Immigration Reform: Be Sensible
I was thrilled to read an editorial in the New York Times this morning that took a common sense approach to the hot button issue of immigration reform. CNN and other major news networks have been causing a ruckus about immigration lately, and no one doubts that our current stance of ignoring the issue or going after immigrants vigilante style is idiotic at best.
I have worked a day labor job recently, mainly for some quick cash but it also turned into an interesting social experiment. In the back of a truck, my white skin offset by the dark tans of my new immigrant friends, my broken spanish was more than enough to find out that my co-workers were just like me. They just wanted to work for a real wage, and they were willing to all but break their backs to do it. They all had families to support, in the U.S. or back home. Their paychecks were wired to wives and mothers, and they lived a spartan life while enduring the racism and culture shock of America.
We are all immigrants here. Just because your parents came on a boat two or three generations ago gives you no more inherent rights to this country than someone who wishes to escape an endless cycle of poverty and live the American dream. It's not just your dream, and America has no right to deny entry to immigrants who simply want a better life for their children. We need to welcome these new Americans with open arms and incorporate them into our society. There won't be an illegal immigrant burden on education or health care if we make them part of the system; tax-paying, law-abiding citizens just like you or me. We have a huge, rich country here that only needs smart management and smart policies to remain a world leader. So let's elect those officials who will make good things happen. If no one is stepping up in your district or your state, do it yourself. The key word to participatory democracy is the one that starts with a P.
posted by c_peligroso @ 2:01 PM
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