Today, I celebrate our National Birth by sending $1 to RISSE, the refugee and immigrant center based in Albany, a non-profit group staggering under the heavy loud of educating, counseling, welcoming and caring for hundreds of children and adult refugees and immigrants.
One dollar ways is it your birth too, it says you are welcome here, and we love you and will support you in any way you can. We call ourselves the Army Of Good, we have no leaders or or meetings or organization tables, we are a collection of hearts that have not yet turned to stone.
It is a small amount of money, because this is about heart and soul, not about money. Lots of people ask us for money every day, but how many ask for a dollar to reaffirm who we are as a people and who we wish to be.
Thomas Paine, one of the architects of our American experiment, wrote that when it can be said by any country in the world, “my poor are happy, neither ignorance nor distress can be found among them, my jails are empty of prisoners, my streets of beggars, the aged are not in want, the taxes are not oppressive, the rational world is my friend because I am the friend of happiness.”
Then, he said, we can boast of our democracy and our constitution.
One dollar to RISSE is a statement of hope and purpose. We will get there, we are working and fighting every day to get there. So I am sending RISSE another Happy Birthday card on the Fourth Of July. Another dollar. I do this most mornings, I know of no better way for me to start the day.
They are the spirit of America, new and old. They are us, the people we were and wish to be.
it is their birthday too. It is a birthday card to many immigrants and refugees. It is a birthday card for America.
This dollar comforts me and grounds me as we struggle for our national soul. Skip the news today, send a dollar to RISSE instead. They are beleaguered, but we can show them we are here, and we care.
You can send more than a dollar, of course, many people have. This is simple to do, and they take Paypal and credit cards.
I hope you can take a minute to wish RISSE and America a happy birthday by sending a dollar. Today, it feels especially good.
You can send a dollar to RISSE here.