The human element of immigration
reform debate has been forgotten
There's something seriously wrong
with society when individuals have to take to the streets, give up
a day's pay and keep their children out of school in an effort to
validate their existence.
That's essentially what took place Sunday and Monday locally and throughout
the nation as an estimated one million undocumented workers, commonly
referred to as illegal aliens, and their supporters, aired their feelings
about The Border Protection, Antiterrorism and Illegal Immigration
Control Act of 2005, better known as H.R. 4437.
There were passionate pleas, written and verbalized, and a spirit
of unity that can often be found in this country, probably last seen
in mass following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks—the
event that spearheaded United States officials to reevaluate how they
handle immigration and naturalization.
No matter what side of the fence one falls on what is a very complex
and emotional issue, what can't be forgotten is at the core of the
debate is the lives of human beings, human beings seeking a chance
for a better life, like everyone else who once came to Ellis Island
or set out elsewhere looking for the American dream.
How disturbing it is that some people choose to use the race card
and spread hatred and bigotry against certain ethnic groups, instead
of embracing others simply as people.
Many people apparently have very short memories of their ancestors
who were once in the same boat, literally.
This is not legislation that only applies to those of Hispanic heritage.
That population just happens to be the most visible. Immigrants from
every country are affected.
It also would penalize an American citizen who tries to help someone
without papers in any way, down to something as simple as giving a
person something to eat.
That's why so many individuals and groups are seeking reform to the
legislation. It's a bill that's flawed in many ways.
Criminals who do harm to others should pay the price, but what harm
does an undocumented worker do when he or she puts in a hard day's
work for an honest pay, in many cases in jobs that "legal"
citizens want no part of, just to make a living, as we all do?
The United States has always prided itself on being a melting pot
and being the land of opportunity. It's what our founding fathers
envisioned when they crafted The Declaration of Independence.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created
equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable
Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
Those wise words were written almost 230 years ago. It would be wise
for those who have apparently forgotten the basic principles that
this country was founded on to revisit history, and perhaps they would
see what is happening today around them in a much different and humanitarian
way.
