Posted on 06/09/2006 4:51:54 AM PDT by Mr. Silverback
Did you know that “95 percent of warrants for murder in Los Angeles are for illegal aliens?” Or that “75 percent of people on the Most Wanted List in Los Angeles are illegal aliens”? What’s more, “Over [two-thirds] of all births in Los Angeles County are to illegal alien Mexicans on [Medicaid] whose births were paid for by taxpayers.”
This is outrageous. Especially since none of it is true! Instead, it’s just one example of how, in some ways, we have gone beyond worrying about illegal immigration to demonizing the immigrants themselves.
This example came from a widely circulated e-mail that was posted on at least 130 conservative websites. It listed ten “facts about immigration” and gave as its source the Los Angeles Times.
Not only was the Los Angeles Times not the source of these “facts,” when the paper examined the alleged “facts,” none of them withstood scrutiny. Some of them distorted the data: For instance, approximately 62 percent of all births in Los Angeles County are to Hispanic women. But this number includes American citizens, legal aliens, Hispanics from countries other than Mexico, and has nothing to do with Medicaid.
The so-called “facts” about illegal alien criminality are even worse: They are deliberate misrepresentations or complete fabrications.
Unfortunately, this is only the tip of an often very ugly iceberg. The illegal immigration problem is often called an “invasion” that threatens the existence of the United States. Illegal aliens are depicted as part of an effort to “reconquer” the American Southwest. And it’s not only illegal immigrants: American citizens of Mexican ancestry are also regarded as part of this plot.
Now, there are a few fringe Latino groups that talk about “reconquista”—that is all they are, however: fringe. To judge all Latinos, including illegal aliens, by the words of these groups is as fair as judging all Christians by the actions of clinic bombers or Fred Phelps.
A concern for fairness isn’t the most important reason that Christians ought to oppose this demonization of “the strangers in our midst.” As theologian T. M. Moore recently wrote on BreakPoint Online, “God defends strangers. He has compassion for those who have left all and risked all to find new lives in a strange country.”
Moore reminds us that God expects His people’s “attitude toward the strangers and sojourners in their midst” to reflect His own concern.
Now, this does not mean that Christians ought not to be concerned about the massive lawbreaking, by both illegal immigrants and those who employ them. We must! The rule of law is a Christian contribution, coming out of the Reformation, and it requires respect for law, just as the Bible does. Nor does it mean that there’s one particular immigration proposal that Christians ought to be supporting.
What it does mean is that Christians must work to see that the immigration debate generates light instead of heat. We must insist that the illegal-immigration issue be addressed without treating millions of Americans, many of whom have died protecting our country, as a kind of fifth column.
That is the very least we can do if we are obedient to God’s command to welcome strangers. And that’s a fact I got from the highest possible Source.
Do you need new prescription lenses?
"Now, this does not mean that Christians ought not to be concerned about the massive lawbreaking, by both illegal immigrants and those who employ them. We must! The rule of law is a Christian contribution, coming out of the Reformation, and it requires respect for law, just as the Bible does."(Colson)
For Pete's sake, there's a strong, a VERY strong case to be made against illegal border-crossing, both from a principled and from a practical point of view. We don't need to lie. And the whole rest of Colson's article can be summarized in these 2 words: "Don't lie."
Anybody who can't affirm that with a "Well, OK" is going to suffer a severe credibility problem. And that's something we don't need.
Then tell me why are illegals disproportionately on the government dole? The problems associated with allowing a massive third world poverty invasion are to numerous to mention. If you can't envision this then please don't follow the most important crisis this country will ever face.
I simply said we shouldn't label all illegals as rapists or violent criminals. And no, this is not the most important crisis we face. That is Islam.
Are his facts right?
I have yet to see one person here that is against legal, controlled immigration, but then again I'm not here 24/7 as some are.
If they're here illegally, they should be demonized. And deported.
You sound like those plantation owners in the 1850's, fearing that you'll soon lose your cheap labor.
"Cotton will be too expensive!! Waaaahhh!!
That's a start. Also deny them free education, free medical care, and the free benefit of all other taxpayer-supported welfare that this country seems wont to give away (as long as someone else is buying).
