This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
My husband and I just returned from having a tasty, traditional Irish dinner in honor of St. Paddy's day. (St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, was a Romano-Christian missionary, not native to Ireland.) Our authentic meal was prepared by Hispanic cooks, who could be heard calling kitchen orders back and forth in Spanish, and served by a Russian waitress. The family restaurant, which was filled with all manner of Americans there to eat Irish food, is owned by a gracious man who is proud of both his native Greece and his adopted country, the United States of America.
This, Donald Trump, is what America has always been about: Welcoming immigrants who bring their traditions, cultures and foods to add to our amazing American stew. I prefer the word stew to melting pot because, like a good stew, each ingredient or culture adds its unique flavor to the pot without overwhelming or being overwhelmed by the others.
Our lunch was made possible because Americans of several nationalities, religions and cultures worked together for the enjoyment and benefit of all. Through fear and hatred, Donald Trump, please do not destroy this great America I love.
Julene E. Fisher
West Valley City