Tuesday, May 02, 2006

Everyone Is An Immigrant



I woke up Monday and finished my normal morning routine, got on the road and it just felt different. The roads in San Diego were quieter than normal, but I couldn’t put my finger on why. I looked at the calendar when I got to work and realized that Monday was “A Day Without An Immigrant” day dubbed by immigrant right activists against the planned immigration bill.

The reasoning that I have been hearing all too frequently is that illegal immigrants work the jobs which no Americans will work. I don’t believe this to be true at least not 100% of it, there’s too many homeless, starving, and unemployed people in the United States to say this is true. People who are in those types of situations, who are U.S. citizens should get a first chance at jobs that illegal immigrants work (farming, food service, etc.).

If I recall correctly, Mexico has a free border into the States. People can come and go as they please and we don’t exactly stop those who are illegal from entering our States. Why is it that if we see a boat full of Chinese coming from abroad we intercept that boat and turn it around? That sounds like a double standard if you ask me.

Now it’s everyone’s right to immigrate to any country, humans are almost nomads by nature but if there are rules, regulations, and prerequisites prior to earning your right to be in a country then those rules should be followed. Some may feel that these rules are unfair and unethical but in reality everyone had to go through it at some point in time.

It’s an inalienable right that everyone should be treated with decency and respect legal or not. The line is crossed however we point fingers at those who are illegal, however those who are illegal however should respect the country which they are trying to be a part of and get proper paperwork to allow their stay in the United States

We’ve all had to go through it at one point or another, maybe not you in particular but someone in your family. Allowing anyone who is in the country to stay illegally and gain legal status on a whim as many propose just isn’t acceptable. It discredits the things that our mothers, fathers, grandmothers, grandfathers, and so on believed in when they worked their knuckles raw to get an opportunity for a better life in the United States.

Everyone in the United States migrated here at some point in time. I don’t recall looking in my history book and hearing of human civilization in the Americas prior to the land bridge allowing Chinese and others from the Far East to cross over. So we’re all immigrants in some way shape or forum. It’s ok to be an immigrant, just follow the rules and do it the right way.


I'll leave this entry with a quote...

"Little minds are tamed and subdued by misfortunes; but great minds rise above them." - Washington Irving

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