Irrational attacks on immigration

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.suntimes.com/news/greeley/400819,CST-EDT-greel25.article

May 25, 2007
BY ANDREW GREELEY

As the immigrant haters demolish the current version of "reform," the wise person tries to reflect on these three propositions:

The first is self-evident: All humans are created equal and have certain inalienable rights -- life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Immigrants are humans. Therefore, they have these inalienable rights.

Second, as long as you have a long border with a labor supply on one side and a labor demand on the other, impoverished people will find ways to cross the border -- unless they are shot on sight.

Third, the United States needs these workers. If we sent them all back, the national economy would collapse.

All the irrationalities of the arguments about "amnesty," "protect our borders," "our ancestors were LEGAL immigrants," "enforce the laws," "send them all home" collapse in the face of these three ineluctable facts. The fury aimed that these poor, hardworking people is comparable to the fury against the Italians, Poles and Irish a century ago. It is as useless now as it was then. And as evil.

[Kagemusha]

1. You know, even though frankly, I agree with the writer on points 1 to 3,

I can't ignore that calling it "immigration" is extremely kind. It's more like tresspassing than immigration. Immigration is an inherently legal process so illegal immigration is a complete oxymoron. I say that while noting the massive Republican hypocrisy - if it wasn't for illegal immigrants, what would they do, go back to slavery? No, they are not going to close that spigot off.

[Cerridwen]

2. K & R for a good and succinct read

He makes some very good arguments. Thanks for posting this, NNN0LHI.

[Donnachaidh]

3. until we face the FACT that Business caused this problem, and CONTINUES

to FEED this problem, we'll never have a solution.

I cannot fault people for seeking WORK to feed their families. But I CAN fault ALL the people who hire undocumented workers with one hand, and then scream for a border policy with the other. It's EVIL, and the most vicious of attitudes to have.

[patrick404]

4. Not a hate thing

I don't 'hate' legal immigrants, I don't 'hate' people here illegally and I don't even hate the business owners and politicans who created this mess. I am very angry that our hard won labor laws, working conditions, and requirements of businesses to pay taxes has been eroded by unscrupulous business owners and our politicians who will not enforce our laws. I want no special advantages for line jumpers (who not legal immigrants) nor for business owners who diss our laws. I understand that many of the people coming here are poor and hard workers, but they are still line jumpers and they need to demand change in their countries. I wish them no harm nor animosity and I don't want to punish them, but merely have them cease and desist and demand improvement from their homelands.