Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Re: What Part of “Illegal” Really Matters?

I couldn't figure out the point of what you were saying, were you complaining that people say they dislike illegal un-native Americans but really dislike un-native Americans altogether? (forgive my humor)

>What part of 'illegal do you not understand?"

The letter of the law kills. http://www.biblegateway.com/keyword/?search=letter%20killeth&version1=9&searchtype=all

There's a very  relevant and similar scene to in the Bible.

Then said one unto him, {Uncle Sam}, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the {border crossing}: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once {Uncle Sam} is risen up, and hath shut … the {border}, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the {border crossing}, saying, {Uncle Sam}, {Uncle Sam}, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence [without a green card], and thou hast taught in our {airways}. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not [nor the patriotism from] whence ye are; depart from me, all ye {indentured} workers … . There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see {George Washington}, and {Abraham Lincoln}, and {Thomas Jefferson}, and all the {founding fathers}, in the kingdom of {America}, and you yourselves thrust out. And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall {assimilate} in the kingdom of {America}.  http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2013:23-29&version=KJV Please look and see what words I changed.

And this clip has a similar stance, but the humor of it doesn't fit. http://youtu.be/W6ANOBnwpSA


On Monday, July 2, 2012 3:33:11 PM UTC-5, MJ wrote:

What Part of "Illegal" Really Matters?
by Scott McPherson, July 2, 2012

The mantra of some of the anti-immigration movement in this country can be found in the following question: What part of "illegal" do you not understand? It is regularly featured on protest placards; it's in their widely circulated emails.

Most anti-immigration types will not say they are anti-immigration, of course ­ they're just anti–illegal immigration, they say. "These people," they rail, righteous with indignation, "are here in violation of our laws!"

Quick question: If you're really opposed only to illegal immigration, then surely you won't object if Congress changes federal immigration law to make it easier for people to come to the United States, right? If we just ­ voila! ­ make all "illegal immigrants" "legal" by law, then where does that leave your argument?

The truth is, these some of these people just don't like immigrants. They want as few as possible to come to the United States, but they don't have the courage to say it, so they hide behind current immigration law to deny those who want a better lives for themselves and their families such an opportunity.

Imagine if we applied their thinking consistently. It wouldn't take long for many of those who claim they oppose only illegal immigration to be singing a different tune.

Take the recent Heller decision, which overturned Washington, D.C.'s, draconian gun laws. How many "law and order" conservatives were on hand to chide those hoping the court would overturn D.C. law? ("Hey, Second Amendment Lover: What part of 'illegal' do you not understand?")

Some Americans express outrage when a municipal government harasses some young person for running a lemonade stand, citing health and safety laws, permit fees, and business-license requirements. But isn't that an illegal business? ("Hey, Free-Enterprise Advocate: What part of 'illegal' do you not understand?")

Oh, that's different, they'll say. Owning a gun and operating a business ­ those are important constitutional rights.

You mean, like freedom?

In that vein, let's ask another question: If you oppose only illegal immigration, then what are your feelings on escaped slaves in the antebellum South? After all, they were breaking the law when they ran away ­ when they immigrated ­ to a non–slave state!

Many Americans at the time understood the right of people ­ all people ­ to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and helped runaway slaves. So much so that pro-slavery forces in Congress pushed through a federal law that threatened six months' imprisonment and a $1,000 fine for anyone who helped a slave to escape.

Freedom-loving Americans understood that in any conflict between law and right, right should prevail. The law be damned. They didn't say, "Escaping from your master is illegal ­ what part of that do you not understand?" Instead they demanded that slavery be abolished.

Law, in any republic, should be sacrosanct; it should be inviolable ­ but never as an end in itself. Law exists to serve the people, to protect their rights ­ to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Those are the rights of "all men" ­ each and every human being.

The American colonists lived under a government that violated their rights, and in defiance of the law ("'Hey, colonists,' shouted the King, 'what part of "illegal" do you not understand?' And the colonists, sufficiently cowed, laid down their arms and went back to sipping tea" is not part of our national narrative!) they overthrew their government so that another could be established in its place ­ one where "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" might be enjoyed by everyone.

http://www.fff.org/comment/com1207c.asp

--
Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups.
For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum
 
* Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/
* It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls.
* Read the latest breaking news, and more.

No comments:

Post a Comment