As I was watching the NBA draft on Wednesday night, the clear highlight was the overwhelmed and joyous reaction of Duke freshman center Khaman Malauch upon hearing his name called.  Malauch openly wept when drafted tenth by the Phoenix Suns.  He tried to wipe the tears away as he walked toward the podium.  But the tears continued to flow onstage even after shaking the commissioner’s hand.  He seemed the picture of hope and joy, struggle and achievement.  His outpouring of emotion the culmination of years of struggle, hard work, and, finally, vindication: fleeing South Sudan as a child to living in a refugee camp in Uganda to attending Duke and finally to being drafted by the NBA.  What scenario better symbolizes the American dream?

On a far less inspiring note, another Duke alum was in the news today for all the wrong reasons: Stephen Miller. Trump’s executive order overturning birthright citizenship was largely upheld by the Supreme Court today, and Miller served as one of the architects of that policy.  See my blog about why birthright citizenship is fundamental to who were are as Americans and as a country if you want my take.  Miller was born not in a war-torn country, rather in affluent Santa Monica, California.  He went to high school at SaMo (Santa Monica) High, a couple hundred meters away from where I did my PhD.  I’ve been to Kampala, Uganda (which I really enjoyed for what it’s worth), and the opportunities presented to people in the two cities are, unsurprisingly, worlds apart.  Miller then went to Duke, graduating in 2007 and working in various congressional and presidential administrations since.

Miller had all of the advantages in the world: an affluent childhood, a wonderful education, and a safe environment in which to grow up and thrive.  And yet, he emerged with nothing but hate in his heart and vengeance on his mind.  While the refugee who fled civil conflict in his own country and had to move from South Sudan to Uganda to Senegal to the US just to get a job and support his family has happiness in his heart and brings joy to those of us who have followed his arc.

If you know anything about South Sudan, you have no doubt heard of its tumultuous history.  The country was only created because of the ethnic cleansing inflicted upon it by the brutal Sudanese regime of Omar al-Bashir in Khartoum in the 2000s.  Upon gaining its independence in 2011, it almost immediately descended into inter-ethnic conflict and civil war.  It was under these circumstances that Malauch’s family fled his native South Sudan in 2013 for a refugee camp outside of Kampala, Uganda.

Malauch took up basketball only five years ago, his towering height an obvious advantage.  Local scouts discovered him, and he was invited to Senegal to attend the Africa NBA Academy in Dakar.  Once there, he did so well and progressed so quickly that he was offered a scholarship from my beloved Duke Blue Devils and even got to play on the South Sudanese Olympic Basketball Team last summer.  In his one year at Duke, he became a beloved teammate and a defensive menace, helping the Blue Devils win the ACC regular season, take the ACC Tournament Championship, and reach the Final 4.  His interviews are hysterical as he has an amazing, infectious sense of humor and a gleeful sort of wonder about the world.  He was my favorite player on this year’s Duke team for his story, but also for his personality.

And then there’s the crown prince of darkness.  Stephen Miller is a hateful, small man.  He is defined not by what he stands for—which seems principally to be xenophobia and exclusion—but by what he stands against—which seems to be opportunity and equality.  Miller has said that America is for Americans only.  But who is truly American in his estimation?  Only the people born here?  Or only the White Christian people with decades of roots in the country?  My great-grandparents came from Ukraine and Lithuania.  Does that make me American enough?  Or if I vote Democratic, support a sensible, humane, and ethical immigration policy, and oppose Trump’s tyranny and thuggery, does that make me not sufficiently American?

We are at a crossroads in our national identity.  And these two Dukies showcase two different versions of the country we can be.  We can be the hopeful kid, taking advantage of every opportunity, both in basketball and education (Malauch was named to the All-ACC Men’s Basketball Academic Team), thrilled to be here, and spreading his joy.  Or we can be the spiteful, mean-spirited xenophobe who wants to shut the door to immigrants, students, and travelers from countries not deemed worthy enough to visit our shores.

Both of these individuals went to my alma mater.  But only one of them is on my team.  I’m thrilled and delighted that Khaman Malauch is a fellow Duke.  I’m proud to be on the same team.  Stephen Miller doesn’t even make the bench.  Wouldn’t be admitted to the stadium.  We don’t need his kind of hate on our team, nor do we need his myopic vision for our country in our politics.  Malauch has big things ahead of him, and I can’t wait to see his bright future.  There are too many good vibes to let turd like Miller spoil the party.