Immigration ills need light, not heat
The following is a Counterpoint
By Mary McCandless
Thank you, Sen. Burr, for trying to legislate by voting for more debate on the immigration bill.
And thank you for voting against the final bill when it was evident that the power brokers were not going to allow for meaningful amendments to this "compromise" legislation.
The American people have a crisis in confidence, doubting that our leaders -- congressional, judicial and administrative -- will enforce the laws already on the books. Sen. Kennedy's last immigration legislation let in 12 million-plus illegal immigrants.
The administration has prosecuted and imprisoned our border guards for doing their jobs. It "allows" employers to hire illegals. It likes the "extra" money coming into Social Security (when it is paid) that will not be claimed in the future by illegals. The Congress has failed to pay to build the border fences already approved in existing law. The Justice Department fails to deport those illegals it does prosecute.
All this leads to overcrowded schools, collapsing emergency rooms, declining wages, and an American public that is mad and not going to take it anymore.
Which does not excuse those who called and were rude, threatening, and menacing to our elected leaders -- they serve us, but we can't abuse them. I talked with one (unpaid) intern on the Hill who said they cried about the hateful calls they received. There is no excuse for incivility. How will we ever get decent people to serve us if we treat them so?
And why are our religious leaders silent on this issue? I have yet to hear a sermon on how we should proceed on this pressing issue. What would Jesus do about the foreigner in our midst? Forgiveness is another form of "amnesty," and the Good Samaritan in all of us needs to find the compassion (and compromise) needed to solve this problem.
The writer lives in Winston-Salem.
Comments (2)
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Mary,
I agree it is not socially acceptable to be rude to others. It is my opinion, however, the frustration level of the legal citizens of our country is at an all-time high and this is accelerating rude behavior. Liken it to a parent who gets angry at their child because they have repeatedly told him/her the same thing five hundred times only to be ignored.
The same is true of our representatives. We have repeatedly told them we are not in favor of amnesty for all these illegals, that we do not want our tax monies spent to subsidize their existence here and we want the laws already on the books regarding illegals enforced. Our representatives have ignored us (the majority of everyday legal citizens) for years.
Like the parent who raises their voice to make their words more forceful (and hopefully be heard), citizens are becoming more loud and forceful in their efforts to get their representatives to hear them. While rudeness is not acceptable it IS understandable.
BTW, I am a little weary of people trying to turn any and everything into a religious issue in order to make those who do not agree with their stance feel guilty. Granting forgiveness, thereby amnesty, is apples and oranges. It is also a personal choice to forgive someone and should not be made into a political issue.
I am a Christian and I try to be a good person. I treat others well, even illegals. However, this does not mean I want them to be here in our country illegally nor do I want my tax money to be spent on them (unless it is to send them back to their homeland).
Posted on July 5, 2007 7:34 AM
Yvonne, good points on the rudeness perspective. I feel that you have stated that aspect very well.
I somewhat resent this Counterpoint author calling forgiveness amnesty. I have been wrestling with this issue in regards to my faith. Yet, I know the point to which I find myself.
This Counterpoint would have been more valid with me (and was) until the forgiveness=amnesty comment. At that point, Mary lost me.
Shalom
Posted on July 5, 2007 10:50 AM