the sojourner

Daniel, there you are.
Thank you for the remarks.
We are close to agreeing and I hope to bring you the rest of the way.

Daniel: Octavio- First, I hope I’m not on the list of “bad� people in this immigration debate.
Octavio: I’ll leave that for you to determine.

Second- I agree, Mexico should take care of it’s people, there we see eye to eye.
Good.

With that in mind, let me say this: Mexico is not taking care of her people.
Exactly, MEXICO isn’t caring for her people. The former Coca-Cola executive, Mexican President Fox, squandered the opportunity to reform his country’s economic policies and create the environment, which leads to the creation of personal wealth. Until Mexico de-nationalizes refineries and the banking system…the country will continue to stagnate; and let’s not forget the culture of lawlessness and corruption, which permeates the entire culture…rich and poor alike.

I took Obahsomah’s suggestion and watched the episode of “30 Days� that involved illegal immigration. Some immigrants come out of the most severe poverty possible.
The key word is “some.�
There are some poor folks living in Mexico…in remote villages, under-educated and under-skilled…just like there are some poor folks living in this country. So whom should we choose to help first, ILLEGAL immigrants or legal residents and citizens?

ILLEGAL immigrants overcrowd schools, cause the shut down of hospitals in every single border state, drain the limited social services available to the legal residents of America, break multiple laws, cripple the social security system and on and on…why on God’s earth would you throw open the borders of our country? Why would you punish the legal residents and citizens of America?

You say Mexico should care for her people, but I don’t see you campaining for Mexican reform. You seem to be fighting a symptom, but the root of the problem goes unchecked. You are obviously very passionate, why not turn that passion onto something that will benefit American and Mexican alike.
Goodness Daniel, you are confusing campaigning and supporting! I believe child prostitution is horrific, but I do not campaign against it. Is my opinion invalid? Of course not. Here are a few other things I am against that I don’t campaign to reform: elder abuse, child abuse, driving under the influence of a controlled substance, drive-by shootings, teenage pregnancies, high-school dropouts, and any movie with Keanu Reeve.

Ok, that last one was meant to be funny, but you get the point. My opinion, your opinion, is not nullified because we do not actively campaign for, or against it. And for the record, I am not involved in any campaign against ILLEGAL immigration, but I do believe the movement is correct.

I challenge you, for every anti-ILLEGAL immigration post, comment, march or campaign you are a part of, (and I do recognize your sacrifice to help individuals, but I am referring to the “movement� of illegal immigration) be a part of five more to bring peace and stability and prosperity to Mexico.
Why is the burden therefore on the anti-ILLEGAL immigrant folks? It is the pro-ILLEGAL immigrant folks who should be marching and protesting…in Mexico.

This may not be my place, and I realize that this is purely politics, and that it is likely that neither of us will change our minds.
Are you kidding here? Slavery was purely politics. So was Lincoln’s suspension of habeas corpus, Lyndon’s Great Society, the 1938 enactment of minimum wage laws, FDR’s institution of social security and internment of the Japanese, police reform, each election, everything is “purely politics.� Besides the core spiritual beliefs of an individual, country and culture…what else matters?

What else has the capacity to do well or cause harm to millions of people? And another thing…you are too young to believe people will not change their beliefs. I can be convinced with either scripture or logic.
But I don’t believe in nationalism.
C’mon Daniel…that’s no argument. What you mean by “nationalismâ€??

I believe that the earth is God’s, and everything in it.
This is a phrase like “I believe in smart development,â€? sounds good, but fails to take a stand on the issue. After all, who would believe in “un-smart development?” Your statement sounds good, but you don’t really believe it. Can we agree that some people should not be allowed in our country? For example…

Mauricio Alejandro Jimenez, this ILLEGAL immigrant shot and critically injured two young brothers from Boyle Heights. The young boys were rushed to White Memorial Hospital where they remained in critical condition. I know this neighborhood. My in-laws live there. I know that hospital…my sister-in-law worked in that hospital. She also died there. So did my father-in-law. Now here’s the sickening part…Jimenez has been arrested multiple times for crimes including, illegal firearm possession, possession of firearms in a school zone and vandalism. He served one year in county jail at a cost to taxpayers of $36k. He has violated his parole. He was deported! But he returns to shoot up a crowd of people on the 400 block of N. St Louis Street on July 15th.

What about the 240,000 known ILLEGAL immigrant sex offenders who are roaming in our country?

What about OTMs? OTM is a Federal Border designation, which stands for Other Than Mexican. This week, 12 Sheriffs from various border-states have raised concern over the increase of OTMs who are Middle Eastern. Do you think they are coming here to work?

I mean, putting aside “the earth is God’s� and all, wouldn’t you agree that at the very least, the kindest thing we could do is screen folks who come into this country and secure our borders? You really don’t think everyone should be able to enter this country, do you?

I also believe that “where you live should not decide whether you live or whether you die.� U2 “Crumbs from your Table� And so I end with one final thought: “When you harvest the crops of your land, do not harvest the grain along the edges of your fields, and do not pick up what the harvesters drop. Leave it for the poor and the foreigners living among you. I, the LORD, am your God.� Leviticus 23:22 NLT
Once again, think through your statements, sentiments and scripture quoting. Sounds noble, but the devil is in the details. Consider the work of George Borjas (http://www.borjas.com) This Cuban immigrant emigrated in 1962 at the age of 12, not long after soldiers burst into his family’s home. He is the Robert W. Scrivner Professor of Economics and Social Policy at the Kennedy School of Government, and he has made the same case for years:

1. ILLEGAL immigrants hurt the economic prospects of the Americans they compete with.
2.The biggest contingent of ILLEGAL immigrants are poorly educated Mexicans who hurt poorer Americans and poorer African-Americans the most.

Ok everyone, what should be done? How would you help ILLEGAL immigrants?

Love be with you still.
U2. Pun intended.

***added 8/25/06 - a center for victims of domestic abuse in Laguna Hills will experience a little less support; the $28,000.00 which was earmarked for the their center has been diverted to clean the restrooms at a job site built for ILLEGAL immigrants in that city. One hospital in San Diego county is struggling to close a $2,000,000.00 gap caused by ILLEGAL immigrants who use emgency room services for routine medical care, but do not pay.