Immigration: Reform or an Excuse to Codify Xenophobia?

I am mystified at the widespread opposition to the current immigration reform proposal. While not perfect, it addresses the problem of illegal immigration by better securing the borders and allowing more workers in legally.
It also attempts to soften the impact of reform for the immigrants, their families, their employers and our economy by allowing employed illegal immigrants to stay, albeit at some penalty.

The bottom line is that we need immigration. Our economy can not be sustained on the home grown workforce. Inadequate immigration policy and inadequate border control, lead to an ‘illegal’ supplemental work force. But we still need that work force, so it seems to me that correcting the problem rather than throwing them out is the right thing to do.

But all I hear from those against this is that we are giving amnesty to law breakers when we should be throwing them out. I also notice that few of these same critics have much to say about the law-breaking American businesses that employed these illegal workers. I have to wonder if this is about the immigrants’ legal status and responsibilities or is it just a wedge to cleanse the ethnicity of the United States.

Be that as it may, I can’t help but have a bit of sympathy for those on the right vehemently opposed to this reform. Those of us left of center know all too well what it’s like to have the President make up his mind and not listen to anything you have to say. We feel your pain, with just a tinge of enjoyment.

Would Jesus be a Conservative?

In America today we see the term ‘Christian Conservative’ as a redundancy. If you are Christian, you must be conservative. If you are conservative you are most likely Christian. That’s too bad because one has little to do with the other.

As I see it, the very essence of the teachings of Jesus sounds like a liberal manifesto.
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus teaches us the golden rule, to turn the other cheek, love our enemies, to not sit in judgment of others, and to eschew material things over more important matters. Yet some so-called ‘Christian leaders’ support war, call for retribution, advocate hatred, violence, even death for those they do not like, incessantly express disdain, derision and displeasure with those they disagree with, and all the while living lavishly.

A person who goes through life striving to do right by others, going the extra mile, meeting violence with love, forgiving his enemies, keeping his judgments to himself, and quietly, generously sharing his wealth with those in need would be seen by the right as a classic bleeding heart liberal. Yet it is precisely the life that imperfect Christians are taught to strive for.

So how is it that people who call themselves Christian have aligned themselves with the kind of conservatives who sit in judgment of others, foster hate and derision, prefer to start wars over oil rather than intervene in an on-going genocide, and would gut every program designed to help those in need?

I would ask every Christian who believes the current leadership of this country is taking us in the right direction to go back to the gospels. Think, pray then ask “What would Jesus do?”

And for those that would turn to people like the late Rev. Fallwell, or Robertson, Swaggart, or Phelps for their political guidance, pay special attention to Mathew 7:15-16: “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits.” On second thought, never mind. No sense casting pearls before swine.