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Springfield? You here? (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 2 months ago by CaptDust@sh.itjust.works to c/ohio@midwest.social

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How are your pets? Is everything okay?

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[–] CaptDust@sh.itjust.works 20 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (3 children)

Going to use this meme post to say I've done some research, and I can empathize with the Springfield community. They have taken in 15-20,000 Haitian immigrants for temporary stay, in a community of 60,000.

This does seem like a real issue that can reshape communities and strain local services. I do believe they need support. It's a bit of a shame it's been presented in such a ridiculous way.

https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/thousands-of-haitian-immigrants-now-in-springfield-5-takeaways-from-our-reporting/QQFDZR6JAVCBNC6TGZGAEKE2JU/

Edit to highlight -

Springfield police, Springfield city and Clark County officials said that rumors of pets or wildlife being eaten by Haitian immigrants had zero verified reports of specific claims

[–] tiredofsametab@fedia.io 12 points 2 months ago

I have some family there. The last they mentioned it, the biggest issue that wasn't strain on services or "scary non-white people" (paraphrased, but basically that) was unlicensed and uninsured drivers in accidents. That was a little over a year ago, though.

[–] Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world 7 points 2 months ago (2 children)

I say we should take them in. Show them hospitality. Show them gratitude for being with us. Make them feel welcome as new residents, and new citizens.

Welcome them in with open arms in their time of need, and we can in time tarraform this country from being built on foundations of segragation and racism, into a better tomorrow built on acceptance, and unity.

Let us shape this countries culture to include everyone. From all countries. Let us shape this countries future to be a melting pot of all people. Let us break the cycle of fearmongering the unknown. Let's come together as a planet to collectively love the same land and environment.

Because if we don't, we become an example to the world. An example of hate, and division, which only furthers the image of ourselves we have set forth since the days after the revolutionary war. We have shown ourselfs in the past to be a racist country. We have shown ourselfs to be an easily divided people. We have shown ourselfs to be a country of hate, which advances our national agenda through war and genocide.

Now....let's show ourselfs that we can move past all that, and change.

Because what I'm sensing is that DeWine is sending law officials there to terrorize, and arrest anyone who "ain't from around here".

Well they ARE from around here, now. Ohio is now their home. They are now our new neighbors. So let's stop referring to them as "them", and start referring to them as "us".

[–] captainlezbian@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Are we the nation of immigrants or the nation of those who hate them? I choose to welcome our immigrants as my ancestors wished they’d been welcomed. Let’s help them learn to be Americans as they show us some cool shit to add to being an American

[–] Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world 0 points 2 months ago

Let’s help them learn to be Americans as they show us some cool shit to add to being an American

This is what should be the mentality of what it takes to be an american patriot. One who loves the land, but also loves what others bring to their land. An ever changing culture that grows and progresses as each new person adds to the melting pot that is this country.

[–] theonlyk@linux.community 2 points 2 months ago

Well said, I support every bit of this coming from the southwest corner of Ohio. We should be embracing this as I can see this as strengthening our local economy.

A country built on immigration needs to continue to embrace immigration. Tired of all this divide, hatred and back-assward non-sense.

Next up, let's fix our education system or none of this will matter in a decade. Shameful we choose to heavily focus on anti-race, anti individualism and other demoralizing, distracting issues. As having kids in the public school system we are screwed if changes are not made there.

[–] stinerman@midwest.social 6 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

Yeah any influx of that many people in a short amount of time is going to strain the services of any smaller city, regardless if they're Haitian or Canadian. That would even be a problem in any of the large cities of Ohio.

[–] CaptDust@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 months ago

I'm equally surprised it's not more distributed.

[–] TheD00d@lemmy.world 7 points 2 months ago

My wife is from Springfield. Granted she hasn't lived there in a few years (we are in Cincinnati). But she has friends that she talks with regularly and we visit Springfield about once a month.

The whole Haitian thing is kind of getting blown out of proportion according to her and her friends. Sure there has been a large influx of Haitian immigrants coming into Springfield. Yes there was a specific incident with a Haitian man who did not have a legal drivers license hitting a bus and killing some kids. Which according to most of her friends, is what they are most concerned about. However the whole pet, cat killing and eating thing so far, appears to be actual fake news. My wife said some of the Springfield officials (police and council folks) have all come out and stated the claims are baseless with no evidence supporting it.

Now that being said, the number of Haitians imported into Springfield is pretty big. Its not a huge town. Like maybe 50K people. I cannot find the article anymore but I think I read that it was close to 10K refugees are being held in Springfield. Which I'm no math wiz but I know a post-industrial midwest town is probably going to struggle supporting that large of an influx of people that quickly. Its anecdotal but I work in healthcare and have worked with a smaller clinic (Rocking Horse) in Springfield and I have heard they are/were struggling to keep up with the amount of immigrants using their services. But most of that seems to come from them just not knowing how our healthcare process works. Cool side note, they hired a Creole-Haitian speaking translator to help. The other big hospital a Bon-Secours Mercy location according to my one Trumper "friend" has been over run and people should not go there - but I'm chalking that up to just being folks going to the ER since they don't know where else to go.

Whenever we visit - it feels and looks normal. I swear the media would have you think a bomb went off and crazy gangs of Haitians are running around terrorizing people. I can assure you that is not the case. Go and visit. Have a pint or two at Mother Stuarts then walk over to have something to eat at Charlos.

[–] StevenSaus@midwest.social 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Just saw that DeWine is sending $ and National Guard to help out: https://apnews.com/article/springfield-ohio-haitian-influx-governor-dewine-f5a552d7ebc6e246882dca96a39a3aaa

(In Dayton, so sorta close?)

[–] captainlezbian@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago

Oh that won’t go well.