My pride in being an Arizonan was severely shaken. Arizona, once defined by its sunshine and saguaros, is now instead defined by its hateful policies and aggressive treatment of its immigrant community. My home has become a place that legally sanctions racist behavior, prioritizes deporting illegal immigrants over of making their neighborhoods safe places to live, and treats "loving your neighbor" as a metaphor instead of a value that truly dictates how we behave in our community. That is hardly something to be proud of.

I empathize with the desire to impose fiscal sanctions on Arizona lawmakers for enacting such a retrogressive and immoral policy, but I can't boycott home. I can't shed my allegiance to Arizona, just as I could never shed my allegiance to the United States, no matter my disagreement with federal laws and policies. And even though there is pressure to punish the state, I certainly don't want to punish my family and friends who live there, especially since many of them are as repulsed by this law as I am.

And these people give me something to be proud of. I am proud that my Rabbis and others in the Jewish community asserted their political will and encouraged Governor Brewer to veto this legislation. I am proud that President Obama took a strong stance against the bill. I am proud that there are fearless advocates working together to ensure that this law is repealed or successfully struck down by the courts.

Ultimately, I hope that my state and my country will adopt compassionate immigration policies that recognize the dignity and sanctity of every human being. And perhaps there is a light at the end of the tunnel - perhaps this incident will be the catalyst to enact the comprehensive immigration reform that our nation so desperately needs.