The hatred for immigrants in America is sickening.
Okay, so I'm about to go on another rant. Warning: A large amount of text is incoming.
I've been quietly monitoring the immigrant debate that's taking place on television, in the media, on the blogosphere and such. I have read many, many opinions and thoughts from various angles of this debate. I have considered many of them by imagining myself in someone else's shoes. What it ultimately came down to, for me, was empathy.
As I make this post, a planning commission in Escondido California just (on Tuesday) rejected a shelter for immigrant children. The proposed shelter was to be a 96 bed facility opened in a former nursing home. Five hundred people showed up for a hearing at Escondidio's city council chambers - most of them to lend their support to rejecting the shelter.
Also recently - a mass grave was discovered near the border that likely contains the bodies of numerous illegal immigrants. Politicians on the left are pretty much giving up the fight on immigration reform - and the right wing machine (particularly tea party members) seems more ready than ever to police the border themselves with their own guns. The vast outpouring of hatred and rage are poisonous enough to make even me cringe.
Our Country, it seems to me, is becoming increasingly uncharitable. We are increasingly more likely to criticize the welfare state, to reject refugees and immigrants, to happily suggest that we drug test welfare recipients (and maybe sterilize them, too) and gleefully recommend sending immigrants and refugees back to their own Countries to face God knows what.
In the midst of all of this, I thought about my own son. Like most Fathers, I love my son. I imagined how I would feel if, for whatever reason, he had had to flee to another Country. I would desperately hope for the best, even pray for him - though I've been an agnostic for years. I would devoutly hope that whatever Nation he ended up in would offer him food, shelter - and the hope of a better life.
That is why immigrants are coming here, even children who are sneeringly rejected by so called Christian Americans. The same people who go to church on Sundays, who can be found quoting the bible and ranting about Jesus - are often the very same people to be the least charitable among us. Please understand - this is not a criticism of Christianity itself, but of false Christians. For to be Christian means to be Christ like, or to at least strive to be.
I'm an agnostic, so I'm not terribly crazy about religion, or about the bible, but I did read it. I remember a Christ who talked about forgiveness, about charity. I remember how he talked about feeding the hungry, visiting those in prison, clothing the naked, giving all we had to those in need. I remember he said, "Blessed are the meek", "Blessed are the poor".
Does it not seem that this is the sort of person - or god - who would want us to care for the hungry, the poor, the families fleeing from violence in war-torn lands and lands in economic ruin? Does it not seem like he might say to us all that the way to get into heaven is to be kind to others? To help them and offer them shelter and food when needed?
Perhaps we should consider the inscription on the statue of liberty. I quote, ""Give me your tired, your poor/Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free""
Perhaps we might even consider that, with the exception of Native Americans, we are all immigrants here, or the descendants of immigrants. My own family hailed from Scotland, Ireland and England. They came here for various reasons, one fleeing a potato famine, one running away from an angry mother, one just looking for a different life. I don't know all of their stories, but they were, without question, immigrants. Legal and illegal. Another funny thing about so called "legal immigration" back in the day, was that all you had to do was agree to serve the army against confederates or union soldiers - and you were welcomed. "Welcome to America Son, here's a gun, now go serve your Country!" (Well, some of it, anyway)
What have we come to, when, instead of opening our arms and our hearts, we attempt to slam shut the gates and point guns in the faces of people seeking hope, shelter, freedom and prosperity?
This isn't the America I was raised to believe in. This isn't the same Country I read about in the history books, nor the same people. There is too much hate, too much anger... too much blame, all directed at the wrong people. It makes me angry and it makes me sad.
If we are to ship out all illegal immigrants and refugees, and their descendants, I imagine there's ships that should be loaded with congress members, tea party republicans and armed, fanatical militia men currently trying to police the border.
There is enough here for all of us. If people are just willing to share, to open their minds and their hearts. We came to this land as pilgrims, as outlaws, as soldiers, as people searching for something better. We found it.
I believe that, rather than rejecting immigrants and condemning them - we should be welcoming them, and working together to make this Country stronger, better, and brighter for everyone. I will willingly share what I have and give of myself to accomplish these goals - because I know how I would feel, if my family needed shelter.
= new reply since forum marked as read
Response to davidthegnome (Reply #18)
Response to bradla (Reply #1)
Where is the Church? Where are all the Christians? Why aren't they standing in line at the Immigration offices down there volunteering to take those children in until something can be decided upon?
I swear, this country is becoming more and more uncivilized as time goes on. 
Pope Francis?.. oh that guy. 
how I would feel, if my family needed shelter."
Well said, but you just gave yourself away as a total liberal Democrat. 
Don't tell anyone!
Seriously... in my teens or early twenties, I would have strongly objected to being labeled a bleeding heart liberal. These days though, I consider it an honor and a compliment of the highest sort. Thanks.
It seems a troll came out from under their bridge and was quickly banished by some rather excellent staff here. I really wanted to play with it though. 
Let's make some redneck jokes. Who's up for a good time? I mean, have yer done diddled yer sister, or are yer just stickin' to the family cow? (I borrowed that one, from Skinner, I think). You know you're a Redneck when... you go to family reunions to pick up chicks! (I borrowed that one too). Is yer aunt edna preggers agin? Ya know, daddy always dun tole me that keepin' it in the family is good fer bizniz.
Seriously, the way this topic infuriates conservatives never fails to amaze me. In some cases though, when they reveal their true nature here on DU, I have to chuckle. Good way to get rid of trolls - talk about immigration reform, generosity. Suggest that Jesus would want them to be kind and generous.
Someone must have some better redneck jokes than I do.
