Sounding Board -- Bill Turpit

Voices have recently called for Costa Mesa to exclude from city

services and participation those described as “non-citizens,”

“foreigners” and “people who don’t speak English.” This makes me wonder

if we really know who belongs in Costa Mesa? The stories of my Westside

Costa Mesa neighbors offer some perspectives on that question.

In the 1920s, my neighbor Ralph and his parents moved from Arizona’s

cotton fields to the Westside, where his dad had a vegetable farm on West

17th Street.

Ralph “belongs” as an old-timer.

My neighbor Rene brought his family to Costa Mesa from Acapulco,

Mexico, but Rene’s great-great-grandfather was John Sutter, one of the

most influential men in our state’s development.

Rene “belongs” as a son of California.

My neighbor Marie prefers to speak French. In World War II, she served

the French Resistance against the Nazis, married a U.S. soldier named

Jack and moved to Costa Mesa.

Marie and Jack “belong” as patriots.

My newest neighbors are an extended family who fled war-torn Bosnia,

answering that symbolic “vacancy” sign standing majestically at the

entrance to New York Harbor.

They saved enough to buy and fix up the triplex next door, so who in

America and Costa Mesa belong more than they? Many around us are recent

immigrants and the truth is we all belong in Costa Mesa.

George W. Bush said in his inaugural address: “America has never been

united by blood or birth or soil. We are bound by ideals that move us

beyond our backgrounds. And every immigrant, by embracing these ideals,

makes our country more, not less, American.”

Immigrants make our country and our city “more” because they yearn for

the freedoms and opportunities that define America. And they make us

“more” not because they are exactly like us, but because of the ways they

are different from us.

Looking at just one group, our community is made “more” by our Latino

immigrants, whose intense devotion to family and faith in God helps us

put into perspective the material distractions that complicate our lives.

Our community is made “more” by the warmth and graciousness of our

Latino neighbors, merchants and employees, reminding us what a small town

is like.

And our community is made “more” by the willingness of many Latino

immigrants to work long hours at difficult jobs, a hallmark of success

for every group of immigrant Americans. Costa Mesa has no gated fence,

operated to suit political interests.

Federal agencies are the only true gatekeepers, and Congress sets and

enforces those rules.

What our city and school leaders can do is let every resident know

they are welcome and they have a role.

Then, to be like the America George W. Bush describes -- “where

personal responsibility is valued and expected” -- our city and school

leaders can instill in each resident the knowledge and power to take

responsibility for personal and community improvement.

Finally, we can all quit blaming others and instead commit to reaching

solutions and helping our neighbors. When there is ultimately no question

that we all “belong,” we can move forward with deliberation and unity to

make Costa Mesa the best city around.

* BILL TURPIT is a Costa Mesa resident.