Immigration YES; Illegal aliens NO!
Who among us would eject a stanger from his house to face the cold? Not you; not I. Certainly not most Americans. To a man the people of this land would invite the stranger to sit closer to the crackling hearth that is the center of their home, as would anyone south of the border or any country in the world.
One thing I have learned in my travels; that all peoples are more alike than they are different, and generous hospitality is the hallmark of all mankind. Every outward expression may vary from place to place, but the society of man knows no boundries when it comes to opening his house to others. I have encountered this countless times.
However, when the stranger enters through a back door in the cold dark night, covers himself with your blanket, and raids the refridgerator, what does one do? As any man, one tries to understand the hardships that drove the interloper to invade your home, and does not begrudge him the warmth of a blanket nor a full belly. He offers wine, instead.
The dawn finds the interloper and the unintended host conversing amicably. The host introduces himself. The guest does not. Instead he bids farewell, and exits. “You can keep the blanket,” says the host, “It’s from Mexico.”
Truly, the realities of what makes people leave the country of their birth to forge a new life are as diverse as they are compelling. In most cases it’s not so much flight from bad places as it is to America’s greener pastures.
I believe that almost everyone who comes here desires to stay and live within our laws, which are better than most. Perhaps not the best, but better, by and large. When visitors do not observe American laws they undermine the foundation of that to which they aspire--The American Dream. Understandbly, immigrants who flout the laws upon entry to this country are percieved as criminal invaders, no matter how cheaply they work, or what undesirable task they are willing to do.
Each new arrival to America should first and foremost endeavor to make their entry a legally documented one. If this seems impossible, think of the obstacles you have already overcome. Your persistance got you here, now let that determination be signatory to your documented presence.
I salute each and every brave soul who has emmigrated here, legally. I pay taxes to arrest, jail, and deport illegal foreigners. Before long you could do the same to honor your legal status.
Oh yes, I almost forgot; my family is from Sweden. |
