Written by Justin Douglas
It was a weekly habit for me to race bikes through our Palm Springs trailer park with Julio and Skeeter when I was seven years old. However, one crash taught me the true meaning of neighborhood.
One day, my bike broke, so I stole my sister’s much smaller bike, determined to defend my title from the week before. I was comfortably negotiating the well-known turns and twists while keeping up with Julio and Skeeter when I was thrown over the handlebars by a speed bump that I could have easily managed on my own bike. Blood was all over the place where my skull struck the pavement initially.
After the crash, the specifics are hazy, but one moment is clear and memorable. I had never met the man who hurried out of his house. Without hesitation, he picked me up, held me in his arms, and brought me to the far side of the trailer park, where my mother lived. He didn’t seem to notice that I was bleeding all over him.
I learned the true meaning of neighborhood that day. I watched innumerable Mr. Rogers episodes and heard sermons on kindness at church, but this was something else entirely. I felt protected and taken care of.
Without thinking twice, he gave up something as basic as his clean clothes—stained with my blood—for his own comfort. You understand exactly what I mean if you have ever been the beneficiary of such sincere protection and care.
I became the coolest kid at school after the accident because everyone wanted to touch the staples since they thought they were the definition of toughness. However, Julio, Skeeter, and I didn’t discuss how scared we were at the wreck, how I sobbed, or how a neighbor who was watching over me had to come to my aid. The problem is that the neighbor didn’t resemble me, didn’t speak my language, and most likely wasn’t born in the same nation as me.
I’ve met a lot of people that live in dread in our Dauphin County neighborhood during the last two weeks. Their backs have become a target due to the recent surge in ICE presence nationwide. Many of these people know that everything feels in jeopardy at the moment, even whether they are here lawfully or are in the process of obtaining citizenship.
Deportations in large numbers won’t solve the complicated problem of immigration. Actually, they’re probably going to make things worse. Will those who are here legally be mistakenly detained by ICE? They’ve done it before, and the growth of their business indicates that they’ll do it again. Are families going to be split up? They have previously been. Now the question is, will they raid hospitals, schools, or places of worship?
Considering my experience as a pastor, this speaks to me personally. Having served as a pastor to undocumented immigrants, I have personally seen the positive impact they have on this country and its citizens. A risky precedent for religious freedom is set when houses of worship that are supposed to be sanctuaries are raided. A fundamental principle of several religions, including Buddhism, Sikhism, Islam, Hinduism, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, is to welcome strangers.
Our shared American values and experiences can serve as a guidance for people who might not find inspiration in religion. Stories from immigrants make up the fabric of our country, and it is this diversity that contributes to our success and resiliency. These are the tales that best capture America: many came seeking freedom and opportunity, while many fled oppression.
We all want constructive change at a time when people from all political stripes believe that America is going in the wrong direction, yet it seems like we are giving up one of our most fundamental principles in the process. America has been the neighbor that helps others get through their darkest moments.
We identify ourselves in times of fear and uncertainty by the neighbors we choose to be, not by the boundaries we draw.
The Dauphin County Commission is chaired by the Rev. Justin Douglas. January 2024 marked his inauguration.