Poll
|
do you like El Editor Site?
|
|
Reader's Letters
| |
 |
|
Posted on 06/02/2006 8:36 PM EST
|
|
Letters to the Editor
|
We’re all Americans
Make no mistake about it: there is a monster anti-Hispanic tide flowing among right-wing Americans today. The tide is flowing strong because anti-Hispanic people focus on Mexicans coming here illegally.
But consider this: When Europeans were pouring into the US around 1900, they weren’t illegal.
NOT ILLEGAL? Why not? There was no such thing as an illegal alien in those days because there were no limits at all on immigration from Europe.
Anti-Hispanic right-wingers say, “My great grandparents came legally, so why don’t Mexicans?” Because after 1968, low limits were put on immigration from Mexico, and any people above that limit were illegal.
It is true that there were strict limits put on immigration from European Catholic countries [except Ireland] in the 1920’s. And it is true immigration went way down after that.
But you have to consider why: you couldn’t just swim across the Atlantic and come here illegally. Geography matters.
Mexico is right next door. Racists in the US who are beside themselves over Mexican immigration don’t see what is different about immigration today.
Today you can rebuild the Berlin Wall in El Paso to keep Mexicans out, but you can’t move the US to the other side of the world. People in the US have to come to grips with the fact we are not in Europe, and never will be.
America is the side of the world we live on, not the name of our country. The name of our country is The United States of America. The last word in the name means our whole country is only PART of America. Right next door to us, with a two thousand mile border, lies another part of America, Mexico.
It is inhabited by 110 million people, and not a single one of them does not know that 17 of every 20 Mexicans in the US live in land taken away from their ancestors - not legally; but by military force.
So the word “illegal” loses a little bit of its sting.
Immigration has always been a big problem for neighboring countries, and it always will be. The problem in North America can be solved only by the three countries co-operating with each other, not making enemies out of each other.
If racists in the US don’t watch out, our country will end up with two new enemies, not weird countries on the other side of the earth, but two huge, important countries, right next door to us.
So, I say, “chill y’all, Mexicans aren’t going harm you by coming here. Let’s sit down and quietly and calmly work out a solution to our problems as friends and neighbors, not as race enemies.” And let’s remember, we’re ALL AMERICANS.
Sincerely,
Chico James, via Email
Border Trouble or God's Kingdom?
Illegal immigration is a multifaceted problem with no easy solutions. Debates abound on economic issues, environmental impacts, property damage, and hospital closings. My heart goes out to each individual.
What can one person do?
I’ve found prayer provides solutions and the concept that has filled my prayers lately is the kingdom of heaven. It is fundamental to Christ Jesus’ teachings.
Sometimes we believe the song, “God is watching us from a distance….” Jesus’ teachings state the opposite: “behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” In Science and Health with key to the Scriptures Mary Baker Eddy defines kingdom of heaven in part, as, “The reign of harmony…the realm of unerring, eternal, and omnipotent Mind; the atmosphere of Spirit….”
There are no borders in God’s kingdom. Everyone is welcome. We each have a divinely appointed place in this kingdom. It’s a present spiritual state of thought.
Greater consciousness of God’s reign harmonizes our actions. With each God-directed action more of His kingdom is revealed, leading to activity that blesses us and our neighbor. This coordinated, God-directed activity will lead each individual to a solution to border issues that blesses all mankind.
Martha Sarvis lives with her husband and son in Boerne, Texas. She can be reached at martha@corkysarvis.com
Immigration: How Evil and Ugly the Face of Humankind
People ramble on how bad it is to allow illegal immigrants into this
country. Many people think they are the chosen ones, just like the Victorian days. How amusing this is. I am a fifth generation American, on my grandmother’s side and a second generation on my father side and I married a “Legal immigrant”. Lucky for
me my mother in-law married an American!
Yippee! I was the lucky one. I was fortunate enough to be born on “this
side”. Unfortunately, newcomers of this land who were born on “the wrong
side” and “the wrong time” are facing unprecedented opposition from many
Americans.
Where do I stand on immigration? I say lucky for me fate allowed me to be
born in America. Lucky for me I never had to live a life of an immigrant.
Lucky for me I never had to jump over a fence to find work. Lucky for me I
will never know what it is like to go hungry.
How evil and ugly the face of humankind can be. We saw it with The Trail of
Tears. We saw it with Indentured Servitude. We saw it with African
Slavery. We saw it with the Scalawags.
We see it today.
Margaret Ceja, Lubbock via Email
Letters to the Editor are welcome. All letters must include name and address, but the writer’s name may be held upon request. Letters to the Editor are strictly the opinion of the writer and do not represent the opinions or views of this newspaper or its advertisers.
|
|
|
rss
