All are invited to join the Immigrant Support Ministry in a book discussion of "Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen" by Jose Antonio Vargas. This is his own personal story of his immigration here from the Philippines when he was 12 years old. This book shares his story of how he learned English and became acculturated to America, and the countless hardships and joys along the way. Through reading this, our goal is to learn more about ourselves and our country, and truly think about what makes us "American."
While we encourage you to read the book (available at bookstores and libraries) and to join us for our discussion, we believe the discussion will be interesting and valuable even if you haven’t had a chance to read all of the book, or even start it. Read the blurb below, and join us in this important discussion.
"This is not a book about the politics of immigration. This book–at its core–is not about immigration at all. This book is about homelessness, not in a traditional sense, but in the unsettled, unmoored psychological state that undocumented immigrants like myself find ourselves in. This book is about lying and being forced to lie to get by; about passing as an American and as a contributing citizen; about families, keeping them together, and having to make new ones when you can’t. This book is about constantly hiding from the government and, in the process, hiding from ourselves. This book is about what it means to not have a home. After 25 years of living illegally in a country that does not consider me one of its own, this book is the closest thing I have to freedom.”
—Excerpt from Jose Antonio Vargas, from his book Dear America
Refreshments will be served, please register below.