If Thanksgiving is for reminding oneself of things to be grateful for, perhaps after-Thanksgiving is for thinking of those who have less to be thankful for. In that spirit, the Observer brings you an exclusive investigation from Contributors John Washington and Anna-Catherine Brigida, who trace the stories of two children cleaved apart from their families by U.S. immigration. The drawing above was made by one of them, 11-year-old Felipe, who depicted himself behind bars in a jumpsuit.
In the words of one source quoted in the story, “We said never again, but here we are.” President Joe Biden promised to end the Trump-era policy of separating families, but at this very moment, Felipe remains alone in immigrant detention as his family fights to be reunited.
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More in line with giving thanks, Contributor David Theis chronicles a typical day at Casa Juan Diego, a Catholic Worker house in Houston where immigrants fleeing poverty, violence, and natural disaster find refuge from an intolerant world. David's beautifully written account traces the charity's roots to the work of political radical Dorothy Day—an anarchist turned Catholic social justice warrior who sought to embody an alternative to both capitalism and Marxism—and El Salvador's grassroots comunidades de base [base communities].
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Denton County, home to many rural and semi-rural communities, leans conservative. But within that red sea is an oasis of progressives centered around the University of North Texas and Denton's music scene that has become a mecca for artistic and gender-nonconforming people.
Taking place this month, Trans Pride Fest is “more than a colorful night of music, community, and art. For many, it’s an invaluable source of inspiration and support for exploring their identity. It’s a place where they can be themselves without fear,” write Contributors Steven Monacelli, Jesse Sanders, and Ismael Belkoura.
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When yet another member of the Mennonite community is drugged and assaulted, the eight women in Women Talking have 48 hours to respond before the men in the community return. The Observer caught up with El Paso-born Judith Ivey (who plays Agata Friesen) and Sheila McCarthy (Greta Loewen) to ask about their voices in this story, the story itself, and women talking in real life.
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Editor-in-Chief Gabriel Arana makes the case for not keeping the peace at the Thanksgiving table. He thinks “how-to guides for avoiding political conflict at the dinner table overestimate the value of keeping the peace.”
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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022 PRINT ISSUE
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