Submitted to the H'burg American
A response to a letter in the Hattiesburg American:
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20081216/OPINION01/812160325/1014/OPINION
Re: “Immigrants? Or ilegal aliens?”
I am a Hattiesburg resident and was proud to stand with the immigrant community on Dec. 5, 2008 in Jackson. Immigrants, regardless of legal status, are our neighbors and friends, and we are morally compelled as people of conscience or people of faith to recognize their human dignity and the value they bring to our communities. Yes, we are in a recession and things are getting tight. Are we, then, going to fight against one another, or work together, all of us, to get through this time? Our immigrant neighbors are here to work, to feed their families. In their situation, I would do the same, and no border would stop me from providing for my children or family. Yes, we have laws. However, the laws written in our hearts are higher laws. Caring for family, friends, and neighbors are higher laws. Migrating to find work is, historically, part of the human condition. Whether dust-bowl farmers moving East, Europeans moving to the “new world” or workers crossing the Rio Grande, we all must eat and care for our loved ones. In 1994, the United States, Mexico and Canada passed the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). We must recognize that we cannot have a free movement of capital without also a more free movement of people, and cultures. Immigrants also bring economic benefits to our communities. Besides the increased economic activity that immigrants bring, our sales tax ensures that taxes are being paid by all. I am a low-income worker and receive the majority of my federal taxes back each April. Am I only an economic burden to our nation? If labor law was followed in our country, if all workers earned a living wage and were treated with respect, then the “competition” that immigrants bring to our job market would be based solely on ability of the worker and not in the ability of the company to abuse and exploit some workers more than others. By fighting for workers’ rights (regardless of legal status) we are fighting for America while refusing to give in to the darker angels of xenophobia and racism. In looking to the Bible for guidance, I remind my neighbors who may read this of Ezekial 16:49: “This was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy.” How easily we can see ourselves reflected in this verse, for when we scream “America first,” can we escape the sin of pride? I am also reminded of Deut. 10:19 which calls us to “Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.” Perhaps we are better also to remember the adage, “wherefore but by the grace of God go I” and stand with up for our neighbors and friends.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20081216/OPINION01/812160325/1014/OPINION
Re: “Immigrants? Or ilegal aliens?”
I am a Hattiesburg resident and was proud to stand with the immigrant community on Dec. 5, 2008 in Jackson. Immigrants, regardless of legal status, are our neighbors and friends, and we are morally compelled as people of conscience or people of faith to recognize their human dignity and the value they bring to our communities. Yes, we are in a recession and things are getting tight. Are we, then, going to fight against one another, or work together, all of us, to get through this time? Our immigrant neighbors are here to work, to feed their families. In their situation, I would do the same, and no border would stop me from providing for my children or family. Yes, we have laws. However, the laws written in our hearts are higher laws. Caring for family, friends, and neighbors are higher laws. Migrating to find work is, historically, part of the human condition. Whether dust-bowl farmers moving East, Europeans moving to the “new world” or workers crossing the Rio Grande, we all must eat and care for our loved ones. In 1994, the United States, Mexico and Canada passed the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). We must recognize that we cannot have a free movement of capital without also a more free movement of people, and cultures. Immigrants also bring economic benefits to our communities. Besides the increased economic activity that immigrants bring, our sales tax ensures that taxes are being paid by all. I am a low-income worker and receive the majority of my federal taxes back each April. Am I only an economic burden to our nation? If labor law was followed in our country, if all workers earned a living wage and were treated with respect, then the “competition” that immigrants bring to our job market would be based solely on ability of the worker and not in the ability of the company to abuse and exploit some workers more than others. By fighting for workers’ rights (regardless of legal status) we are fighting for America while refusing to give in to the darker angels of xenophobia and racism. In looking to the Bible for guidance, I remind my neighbors who may read this of Ezekial 16:49: “This was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy.” How easily we can see ourselves reflected in this verse, for when we scream “America first,” can we escape the sin of pride? I am also reminded of Deut. 10:19 which calls us to “Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.” Perhaps we are better also to remember the adage, “wherefore but by the grace of God go I” and stand with up for our neighbors and friends.