Borders matter! The United States has every right to stringently enforce its' borders! Violating the immigration laws of The United States is clearly a crime. So, Anyone who comes into this nation illegally, ergo, I!!!S!! a law- breaker- a criminal!
I will admit that I've made these statements or ones VERY much like them. Yet, After spending time working to build a cafeteria for a school in a rugged and bare community in Mexico, It is hard to be as self-righteous when these ideas occur to me. It is hard to state my ideas as a James Carville might, " We're right and they're wrong!"
The people who live in El Florido have, generally not lived there all of their lives. A large majority are from other parts of Mexico. Some started off in nations other than Mexico and entered Mexico and began working their way continuously northward.
They are attracted to our way of life. They want what we have , to live as we do. Some will argue that- " They don't understand that not ALL Americans live well." I can assure you that there are very FEW people in our beloved homeland that do not live better than the 300 men, women an children of El Florido do! These are people who want to work hard and earn more money than they do They want to also be able to offer a much better future to their children and grandchildren.
Yet, I know that US Laws must be upheld. I know that our borders must be respected, properly patrolled maintained and fully and well-defended. I also know that a country in financial turmoil, one that is considering reducing social benefits to its' neediest Citizens will be hard-pressed to justify providing large amounts of social support to people who are not citizens and who have no legal right to be present in our nation.
Yet, As Mr. Obama's predecessor said, on more than one occasion, " Compassion does not end at our borders!" We need to review our immigration policies and make sure that people who want to live among us can have a reasonable opportunity to come here and have a chance to become American Citizens.
I also still believe that Mexico does have a solemn obligation to provide for its' own citizen. Mexico needs to stop exempting its' wealthiest citizens from feeling that they have no obligations at all to the poorest Mexicans Mexico also must acknowledge its' natural resources- Gold, Silver, Petroleum and a Strong Tourism Industry which means it has resources to expend on its' neediest sons and daughters.
Some people claim that our antipathy to Illegal Immigrants from Mexico, Panama, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Honduras is due to the language they speak and the color of their skins. I think that this is overblown as an issue. Yet, It certainly cannot be fully dismissed as a cause for why some people take such a negative and hstile stance when it comes to illegal immigrants.
So, We all need to ask ourselves what is best- How do we deal with the issue and not the personalities and prejudices?
I'm not sure how to deal with these issue humanely, appropriately and honorably. I am much less certain of what I believe should be done concerning these issues than I was just as few weeks ago!
- Johnny -
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