Am I Satan? I’m sure there were times my parents wondered that very thing as I was growing up in the 60’s and 70s. Perhaps my darling spouse has also wondered this very thing….
But I digress.
Recently, I received an interesting email from a long-time correspondent, taking umbrage with my post of June 26th, titled “Fool Me Once, Shame On You. Fool Me Twice, Shame On Me.". Here is what he said (I’ve made no corrections for spelling or grammar):
So, being a thoughtful American, I have to wonder: Is my erstwhile correspondent on to something?
After honest reflection, I have to conclude he is not.
There are many bad places in the world. Places where people live poorly. Places where people barely eek out a living, or are perpetually hungry. Places where people are repressed and can only dream of a portion of the freedoms we Americans take for granted.
We Americans help these people where we can. Our government spends huge sums of our tax dollars on direct aid, and works in many ways with other governments to help them help themselves. Our people individually donate vast treasures via church and civic organizations, targeting everything from famine and water supplies to democracy, rain forests and adoption. Occasionally, we even send our sons and daughters into harm’s way to help change a regime and give the people an opportunity for self-determination.
The responder has nobly spent much time in south and central America on medical-humanitarian endeavors, and has singularly sought to help one particular individual from Nicaragua, going so far as to donate one of his own kidneys, and spend undoubtedly vast sums of his own money. I recognize his sincere and righteous heart, and applaud his concern for his fellow man.
But, as sad and bad as these many places are, and how seemingly futile our governmental, charitable and direct assistance may seem…it is NOT a reason to accept unbridled, criminal immigration into our borders.
National policy must be made on the macro level, with macro concerns. While there are certainly individuals in Guatemala with leaky roofs and the need for medicine, who send their children to America to work in honest jobs to send money home… policy can’t be made for these people. Policy must be made for the vast invasion of criminal immigrants who are in our country undocumented, working (if they are working) at jobs that drive our wages down and not paying taxes; behaving in ways dangerous to our citizens (and themselves); sapping our resources by use of government assistance to which they contribute little if anything; not assimilating as true citizens of our country; and sending vast quantities of monies out of our economy back “home” for many reasons other than leaky roofs and medicine.
Our society, through our police and judicial systems, confiscate the ill-gotten gains of those engaged in illegal activities. Drug dealers loose their cars, boats, homes and cash, even before they are convicted in court of the crimes they are accused. Thieves loose their booty and belongings. Even white-collar criminals must pay steep fines (look at Scooter Libby as an example). Never is it an excuse that they needed to commit their crimes to feed their family, pay for medicine or provide a roof.
Why do we continue to allow the 12-20 million criminals in our midst, who are continuing in criminal activity daily, to not only keep the results of their criminal activities, but even send $20 billion or more annually out of our country and our economy?
We need to remember, we must be concerned with America and Americans first. As national policy, those that are in our country illegally, for the purpose of helping others outside our country are a problem that must be solved.
All religions teach that one must take care of one’s own family and people first, before going out and helping others. Logic tells us that in terms of international relations, much the same must be true. Our honest, heartfelt concern for others cannot be justification to allow all that we hold dear to crumble around our feet.
The responder also believes we have only two solutions. I disagree. We have the solution of closing off the ability for criminals to enter our country illegally, and work to remove those criminally already within our borders. (I addressed this in a post Saturday, June 23, 2007, “How to Easily Remove the Criminal Immigrants from the USA”) Then, we continue to work with the governments of these places to address their own problems internally, while opening LEGAL immigration channels to these people within reasonable limits. Even with legal immigration, we need to make sure such immigration benefits American interests first and foremost.
Does this view make me a Satan? No. I think not. What do you think?
But I digress.
Recently, I received an interesting email from a long-time correspondent, taking umbrage with my post of June 26th, titled “Fool Me Once, Shame On You. Fool Me Twice, Shame On Me.". Here is what he said (I’ve made no corrections for spelling or grammar):
If I was pres, I would surmise we have two choices. Pass this bill or
invade and take over central america. because of the war in Iraq, we dont
have the resources to take over central america. The poor who live there
will continue to send their sons here to send money back there so they
can buy clean water and not drink out of the mud puddles, pay for a roof
tht doesn't leak, pay for medicinne when their children get sick,
etc.
I am a Christian. Your position is no different from
Islam. Islam says, Kill them". You say, 'Just let them die".
Both views of Satan.
Delete me from your list, you SATAN.
So, being a thoughtful American, I have to wonder: Is my erstwhile correspondent on to something?
After honest reflection, I have to conclude he is not.
There are many bad places in the world. Places where people live poorly. Places where people barely eek out a living, or are perpetually hungry. Places where people are repressed and can only dream of a portion of the freedoms we Americans take for granted.
We Americans help these people where we can. Our government spends huge sums of our tax dollars on direct aid, and works in many ways with other governments to help them help themselves. Our people individually donate vast treasures via church and civic organizations, targeting everything from famine and water supplies to democracy, rain forests and adoption. Occasionally, we even send our sons and daughters into harm’s way to help change a regime and give the people an opportunity for self-determination.
The responder has nobly spent much time in south and central America on medical-humanitarian endeavors, and has singularly sought to help one particular individual from Nicaragua, going so far as to donate one of his own kidneys, and spend undoubtedly vast sums of his own money. I recognize his sincere and righteous heart, and applaud his concern for his fellow man.
But, as sad and bad as these many places are, and how seemingly futile our governmental, charitable and direct assistance may seem…it is NOT a reason to accept unbridled, criminal immigration into our borders.
National policy must be made on the macro level, with macro concerns. While there are certainly individuals in Guatemala with leaky roofs and the need for medicine, who send their children to America to work in honest jobs to send money home… policy can’t be made for these people. Policy must be made for the vast invasion of criminal immigrants who are in our country undocumented, working (if they are working) at jobs that drive our wages down and not paying taxes; behaving in ways dangerous to our citizens (and themselves); sapping our resources by use of government assistance to which they contribute little if anything; not assimilating as true citizens of our country; and sending vast quantities of monies out of our economy back “home” for many reasons other than leaky roofs and medicine.
Our society, through our police and judicial systems, confiscate the ill-gotten gains of those engaged in illegal activities. Drug dealers loose their cars, boats, homes and cash, even before they are convicted in court of the crimes they are accused. Thieves loose their booty and belongings. Even white-collar criminals must pay steep fines (look at Scooter Libby as an example). Never is it an excuse that they needed to commit their crimes to feed their family, pay for medicine or provide a roof.
Why do we continue to allow the 12-20 million criminals in our midst, who are continuing in criminal activity daily, to not only keep the results of their criminal activities, but even send $20 billion or more annually out of our country and our economy?
We need to remember, we must be concerned with America and Americans first. As national policy, those that are in our country illegally, for the purpose of helping others outside our country are a problem that must be solved.
All religions teach that one must take care of one’s own family and people first, before going out and helping others. Logic tells us that in terms of international relations, much the same must be true. Our honest, heartfelt concern for others cannot be justification to allow all that we hold dear to crumble around our feet.
The responder also believes we have only two solutions. I disagree. We have the solution of closing off the ability for criminals to enter our country illegally, and work to remove those criminally already within our borders. (I addressed this in a post Saturday, June 23, 2007, “How to Easily Remove the Criminal Immigrants from the USA”) Then, we continue to work with the governments of these places to address their own problems internally, while opening LEGAL immigration channels to these people within reasonable limits. Even with legal immigration, we need to make sure such immigration benefits American interests first and foremost.
Does this view make me a Satan? No. I think not. What do you think?
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