Dusting off my soapbox ... :)
I was going to add this as a response to the note about social services, but I'd rather discuss it out here on the main blog:
* * *
I had read earlier about that portion of the bills (tying churches' and agencies' hands to help undocumented immigrants), and when I did, it sent a cold chill down my spine.
When my mother was alive, the bulk of her church's social-services budget (indigent food bank, arranging legal aid) went toward helping recent immigrants build productive lives here. This was something she believed strongly in -- and as pastor, she stood her ground, even when some xenophobic parishioners urged her to start denying services to "illegals."
I am proud of my mom for this. Human need is human need. And these people wouldn't be coming here if the need didn't pre-exist in their countries of origin.
Some folks might argue, "Why do we owe them anything? This isn't America's problem."
Hmmmm. What is our duty as Americans? Honestly, I could really give a fuck. Because I have a higher duty, as a Christian, to feed the poor. To clothe the naked. To welcome the stranger.
Under the currently proposed legislation, what my mom did would be considered a felony.
But in God's eyes, the bigger crime is turning one's back.
Immigration reform needs to happen in this country. I'm sick of reading about people dying barefoot and dehydrated in our deserts. I'm sick of reading about overheated tractor-trailers packed with corpses and excrement.
But rather than erecting new barriers (and tossing penalty upon penalty at those who breach them!), I'd rather see us find ways to open doors.
People are knocking, whether we want them to or not.
* * *
I had read earlier about that portion of the bills (tying churches' and agencies' hands to help undocumented immigrants), and when I did, it sent a cold chill down my spine.
When my mother was alive, the bulk of her church's social-services budget (indigent food bank, arranging legal aid) went toward helping recent immigrants build productive lives here. This was something she believed strongly in -- and as pastor, she stood her ground, even when some xenophobic parishioners urged her to start denying services to "illegals."
I am proud of my mom for this. Human need is human need. And these people wouldn't be coming here if the need didn't pre-exist in their countries of origin.
Some folks might argue, "Why do we owe them anything? This isn't America's problem."
Hmmmm. What is our duty as Americans? Honestly, I could really give a fuck. Because I have a higher duty, as a Christian, to feed the poor. To clothe the naked. To welcome the stranger.
Under the currently proposed legislation, what my mom did would be considered a felony.
But in God's eyes, the bigger crime is turning one's back.
Immigration reform needs to happen in this country. I'm sick of reading about people dying barefoot and dehydrated in our deserts. I'm sick of reading about overheated tractor-trailers packed with corpses and excrement.
But rather than erecting new barriers (and tossing penalty upon penalty at those who breach them!), I'd rather see us find ways to open doors.
People are knocking, whether we want them to or not.