In our series, Breaking Bread, we get people of different political stripes together to eat a meal and share their views. The group often finds common ground but at our most recent gathering, one subject, immigration, highlighted a political fracture in American society.
It started when we asked the two Trump supporters if they personally would chant “Send Her Back” at a rally, as part of the president's attacks on Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts.
Both said no, but Annette Gonzalez, who lives in Pueblo county, said refugees like Omar ought to be more grateful for American generosity.
“We rescued you...and you came to America, and you went to college and you got your degree and look where you sit -- in Congress," Gonzalez said. "And you’re sounding a lot like an ungrateful brat.”
Mehdi Khan, a Democrat from Aurora, questioned why Omar should be grateful.
“It was her and her family’s efforts that led to that," Khan said. "There’s always this belief that minority communities should be thankful for their opportunities or where they sit."
Khan went on to say, "There’s no respect given to the history of those areas where they come from, the legacy of colonialism, and…for the hard work of those individuals to become Congress people.”
