The Pitfalls of Nativism

John F. Kennedy, from an Irish ancestry, said in regards to nativism, “But emotions of xenophobia – hatred of foreigners – and of nativism - the policy of keeping America ‘pure’ … continue to thrive.” Nowadays this quote might trigger in us Donald Trump’s “America First '' movement and the “Wall”, which was a cornerstone of his 2016 campaign.

Undoubtedly, nativism extends to states and in the case of Montana, into geographic portions of the state - west versus east. The sense of security that we all crave is upset by strangers. Everyone, myself included, doesn’t like those from out of state ad...