Letter from yore offers reminder of immigrants' value today

Several decades ago, Mr. Grit Boring, an immigrant to this country, wrote a letter to the editor of the Missoulian with a grateful message to Judge Russell Smith and to the citizens of this country.

We are in such a tumultuous political time regarding immigration that it is essential to remember the importance of immigrants to the United States. We need to be kind and accepting to those who have worked so hard to be our neighbors.

Here’s Mr. Boring’s letter:

“I only met Judge Russell Smith once – in a federal courtroom in Missoula. But that day, almost six years ago, is one I shall never forget. Nor shall I ever forget Judge Smith’s words to us – 13 brand-new American citizens whom he had just sworn in.

‘You must learn the English language!’ he told us. ‘You must learn to speak, read and write English if you are to get along and succeed in this country.’

After this brief but stern instruction, he talked to us like a friend who understood the struggles each of us had to come through before taking the American oath.

‘By becoming a U.S. citizen, you have renounced your former citizenship,’ he said. ‘But you have not renounced your former country.’

Finally, he spoke to us like a father who welcomes a new child.

‘The blood of this nation is the blood of all nations. The culture of this nation is the culture of all nations.’

He told us not to give up who we were. ‘I hope you’ll bring to this world the culture you left behind,’ he said. ‘We will all be the better off for it.’

With his wisdom, compassion, generosity and open-mindedness, Judge Smith showed these new American citizens what it means to be a truly great American. His example could teach all of us something.”

– Roger Norgaard and Theodora Lambson, Polson