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Letter to the Editor: Immigration
FEBRUARY 14, 2017 at 4:59 p.m.
My grandfather Albert Joseph Bialek came to the United States from Poland
{Galicia} in 1910. Per the Ellis Island website he boarded the ship Kaiser
Wilhelm der Grosse in Bremen, Germany {formerly Prussia}. He had just
completed his service in the Austrian Army. Poland at that time was divided
into three spheres of influence by Austria, Prussia and Russia.
Upon being discharged he returned to his father’s farm. Officers from the Austrian
Army made an attempt to reenlist him, but tradition dictated that he could
remain at home so long as he was sorely needed on the farm. Immediately
after the officers departed, Albert’s father gave him his brother’s travel
documents and instructed him to immigrate to the United States. His father
knew that war was coming and he didn’t want to lose his son to it.
It took me longer to locate my grandfather on the passenger list because I had
forgotten he was traveling under the name Jan and not Albert. Given the
fact that Albert entered the United States under the name Jan Bialek and
later burned his immigration papers it is evident he was by definition a “illegal
immigrant.” He went on to become a very hard-working brick mason and
law-abiding citizen raising 12 children with the help of his Polish wife
Mary {nee Mazan} and the rest {as they say} is history.
Just as Cleveland {Ohio} is a city of neighborhoods so is the United States
a country of immigrants. In fact, all the major cities of America {at one
time} served as incubators for immigrants to not only become accustomed
to the ways of this country but also to intermingle with each other {often
prohibited in their native homeland}. It's a shame that the inner cities were
handed over to the absentee landlords following World War ll.
Just imagine how much stronger and united our country might have been had this unofficial
tradition continued. Gentrification is not the answer. Preventing immigration is
not the solution. Intense vetting is acceptable during these challenging times
but to unfairly deny one person access to the United States makes us all orphans
again.
As a popular song goes: "let me in immigration man."
Joe Bialek
Cleveland, OH
Published February 14, 2017 |