Comparing Immigrants of Today to Those of 95 Years Ago

I just watched Trump's spectacle of using the tragic deaths of family members from undocumented immigrants for his own political purposes. The deaths of the family members of each of those people standing on that stage are heart wrenching. But I don't get the point? Is the point they are making that no immigrants should be allowed in the country? Is the point that because of these tragedies, it's OK for the United States Government to be cruel to people of the same ethnic background, even though they had nothing what-so-ever to do with the tragedies they are describing?

95 years ago, my ancestors were immigrants in America. They came from Italy. You want to talk about gang violence? Have you ever heard of the Mafia? Al Capone, Lucky Luciano and other killers formed the "Mob". La Costa Nostra caused many American citizens personal tragedy. They committed crime, murder, bombings, especially during Prohibition in the 1920's.

Did their crimes mean that every Italian was a killer? Did Al Capone being here mean that my Grandfather, a law abiding, hard working family man, should have not been allowed into this country? A reminder about the "right way" to be an immigrant. My Grandfather came here when there were no immigration laws, so he just came. In the mid-1920's the Congress passed immigration laws and "quotas" from "undesirable" countries (shitholes), and Italy lead the list.

There is no question that crimes are committed in America and some are horrific. Those individuals should be brought to justice and prosecuted, just like Al Capone was. But my innocent Grandfather should not be painted with the same brush as "scar face."

As a note, my Grandfather had 5 sons, and 3 were old enough for battle in World War Two. They each joined the service. My late Uncle Jimmy won the silver star and a purple heart fighting for this country against Fascism in Europe. My Uncle Demetri fought with the Navy in the Pacific for 3 years against the Japanese Empire. He came home after suffering from Malaria.

What Trump is doing is what all dictators and demagogues do. They find the worst people in a group, a small minority, and paint everyone in that group with the same brush.

Boy, he sickens me.