Repeller of The Amorites
Repeller of The Amorites
So I was doing my usual morning Bible reading before acknowledging the work before me today. This often leads me far afield into other sources so that I can understand the historical events that resulted in the Biblical accounts of ancient times.
As I was reading, I happened upon a description of a wall built in Mesopotamia in about 2200 BC. There was a massive drought, known as the 4.2 Kiloyear drought that lasted for a couple of centuries. It affected ancient cultures around the world, upending dynasties as people saw their nation and city states ruined by famine. Entire populations shifted throughout the known world and, in the Akkadian empire in Mesopotamia, it led to an influx of migrants from the south seeking relief.
In response to the flood of migrants, apparently, the Akkadians built a wall some 112 miles long that was known as the "Repeller of the Amorites." It seems that mass immigration has always been a problem in human history. The Amorites sought relief from the drought-caused famine by heading north to Akkadia, the Akkadians responded by building the wall to control the flow of immigrants.
The much debated wall on our southern border is a response to a similar wave of humanity. However, there is no 4.2 Kiloyear drought causing it, It is simply the result of incredibly poor governments in Central and South America. Political decisions have driven folks to despair (and US meddling has not helped).
It takes a lot to cause most people to leave friends and family and head out to a new land with a different language and culture. Yet people are doing so. That tells us pretty much all we need to know about conditions back home.
I pray for those who are leaving their homes, I pray for their nations and the corrupt governments that have produced such conditions and, of course, I pray for our nation, that we will respond in the appropriate manner to this influx.
What is the appropriate manner? Well, that's tough to define. I believe that we are to provide for "the stranger and the widow," as the Bible puts it. However, an effective way to do so is to help them find a good life at home, not just a good life here.
We do far too little to address the problems in their home countries. We send money, of course, and that funds the new Mercedes purchased by their Senators, but we do little to ensure that our contributions are effective in mitigating the poor conditions of those who immigrate. We cannot simply take over these countries, but we need to do a better job of finding individuals worth supporting and helping them make a difference.
In the meantime, we do show generosity to those who land here. Even those who are deported are provided meals and accommodations here until they are sent home.
President Trump may yet build his wall, but the source of the problem remains well to the south of our border.
Thomas A. Hall
So I was doing my usual morning Bible reading before acknowledging the work before me today. This often leads me far afield into other sources so that I can understand the historical events that resulted in the Biblical accounts of ancient times.
As I was reading, I happened upon a description of a wall built in Mesopotamia in about 2200 BC. There was a massive drought, known as the 4.2 Kiloyear drought that lasted for a couple of centuries. It affected ancient cultures around the world, upending dynasties as people saw their nation and city states ruined by famine. Entire populations shifted throughout the known world and, in the Akkadian empire in Mesopotamia, it led to an influx of migrants from the south seeking relief.
In response to the flood of migrants, apparently, the Akkadians built a wall some 112 miles long that was known as the "Repeller of the Amorites." It seems that mass immigration has always been a problem in human history. The Amorites sought relief from the drought-caused famine by heading north to Akkadia, the Akkadians responded by building the wall to control the flow of immigrants.
The much debated wall on our southern border is a response to a similar wave of humanity. However, there is no 4.2 Kiloyear drought causing it, It is simply the result of incredibly poor governments in Central and South America. Political decisions have driven folks to despair (and US meddling has not helped).
It takes a lot to cause most people to leave friends and family and head out to a new land with a different language and culture. Yet people are doing so. That tells us pretty much all we need to know about conditions back home.
I pray for those who are leaving their homes, I pray for their nations and the corrupt governments that have produced such conditions and, of course, I pray for our nation, that we will respond in the appropriate manner to this influx.
What is the appropriate manner? Well, that's tough to define. I believe that we are to provide for "the stranger and the widow," as the Bible puts it. However, an effective way to do so is to help them find a good life at home, not just a good life here.
We do far too little to address the problems in their home countries. We send money, of course, and that funds the new Mercedes purchased by their Senators, but we do little to ensure that our contributions are effective in mitigating the poor conditions of those who immigrate. We cannot simply take over these countries, but we need to do a better job of finding individuals worth supporting and helping them make a difference.
In the meantime, we do show generosity to those who land here. Even those who are deported are provided meals and accommodations here until they are sent home.
President Trump may yet build his wall, but the source of the problem remains well to the south of our border.
Thomas A. Hall