My Least Favorite Topic
There's nothing quite like watching/listening to the men at church as they sing in 4-part harmony. They did a pretty good job yesterday evening.
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For the record, since everyone else seems to be talking about it... my thoughts on immigration of Mexicans.
I have no problem with immigrants who enter the country legally, become citizens in the prescribed way, live as true citizens of the USA, work to build up society, etc. It is okay with me if they aren't doctors, PhDs -- from the upper echelons of society. They must have a good work ethic and a solid vision for themselves and their children. America was built from people like that, and can continue to benefit from them.
The American spirit allows for a melting pot of many cultures. It is fine with me if immigrants want to teach their language to their children, practice their cultural holidays, eat their cultural foods. It would be a shame for immigrants to discard everything they knew before in exchange for hamburgers, American football, and Hollywood. America would not be the interesting place it is if that were the standard practice.
What is important is that the immigrants be open to the other cultures that influence America -- as we are willing to embrace the positive aspects of their culture, they should be willing to embrace ours. In the true American spirit they should not comprehend any divisions between them and us. We are brothers in a great nation, striving together to make it better, striving together to build a solid society with an awesome future.
A true American will learn English very soon. A true American will not retain allegiance to their former country -- if they do, they should return from whence they came. A true American will not leech off the rest of the populace. Naturally, they may initially receive a bit of aid as they establish themselves, but the true American will desire to begin contributing to the community as soon as possible. A true American will not sneer at the laws of the country, but will make a good effort to obey them and will instill in his children a respect for government.
I have no problem with such immigrants. I do think the US should be wise in the number of people we allow in -- there are limits -- and I do believe we should perform careful background checks.
So, how do these concepts apply to Mexican immigrants?
If they jump through the established legal process, enter the country legally with legal identification, apply for citizenship before their visa runs out, renew their papers when the time comes (just like I would do if I went to Mexico) -- if they learn English, obey the laws of the land and teach their children to respect government, if they contribute to society and refuse to be leeches, if they value America and have no allegiance to Mexico... then they are fine.
But -- if they enter America illegally, then they have breached the security system of the US. They have shown their lack of morals and they have shown their willingness to disobey the government for their own gain. They have shown that they do not respect our country, and they have shown that they should not be allowed to be Americans. As they continue to disobey the law by staying here without papers, they continue to demonstrate that they are not good candidates for citizenship. They should be removed until they repent of their ways and decide to enter the country via the legal process. Make criminals citizens because of their criminal act? It makes no sense.
"Oh, but we need them to work in the fields." "Our food prices would increase without them." "It would cost too much to build onto my house without Mexican labor."
Those arguments demonstrate a lack of interest in sustainable economy. Or, rather, do the arguers expect a never-ending supply of underpaid semi-slave labor?
Sadly, a prevalent American value is "get it as cheap as you can." So we outsource to China (more semi-slave labor). We allow criminal immigrants to remain in the country. We buy cheapo stuff that doesn't last long. We are selfish and greedy.
We should be willing to pay according to the worth of a product, a service. Cheap food? Do you really think Americans need more cheap food? Maybe we as a country would be less obese if food cost more. Maybe we wouldn't throw out 40% of our crops if they cost more to grow. Hmmm.
Cheap construction labor? What's a few thousand dollars in the long run? Pay a man what he's worth. Maybe we should just have smaller houses.
Legally established, community edifying Mexicans? No problem.
Sneakers across the border who don't care about America? They may leave now.
There, I hope that article doesn't get me into trouble... may freedom of speech be upheld.
For the record, since everyone else seems to be talking about it... my thoughts on immigration of Mexicans.
I have no problem with immigrants who enter the country legally, become citizens in the prescribed way, live as true citizens of the USA, work to build up society, etc. It is okay with me if they aren't doctors, PhDs -- from the upper echelons of society. They must have a good work ethic and a solid vision for themselves and their children. America was built from people like that, and can continue to benefit from them.
The American spirit allows for a melting pot of many cultures. It is fine with me if immigrants want to teach their language to their children, practice their cultural holidays, eat their cultural foods. It would be a shame for immigrants to discard everything they knew before in exchange for hamburgers, American football, and Hollywood. America would not be the interesting place it is if that were the standard practice.
What is important is that the immigrants be open to the other cultures that influence America -- as we are willing to embrace the positive aspects of their culture, they should be willing to embrace ours. In the true American spirit they should not comprehend any divisions between them and us. We are brothers in a great nation, striving together to make it better, striving together to build a solid society with an awesome future.
A true American will learn English very soon. A true American will not retain allegiance to their former country -- if they do, they should return from whence they came. A true American will not leech off the rest of the populace. Naturally, they may initially receive a bit of aid as they establish themselves, but the true American will desire to begin contributing to the community as soon as possible. A true American will not sneer at the laws of the country, but will make a good effort to obey them and will instill in his children a respect for government.
I have no problem with such immigrants. I do think the US should be wise in the number of people we allow in -- there are limits -- and I do believe we should perform careful background checks.
So, how do these concepts apply to Mexican immigrants?
If they jump through the established legal process, enter the country legally with legal identification, apply for citizenship before their visa runs out, renew their papers when the time comes (just like I would do if I went to Mexico) -- if they learn English, obey the laws of the land and teach their children to respect government, if they contribute to society and refuse to be leeches, if they value America and have no allegiance to Mexico... then they are fine.
But -- if they enter America illegally, then they have breached the security system of the US. They have shown their lack of morals and they have shown their willingness to disobey the government for their own gain. They have shown that they do not respect our country, and they have shown that they should not be allowed to be Americans. As they continue to disobey the law by staying here without papers, they continue to demonstrate that they are not good candidates for citizenship. They should be removed until they repent of their ways and decide to enter the country via the legal process. Make criminals citizens because of their criminal act? It makes no sense.
"Oh, but we need them to work in the fields." "Our food prices would increase without them." "It would cost too much to build onto my house without Mexican labor."
Those arguments demonstrate a lack of interest in sustainable economy. Or, rather, do the arguers expect a never-ending supply of underpaid semi-slave labor?
Sadly, a prevalent American value is "get it as cheap as you can." So we outsource to China (more semi-slave labor). We allow criminal immigrants to remain in the country. We buy cheapo stuff that doesn't last long. We are selfish and greedy.
We should be willing to pay according to the worth of a product, a service. Cheap food? Do you really think Americans need more cheap food? Maybe we as a country would be less obese if food cost more. Maybe we wouldn't throw out 40% of our crops if they cost more to grow. Hmmm.
Cheap construction labor? What's a few thousand dollars in the long run? Pay a man what he's worth. Maybe we should just have smaller houses.
Legally established, community edifying Mexicans? No problem.
Sneakers across the border who don't care about America? They may leave now.
There, I hope that article doesn't get me into trouble... may freedom of speech be upheld.
posted by Claire at 19:19
2 Comments:
Claire, I like what you have to say, and I agree, for the most part. However, I know a few Mexicans that fit all the above criteria except being legal, because it is very hard to get citizenship in the US unless you marry one or have a sponsor, and many can't obtain either. If it was a matter of paperwork they would do it. In your opinion, what should I tell someone like that when they ask me about my views on the immigrant bill?
Yeah, you're right, Steve.
Anna, they could apply for a green card or they could get a student visa...
If I went to France and worked in their fields without a visa, that would be a sin. I don't think it is different for Mexicans coming to the US -- if the Mexican government was performing genocide that might be a different issue. But it isn't.
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