He compeently made one point: don't lie. It's a point none of us should take exception to.
If you want him to write a different 2 - minute message, maybe you should contact him and make your suggestions.
Please clarify. I'll also clarify: when I say he's defending criminals, I mean the whole class of illegal aliens who are criminals because they violated out laws to come here. I am not saying he is defending evil scumbag rapists, murderers, etc. He is correct that most illegals are not thugs, but the illegal who isn't habitually violating the law is a rare one, because they need to violate in order to work for employers who have any interest in looking like they even care about the law.
Are certain groups falsly saying that "95 percent of warrants for murder in Los Angeles are for illegal aliens", "Over [two-thirds] of all births in Los Angeles County are to illegal alien Mexicans . . . paid for by taxpayers" etc.
If so, he is doing the moral thing by correcting the record.
Concerning these people being criminals, when a law has long gone unenforced and a decision is made to start doing it, it is generally wise to forgive those who have violated it. It's probably even wiser to change it since there are obviously reasons that it has long gone unenforced.
Wise laws are designed to keep order, not to provide opportunities to punish.
But that's not ALL they do is it?
They clog the healthcare system into which they contribute nothing.
They clog the education system into which they contribute nothing.
They clog the social services system into which they contribute nothing.
Even should one of these wonderful people who just want to pick strawberries
actually become legal and start paying into the system, had you noticed the quaint
cultural quirk they have of generating literally a dozen or more offspring?
How does one afford so many kidlets on a berry pickers income? Answer: One does not. The TAXPAYER does.
I do not care to support anyone else's children nor do I feel particularly inclined
to pay for anyone's irresponsible procreation beyond their ability to support.
The response will be, "well the vast majority are good people... Yada, yada, yada... This is an assumption that they're making... But if there are only 1 in a hundred who are criminals, that means that there are another 20,000+ criminals running around our country. The simple fact is that we CAN NOT KNOW these things, because they're here without permission and without us knowing who they are.
Mark
Apparently, the feds don't need to be involved to solve a lot of those problems.
Mexico
Total fertility rate:
2.42 children born/woman (2006 est.)
Source: CIA World factbook
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/mx.html#People
First, I do not accept your premise that it is motivated by "hate". As is typical of your ilk, you base your argument in a "have you stopped beating your wife" trap that has no merit. But if we recast that to say "what motivates some people to oppose people picking food or building shelter," then here are some reasons.
The fact that they and the people who exploit them are stealing money from the taxpayers of the United States to subsidize the near-slave wages they earn. They are sucking our social systems dry.
The fact that the Mexican government is passing off, with a wink and a nod, the expense of educating and medically supporting huge amounts of their citizens.
The fact that the flood of people willing to undercut wages in established trades is displacing Americans who used to be able to support their families doing things like "building shelter".
The fact that those "building shelter" are illegal, and thus unlicensed, often leads to substandard and undertrained workmanship.
The fact that they are breaking the law every single day, which breeds a attitude of casual contempt for all laws. So much so that they feel no shame or compunction about mass demonstrations in the streets demanding yet more concessions and acceptance of their criminal actions.
The fact that their very existence within our borders requires that a huge black market exist to support their needs, from false papers to border coyotes and snakeheads to sweatshops to substandard and overcrowded housing. They support criminal organizations to supply these things which also commit other activities such as drug smuggling, prostitution and outright slavery.
The fact that by stealing American citizenship via amnesty, while others go through the arduous legal process, they cheapen one of the most valuable things on Earth. Indeed, because they are offered it so cheaply, many feel no reason to transfer loyalty to the nation which feeds, clothes and houses them. Instead, they continue to wave the flag of the corrupt kleptocracy they fled.
The fact that they are unskilled and relatively unproductive on a per capita basis, which drags down our economy. This is compounded by lack of English language, poor literacy in their native language, and poor numeracy in any language.
Now, Dane, let me ask your question back to you. Given the reasons I listed, if not motivated by greed and political calculation, then what motivates some people into exploiting people picking food or building shelter.
Did it. We'll see if he replies.
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