This week's Theology on Tap Lite topic will focus on immigration, particularly that referred to as "illegal immigration" in the United States of America.
Before I offer up a slew of links, first I want to give some opening thoughts and commentary. A reminder that we have a commitment to mutual respect and dialogue. Let us engage in respectful dialogue - including the elements of trust, sincerity, respect, willingness to learn, agreement to disagree and commitment to work through issues. If honest mistakes are made, let us support each other with gentle reminding in correcting them.
I believe most folks are of a mind that SOMEthing needs to be done. The problem is finding the solution(s) that is logical, feasible/work-able, and agreeable across all lines. Essentially, asking the government to finally find a common ground - perhaps, asking the impossible!
I believe most folks are of a mind that SOMEthing needs to be done. The problem is finding the solution(s) that is logical, feasible/work-able, and agreeable across all lines. Essentially, asking the government to finally find a common ground - perhaps, asking the impossible!
The General Board of Church & Society of The United Methodist Church (along with all other mainline denominations) has really done a phenomenal job at putting together a comprehensive statement, along with goals, objectives and resources available to individuals and congregations. The UMC's stance (similar to that of most mainline denominations) and writings is found here.
Last week, I posed the question on Facebook, "What are your thoughts on Immigration?" Here are some of the responses:
"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses...For me, this still applies as long as those individuals pay taxes and obey the laws. We are all descendants of immigrants unless you are American Indian."
"I'm not against immigration IF they're legal, AND they are trying to learn our language, AND everything I do or say isn't considered racist because they don't want to work and they're living on the system (not that tons of Americans aren't doing the same thing, they should get off their asses too)."
"I think the process of legal immigration/citizenship should be simplified. As of now it's a lengthy (sometimes years) , costly (thousands of dollars) and difficult process (I scored poorly on the exam when I took it and I'm no slouch). I believe anyone earning a wage in the U.S. should have to pay taxes and any cash leaving the country should be taxed as well. The language issue doesn't bother me much; I can speak enough Spanish to hold a basic conversation. It bothers me more when Americans butcher our language...I also think aliens convicted of non-capital crimes should be deported at their own expense and not be placed in our already overburdened penal system."
"I agree with deportation of illegals. It also irritates me that it costs so much and is so hard to become a citizen. It's too easy for them to be here illegally."
"I don't believe our founding fathers ever would have agreed with the concept of forced deportation, illegal immigrant or not. Part of the beauty of this country and the freedoms it allows to all people is the right to be or say anything, s...o I also don't believe that anyone should be forced to learn another language. I believe that our government was created in order to help those who cannot help themselves, that need to live off system for a little while, whether they are legal or not. Perhaps the question we should be asking ourselves isn't whether or not immigration is a good or a bad thing, because naturally that's too loaded of a question; but instead, why don't we ask what makes America such a great country compared to where they're immigrating from?"
"'Won't someone please think of the children.' -Maude Flanders. That pretty much is a sermon in its own right. Is it reasonable to disrupt families in exchange for the civic value of reporting/arresting/deporting those who do get caught? I've seen it happen firsthand. There is a better solution, there must be. 'Each society can be judged by how it treats its weakest citizen.' Our weakest citizens, in my opinion, are children of illegal immigrants. Our society deports their parents if we catch them. Ponder that."
"Here's one from a Law Enforcement Perspective. Legal Immigration I have no problem with. Illegal Immigration creates several dangerous problems, and raises several issues. In no particular order...
- There is no way of confirming identity. This means that if I pull over a person wanted for murder in Ohio, because he can simply change his identity whenever he pleases, his identifiers will not return as wanted. That's not good.
- On the heels of that, if I arrest an illegal, ICE won't come and get him, which means he is allowed out on his own recognizance. Then, he never comes to court to answer for his charges. You and I cannot disregard the law with such impunity, but illegals can.
- On the heels of THAT, there are no financial liabilities for illegals. For instance, the illegal who ran into a [company's name] power box last year. He OR'd out (OR - Released on Own Recognizance), never returned. Of course, not only was he unlicensed, he was, of course uninsured. [The company] cannot recoup the cost of that power box, therefore costs are passed on to the consumers. [An individual in town] was nearly killed by an illegal immigrant driver out in California. Court costs, ambulance costs, NONE can be recouped from these people.
- Even if a person comes here illegally with the best of intentions, most must use the pipeline through the southern border, through which are also smuggled 12-year old sex slaves, drugs, and guns (the guns are usually southbound), lining the pockets of some VERY bad people.
- Speaking of guns, traffickers, cartels, etc., we have ceded land to the cartels in AZ. Read here. We are being invaded by a sovereign nation, and the Fed is indifferent.
- I am, of course discussing the hispanic element coming from the south. This is not racism, as it is so commonly dismissed, it's just what I see every day. I have arrested ten illegal immigrants in the [city] area since I came on the force last year. I don't see illegal Norwegian immigrants, I see illegal Hispanic immigrants. It's not racism, it's fact.
- The solution is simple - deny social services, housing, and employment to those here illegally, and they will deport themselves. Put REAL security on the border (like soldiers and a DMZ) and the drugs and human trafficking will desist. None of this is possible without the Fed (by their own admission; they have hotly contested immigration as THEIR jurisdiction in Federal Court), who seem completely apathetic. Extremely frustrating...
From God's Politics Blog: Rethinking Our Approach to Immigration Reform
Heard this on CNN earlier this week: Online publisher pulls assignment on immigration after outcry
If you can't open these following links, and have an RSS Reader (like Google Reader), look for them there. NYT started their new "system" this week. You get 20 links a month, then they charge you and you still have to establish an account with them, BUT they haven't done anything to their articles if you subscribe (free) to the NYT through an RSS service: Women, Children and Immigration Reform (NYT Letter-to-the-Editor); As Mexicans Fill Pews, Church Leaders Are Slow to Welcome Them
$5 million reward posted in immigration agent's killing
NOT directly related to Illegal Immigration, but interesting reads:
Skilled Immigrants' Talents Go to Waste in U.S.
NOT directly related to Illegal Immigration, but interesting reads:
Skilled Immigrants' Talents Go to Waste in U.S.
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