Immigration and Morality
For the most part, Christians, or the most vocal Christians in politics today have been quiet about immigration reform. It hasn't fit their moral agenda of abortion, gay marriage, and low taxes. Another voice from American Christianity is speaking out. Christians for Comprehensive Immigration Reform has published a statement calling for a change in policy.
Mostly it calls for dignity, respect, compassion and mercy. It speaks out against unjust laws that "harm and oppress people made in God's image." It sounds like something we could all get behind, right?
Actually, I can imagine the arguments against it before the opponents even speak.
"But these people are breaking the law." Well, yes, many of them are. But many of them are not. For example, the children of illegal immigrants who have lived most of their lives in this country, and had no choice about immigrating here, shouldn't they be given the right to become citizens and be productive members of society. Would you seriously call for them to be sent back to a country that was only home to them as infants? Some states have taken a compassionate approach and allowed undocumented students to attend public universities paying in-state tuition. Upon graduation, though, where are they supposed to find employment? They have an education, but they are still undocumented and mostly unemployable.
"What about our national security?" Really, is that the best argument you have? The immigration that you are complaining about is immigration from Latin America, can you at least be honest about that. Is that how any of the terrorists that have been arrested entered our country? If so, I am not aware of it. So build a wall, but don't claim that that wall is for your security. That wall is to protect you from people who are different and therefore threatening to your "sense" of security only.
Taking your jobs? I will accept that argument if you yourself are having a hard time finding employment because the jobs you are qualified for are filled by immigrants.
You think they should just stay in their country, or "go home?" Do you think they really wanted to leave their home in the first place? Or were they driven to leave home because there was no opportunity for them there in the first place? There was no way to pull their children up out of poverty, much less feed them. To them, at least there is hope in emigrating. So, "go back", you say.
"Go back to a place where you have no hope. We took this country over 200 years ago, built its wealth, became a world superpower (to the detriment of the original inhabitants) and now we reserve the right to keep our riches to ourselves. We gave you NAFTA, what more do you want?"
Build a wall you say? That doesn't even deserve an argument.
Well, like they suggest...mercy, compassion, dignity, respect.
I don't claim to have the answers, but our system is seriously broken. I think everyone can agree to that. Change is needed, and a system that balances our national interests with the above virtues would be a welcome change.
Actually, two of the Fort Dix Six were brought in through Mexico....as kids. So, yes, kids need to be sent back, too, and here's your example of terrorists entering through Latin America. And not every foiled terrorist plot is made public, so we can't really tell how many others, if any, entered through Mexico.
It's not my jobs they're taking. They're taking the jobs that some on welfare should be forced to take to earn their welfare checks.
And yes, something needs to be done to stop the bleeding.
Funny how so many people spew hate for America, and yet here are people doing everything possible to make it to our shores.
And if any people should be let in, it should be those that risk everything to escape Fidel's communist hand. But even then, they should have to wait in line for citizenship.
I hadn't heard that about the plan for Fort Dix. Sounds like fuel for a bigoted fire.
But send back the children? Compassion? Mercy? At least you are not pretending to use them in your reasoning.
So, good point. Some terrorists made it through the border. That's exactly why this Christian group is calling for immigration reform. No one is calling for weaker security. As I said, the system is broken.
And welfare mothers should now be forced to take the jobs of immigrants? To receive what you call welfare, you must have children. So what then do we do with the children why the mothers are out doing all of this work to earn their less than minimum wage check? It definitely won't afford them daycare.
Cuba?? I think many people living in Latin America have it much worse than people living in Cuba. So we let them in just because we disagree with their government. We screwed around and messed up a few other governments in Latin America. Should we not let them in as well?
Who is spewing hate for America and then doing everything possible to get to our shores?