I don’t follow this rapper/artist but what he said about the George Floyd Tragedy and subsequently the riots that followed is straightforward and clear. Here’s the article from Dailywire.com.

John Dos Passos

“The Use of The Past”

The Ground We Stand On, 1941

“In times of change and danger when there is a quicksand of fear under men’s reasoning, a sense of continuity with generations gone before can stretch like a lifeline across the scary present and get us past that idiot delusion of the exceptional Now that blocks good thinking. That is why, in times like ours, when old institutions are caving in and being replaced by new institutions not necessarily in accord with most men’s preconceived hopes, political thought has to look backwards as well as forwards.”

A great majority of immigrants including myself, migrated to the United States for a better life. Better overall compared to what we left. We voted with our feet. Having said that, a study done in 2018 by the Center for Immigration Studies shows that a growing number of immigrants access welfare at a higher rate compared to non-immigrants. Figure 1 shows that ultimate citizenship doesn’t change that fact.

Knowing this, I simply ask, is that reason to be thankful? According to a Pew Research study done in June of 2019, the US takes in around 1 million immigrants per year. What do non-immigrants think about that? Is this sustainable? Is this something that should just be accepted or must it be changed? Do we change the number of accepted immigrants or do we change the rules for accessing welfare?

This Memorial Day, I suggest you read a great book written by one of the best classicists and military historians. “Ripples of Battle” by Victor Davis Hanson will open your mind to ideas that explain why we do things the way we do and how those battles shaped them.