and
going to school. In the face of last week’s decision, we
are more committed than ever to supporting the
strength and resiliency of immigrant families and
communities.
By welcoming immigrants, we foster thriving
communities that benefit us all. We welcome families
that have endured incredible hardships to leave bad
situations to provide a better future for their kids. We
welcome more entrepreneurs and more customers for
local businesses. We welcome children who will grow
up to be doctors and teachers, business owners and
artists. We welcome neighbors, coworkers and friends
who share our deepest dreams — the freedom to speak
and pray, and the opportunity to raise healthy, happy
families.
DACA and DAPA are a critical step in providing
immediate stability to our neighbors, but they don’t fix
our broken immigration system. We invite both our
colleagues in philanthropy and decision-makers at every
level to join us in support of thoughtful, national,
comprehensive immigration reform. Only by addressing
both these immediate needs and long-term challenges
can we ensure the health and prosperity of a diverse
and thriving Oregon.
Cynthia Addams is executive vice president o f The
Collins Foundation. Nichole Maher is president and
CEO of Northwest Health Foundation. Doug Stamm is
CEO of Meyer Memorial Trust.