As the old joke goes, a conservationist is someone who already own a vacation home in the mountains. An evil developer is someone who wants to. That joke characterizes the immigration debate too. Those of us whose ancestors came to America for a better life effectively own the vacation home in the mountains. The Mexicans are those who want to.
We are a nation if immigrants that, for the last 160 years, does not have a good track record of welcoming immigrants. The Irish, Italians, Poles, Jews, Slavs, Japanese, Chinese, and Mexicans have all been seen as a threat to the status quo. Today immigration is looked at strictly as a political chess piece by both parties but ignores the very human needs of the immigrants and their contributions to our communities and culture. I can guarantee from personal experience that I would much rather live next to a conservative, hardworking Mexican family of dubious immigration status than a home grown third generation welfare recipient.
Let us not forget that Jesus, Joseph and Mary were immigrants, illegally fleeing their king when they fled to Egypt.
Oh, stuff it. The Irish, Italians, Poles, Slavs, etc. you cite came here legally, respected our laws and traditions, happily and eagerly learned English and wanted their children raised as Americans, and did not maintain their allegiance to the “old country” like Mexicans and Central Americans do.
This is very true. I wouldn't support abuse of illegals. That said, the Holy Family fled at the command of God. And they eventually returned home. Something I have wondered about but for which I have no answer, is whether they violated the laws of Egypt during their temporary stay there.
Your points are well taken but I still think the bishops give scandal on this one. Peace be with you.
Look at most of the welfare receipients in California: they are Gomez’s People.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph were refugees running for the baby Jesus’life. They left Egypt when their refugee status was no longer necessary. The current illegal aliens flooding this country are primarily economic opportunist with no moral right to do what they are doing.
We are a nation of immigrants, as are all nations. But our ancestors came legally according to the laws of the time. They came to give to this country, not to take as so many illegal aliens do.
“As the old joke goes, a conservationist is someone who already own a vacation home in the mountains. An evil developer is someone who wants to. That joke characterizes the immigration debate too. Those of us whose ancestors came to America for a better life effectively own the vacation home in the mountains. The Mexicans are those who want to......Let us not forget that Jesus, Joseph and Mary were immigrants, illegally fleeing their king when they fled to Egypt. “
Really...you’re going to excuse this ILLEGAL incursion on ‘bibical principals’? Pathetic!
What about that commandment...”You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”
There are DOZENS of biblical quotes against illegal immigration and admonishing aliens to follow the law.
[snip]The whole concept of lawful versus unlawful entry into our nation – also the foundation of Arizona’s new SB-1070 — is based on principles of property rights that flow from the 10 Commandments. Those who violate our immigration laws by jumping the fence are stealing rights of citizenship (to live and work in America) and, in essence, coveting and stealing their neighbors’ property.
http://www.lenmunsil.com/2010/08/christian_ethics_do_not_suppor.php
BTW...I owned a home in the mountains...got run out by armed illegal alien drug cartels growing dope on your public lands!
“We are a nation if immigrants that, for the last 160 years, does not have a good track record of welcoming immigrants.”
More nonsense. The United States allows more legal immigrants than the rest of the world COMBINED! Many of whom have been very difficult to deal with...like the IRISH and the Italian crime syndicates!
Millions of immigrants have entered this country and have done well. Don’t keep dredging up old history from more than a century ago. Those immigrants that we have often seen arriving at Ellis Island at the turn of the 20th century went on to make a life for themselves. Their children got an education paid for by the tax payers which gave them an opportunity to succeed in ways that their parents could not have realized back in the old country. Look at the area all around New York City, that whole area around New York and New Jersey was populated by those immigrants and their children. They have done alright for themselves.