#78 When in Rome...

On this immortalized symbol are the following words:   "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

These words over the decades have stood for freedom from political tyranny, freedom from religious oppression, freedom from economic slavery and freedom for those who feel the need to start over in life.  They don't necessarily mean you will get them but they do stand for these things.  In the same way that the Declaration doesn't necessarily mean you will have freedom, but the opportunity to have freedom.  This is not to say that we should not uphold these ideals.  By all means these words are etched in stone and therefore should be "etched in stone".  Our laws should make way for the paths of freedom so that the world will have a beacon of light to look to.  So that leads to the argument who do these words speak to today?

This is a very controversial issue because it homes everywhere.  We are all in one way, shape, or form, unless you are considered a full blooded Native American, an immigrant whether our heritage is of European, African, Asian, or Latino descent.  We are all from families who came here either by choice or force.  It doesn't matter if our families are directly descendants from the Mayflower, the Adelaide, or the Illegal Super Highway, we are all from a different place.  Please keep in mind that immigration is not just about Mexicans coming across the border.

Here are the results from the last poll:  What is the biggest problem about immigration?

• 23% said  paying for peoples' needs.  The biggest perceived problem deals with money.  Probably about 25 years ago this would have been less of an issue but since the US has been having economic difficulties lately, more and more would choose this as the main problem.  Pure assumptions tell us that the reason why there is a problem is because the only way that certain needs are paid for are by the dreaded tax.  If people can hardly pay for their own family due to taxes then why do they have to pay for someone else's family, especially one that is not counted as American?  Education and health care take up the most of these costs.  And of course these are tax-paid-for privileges.  They do have some points.  If we start to pay for people who are not citizens then where does it stop?  Do we start paying for Canadians? (tongue in cheek)  And these are, whether you like to admit it or not, privileges, not guarantees of our basic rights; life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  However, on the other hand, show some compassion to those who are here to try and make their lives better like most immigrants.
• 19% said loss of American culture.  As soon as this is solidified then this may be an argument.  What is the American culture?  Food?  Perhaps fried chicken and apple pie are the closest to this since even hamburger is German.  Religion?  Do you mean Christianity?  Perhaps at one time it was, but even then Christianity started in the Middle East.  Language?  Although English is the most widely used and most commonly accepted it is not the official language.  Economic prosperity?  Isn't that what all cultures want?  Sports?  Well, maybe with baseball, football, and basketball being pretty much American-made.  Clothing?  Music?  These are world-wide trends but maybe the trends start here.  Two cars, a house, 1.25 kids, and a dog?  No.  That used to be the American dream, not American culture, before liberalism killed it that is.  Now if you said, our laws, then that is actually close.  Although we do borrow many ideas from the ancient Greeks, Romans, and the British.  If you said customs and traditions, then that is perhaps the closest.  But, again, some of those have been borrowed and modified.  If you consolidate traditions and laws then you may get the American culture.  And that is what those who answered this way probably feel.  Fit in or get out.  "You came here to be part of America since it apparently was better than yours, so why are you trying to change it into the culture you chose to leave"?  That is a good point.
• 14%  said loss of American jobs.  Very important.  But only one thing can save American jobs...American CEOs.
• 4%  said free movement of terrorists.  True!  But that means every border, by air, land, and sea.  Shouldn't this one be ranked higher?  Paul Rodriguez said once in a comedy routine, "We're not here to kill you.  We just want your jobs."
• 0% said diseases.  This is deceptive.  It doesn't mean people aren't worried, but it is not the biggest worry.  Plus, with the health care in this country and the scientific research we have most of these diseases would not effect us like other countries, swine flu (H1N1) as an example.
• 0% said drugs and smuggling.  This was a shocker.  No one is worried about illegal drugs?  Aren't illegal drugs more dangerous than illegal immigrants?  And no, they are not interchangeable.
• 9% said other.  This one never makes sense.  What would be "other" in this case?  And why would you pick it?
• 28% said all of the above.  Maybe this is where drugs comes in.  People are worried about it but they are equally worried about all of this.

Bottom line is immigration is natural, and needed.  Don't get mad at Mexicans for wanting a better life.  Plus, you can't tell them to go back home.  They were here first.  Most Mexicans are Native Americans who were colonized byu the Spanish.  Americans are no better than anyone that comes into this country, except for terrorists.  Immigration is where new ideas come together to get the best of life.  There is no easy answer to this issue.  It seems like all answers will have some sort of negative impact on some people.  But even though we are a nation of immigrants and we are all illegal as compared to the Native American, we live in different times.  Precautions are now needed to protect everyone who wants to have a better life.  The laws we have in place need to enforced but with compassion.  Our borders need more protection by the National Guard.  Businesses should have harsher penalties for hiring illegal aliens over American citizens (but that won't happen as long as we want $50/hr).  The question becomes who is legal and who isn't.  No one really has a problem with those who come into the country by going through the correct process, which has been a law since 1790, even though that law was racist, it still was a law.

Those who are here to help America can stay.  Those who are here to change us and/hurt us can use the revolving door, but only one side of it.  And if the Federal government won't do it, then more power to the states. 

When in Rome, do as the Romans do.