I have turned off comments because I am not starting a conversation here. I am posting my opinion. I also don't want other commenters attacked for their opinion. It doesn't get to happen like that on MY blog. If you feel compelled to say something to me scroll down to just below the beat the X scrabble block and click on email. Just because you contact me doesn't mean that I will engage in your debate.
**The title refers to what can happen due to my speaking out about a particular issue.**
Much ado is going around about Arizona's immigration law. I have sat back, listened, and thought about this issue for a long time now.My comments are mine and are about illegal immigration, not immigrants in general. This country was founded on immigrants. It's how we became the melting pot.
There are some things that keep popping up over and over that just don't sit well with me. This is a matter of accountability and honesty. If you are breaking the law then you have already proved that you aren't honest. Trying to skirt consequences or make excuses for why you are breaking the law is not being accountable.
So issue #1 is: (not in order of importance, but in order of the thoughts that occurred to me during a news broadcast.)
It takes too long to get immigration papers.
Really? My foster son just got his green card within 3 months! So in my experience of going through this with him I thought it was really fast. There are certain documents that need to be provided and his family provided them so that he could become legal. One very short meeting. One long interview meeting. A health screening, with immunizations and a TB test, then a final health exam.
So my next thought on this is did it go through quickly because others aren't trying to and there are less applications to process, because he is barely 18, or some other reason that I don't know about? I am still thinking about all the possibilities.
Issue #2
This law will cause racial profiling.
The law will? Human nature does that. If educated about issues from all sides the fear based arguments will stop. Doesn't mean that everyone will get educated about it. Don't give me the line that law enforcement will profile. This is a "duh" moment. That is what they do. They profile criminals. It is how they keep us safe. Criminals have distinct behaviors and that is how the cops know to watch them to protect us from them. The reality is that we are experiencing certain races that are breaking certain laws. We cannot tolerate law breaking. Keeping the laws is what makes this country great and provides a place to prosper and grow.
Issue #3
This law is unChristlike.
Breaking the law is unChristlike, not enforcing it. I am religious so I am going to be religious here. Christ cleansed the temple when they were breaking the laws of God inside them. How is this law different from that?
Issue #4
The immigrants are keeping our economy thriving.
How so? In my world good quality contractors are out of work because the shoddy ones are hiring illegal immigrants at pathetic and inhumane prices. Those with a moral work ethic are not willing to stoop to shoddy work just to get the job. The teens are out of jobs, too. Part of this is the economy in general, but the illegal immigrants aren't helping. So when people tell me that the economy will fail if they leave I want them to prove it to me. I'm not going to take anyone's word for it because I already feel like there are so many lies going around that I now need proof. My faith in government and politics is gone. Cheap labor and poor quality will cost somewhere down the line. We will be the ones to pay for it. That is simple economics.
Issue #5
In my line of work I see the effects of law breaking. I see the kids who's parents won't learn a new way to live, yet wanted to come to a place to provide better education and opportunity for their children. I see the gangs, drugs, tagging, violence, and more that is costing our society more than just tax dollars.
I hear about how to get someone's stolen identity so that they can work. I know people who have done this. I cannot report it due to professional guidelines. It bothers me that someone's identity is stolen and that they will have to do come major work to repair the damage that gets done. It bothers me that this is so easily justified; even fought for as a right by someone that isn't here n our country legally. Why do we as God fearing, honest people allow this, condone this, accept this as ok?
When did breaking the law become ok? When did we decide that we are America the mediocre and not America the great? When we accept criminal activity as ok are we willing to accept those consequences?
I know that I am not.
