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Apr 17, 2006
wanting in Over the past few weeks, much ado has been given to the immigration legislation before Congress. I haven't followed it closely, so I don't know all of the details, other than it's going to be harsher on illegal aliens. Through it all, I have heard much on where I should or shouldn't stand on this bill based on the fact that I am Christian. Most of the arguments are in fact valid, depending on what aspect of our moral code one wishes to interpret this issue from. As I said during a panel discussion that I was a part of a few weeks ago, one of the difficult things is trying to figure out how to be a Christian in a democracy. The bible was written in a totalitarian society, so the way a citizen (or non-citizen in a lot of cases) dealt with the state is different. And I think that may affect how we deal with certain issues. Anyway, that's something to get into some other time. My point is simply this: sometimes these political issues aren't so cut and dried. All of that to say this: I'm not giving the definative "Christian" prespective here. Nor am I giving the answer to all of this. I just want to say one thing that bothers me, and I hope at least on some level it bothers everyone, regardless of what your final conclusion on the issue is. The thing that bothers me: You never hear of illegal immigrants from Canada. It's something we never think about, because it's something that is so natural to us. We all know why . . . any Canadian can come into the US without much difficulty. In fact, up until 9/11, a very large section of the US/Canadian border was ungarded. You could go back and forth as easily as someone around here can go back and forth from Kentucky to Ohio. Even with heightened security, it's still pretty easy to get back and forth. The southern border of the country is much different. I have been to Mexico 3 times on mission trips, each time to the same border town. While there, I spent a great deal of time talking to a man named Abner Castillio. I learned quite a bit on many different subjects from Abner. His grandfather had recieved resident alien status many years ago, and because of that Abner also has resident alien status. One day, Abner talked to a few of us about how difficult it is for most Mexicans to gain legal status. Basically, it's almost impossible for someone to do this by completly legal means. It is a long, drawn out, beaurocratic process that has little chance of suceeding. However, if you make it over here illegaly and then apply over here, the process is quite simple and has a much better chance of suceeding. What bothers me is this double standard: Canadians have no problem moving back and forth. Mexicans have the deck stacked against them. Why? I can think of only 2 reasons. The first, Xenophobia. While I have little doubt this is a factor in some way, I doubt that it is THE reason. Regardless, It would take an entire post to break this down properly. The second reason, and I think the more likely one, is that of economics. Canadians have money, so they have access. Mexicans don't, so they don't have access. The United States used to be called the land of oppertunity. People would immigrate here for a chance of making a better life. Most of our ancestors came over here for these reasons. As we have become more affluent, we don't seem to value this as part of our identity anymore. So, what bothers me is that so much of you immigration laws are based on wealth and poverty. What does this mean to the immigration legislation. I don't know. Like I said, these things are very this simple. But, these are the thoughts that race through my head. posted
by Unknown @ 7:02:00 PM |
