It is October 2026 and for this month the Spirit of ‘76 theme is Immigration. We have covered Stoicism, History, Religion, War, Tyranny, Liberty, Future, Ethics, and Justice, so now we will consider Immigration. This has been a big and controversial topic for America and the world for some years now.
Immigration is a hot topic in the USA and elsewhere. As an American, I believe immigration is a core part of our ethos and identity. Most of us are the descendents of those who came from somewhere else to make a life in a strange new world. On my father’s side I can trace my lineage to English settlers arriving in 1628 Massachusetts, and on my mother’s side my grandparents and great grandparents arrived much more recently from Sicily and Ireland. There was a time not so long ago when Italian and Irish immigrants were not welcomed in the US, and I think of this when approaching the subject of modern immigration challenges and how we should address them.
Immigration is the movement of people from one country or region to another with the intention of settling temporarily or permanently in the new place. It can be driven by many factors, such as seeking economic opportunity, escaping war or persecution, reuniting with family, or pursuing education and a different way of life. Immigration often transforms both the lives of migrants and the societies they enter: it can enrich cultures, diversify economies, and introduce new ideas and skills, while also raising challenges related to social integration, legal status, resource distribution, and national identity. As a result, immigration is not only a demographic and economic phenomenon but also a deeply political and ethical issue, provoking debates about borders, rights, responsibilities, and what it means to belong to a community or nation.
Alien Abduction is the 11th single from the Spirit of ‘76 album. This alternative rock song from Realizing Resonance follows a sympathetic alien as he is abducted and flown far away. As he sits in solitude in a dark cell he ponders his fate. He cries out in vain that he just wants to go home. He doesn’t even know what he did wrong to get himself in this place. Alas, the plight of the alien. This is the first song I wrote for Spirit of ‘76 and as soon as I did I realized I was going to write a political album.
Thinking Thursdays Schedule in October
| October 1st, 2026 | “Fit Instrument to Begin the Wilderness Work”: John Endecott and the World He Entered |
| October 8th 2026 | “Open Border” or Managed Constraint? Biden-Era Immigration in Perspective |
| October 15th, 2026 | Beyond the Myths: The Real Impact of Undocumented Immigrants in the United States |
| October 22nd, 2026 | The Great Replacement Theory: Demography, Conspiracy, and Racism |
| October 29th, 2026 | Tough but Fair: What a Populist Immigration Reform Would Really Look Like |
In the USA, most of us are here because of Immigration.
Thank you for reading,
Jared Endicott
Realizing News
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