This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
For five years, I have worked with immigrants and refugees (newcomers) as a mentor and English teacher.
It has been a privilege to teach such loving, inspiring, hardworking and appreciative people from many countries — Somalia, Iraq, Bosnia, Burma, Pakistan — and religions — Muslims, Christians, Hindus — who are here in America because of circumstances none of us could imagine.
And then the Boston Marathon explosions happen and I start to hear generalizations made in the media, start to see nationalistic comments passed around Facebook and start to feel an "us and them" mentality emerging.
Please remember, the Boston tragedy is not about immigrants, Muslims, Chechens or "them." It is the fault of two deeply disturbed young men who chose to commit a horrific act.
Kelly Dick
Salt Lake City