[Vision2020] Question for debate-"Why not opentheUS-MexicanBoarder?"

Wed Sep 29 17:00:36 PDT 2004

I worked in ministry to Mexican immigrants for more than a decade before moving here in 2002, and I can tell you that farmers, dairy owners, apartment managers, landscape and construction companies and myriad other folks are very rarely the ones calling for an end to the flow of undocumented workers coming in from Mexico.  For reasons that are quite often less than noble, those who need workers and those who have rentals to fill rely on hardworking, economy-enriching immigrants to keep their own businesses running.  Undoubtedly, some undocumented workers receive services for which they are not legally eligible; the moral imperative, however, to care for the weakest and poorest among us is hardly over-exhibited in this country, and some would argue that indifference to the needs of "the least of these" is a greater moral, economic and political threat to the United States and its people than the expenditure involved in providing necessary services to those not legally entitled to them.  The indisputable fact is that undocumented workers work, pay taxes, receive less per capita in proportion to what they pay into the system, contribute to rural and urban economies, enrich neighborhoods, and frankly make it easier for those of us in the privileged class -- the socio-political majority -- to live easier lives.  Can good people disagree on immigration policy?  Of course. But good people are those who consider not only the effect of unjust policy on the poor, but take into humble account the unearned breaks they themselves have received because of those  injustices.

Men, women and children work long hours doing backbreaking work in horribly unjust and unsafe conditions to make your life more comfortable.  That they're eager to do so is one of the tragic signs of a fallen world; that otherwise reasonable human beings could advocate shooting whatever comes over the border is another, and is perhaps one of the starkest examples that I've come across recently of why the world, myself certainly included, needs a Savior. 

keely emerine mix

----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Dick Schmidt 
  To: Dan Carscallen ; 'Donovan Arnold' ; Vision2020 at moscow.com 
  Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 2004 7:34 AM
  Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Question for debate-"Why not opentheUS-MexicanBoarder?"

  Dan,

  I am very disappointed in what our country has become. We have politicians
  who only do what they are paid by the "money people and corporations" to do.
  The article I posted a couple days ago about the inheritance tax is an
  example in where the rich get richer because they can buy the influence it
  takes to prevent them from paying what they should pay in taxes. Bush's tax
  cut for the rich is another example of giving back money to the rich so they
  can contribute to incumbent's campaigns and re-elect them. Our system has
  been so corrupted by greed. Most of the rest of the  world no longer
  respects us. I used to fly the flag every day but don't anymore because I
  don't want anyone to think I am supporting a corrupt president. This isn't
  the same country I served in the Navy for 45 years ago. I can't say whether
  our country has  become more liberal but we sure have become "politically
  correct stupid".

  Dick

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: "Dan Carscallen" <predator75 at moscow.com>
  To: "'Dick Schmidt'" <dickschmidt at moscow.com>; "'Donovan Arnold'"
  <donovanarnold at hotmail.com>; <Vision2020 at moscow.com>
  Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 2004 6:58 AM
  Subject: RE: [Vision2020] Question for debate-"Why not open
  theUS-MexicanBoarder?"

  > Dick,
  >
  > Don't you know that if you are a liberal you are supposed to be in favor
  > of letting every illegal immigrant have free health care and food
  > stamps?
  >
  > How insensitive can you get?
  >
  > DC
  >
  > -----Original Message-----
  > From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com
  > [mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com] On Behalf Of Dick Schmidt
  > Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 2004 6:43 AM
  > To: Donovan Arnold; Vision2020 at moscow.com
  > Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Question for debate-"Why not open
  > theUS-MexicanBoarder?"
  >
  >
  > Donovan,
  >
  > I can't believe you are even asking such a question. And you graduated
  > UI? Illegal immigrants are draining the resources of our country in
  > hospitals, jails, prisons and social services. We can't afford them. I
  > would be more in favor of shooting everything that came across the
  > border illegally both on our north and south borders.
  >
  > Dick Schmidt
  >
  >
  > ----- Original Message ----- 
  > From: "Donovan Arnold" <donovanarnold at hotmail.com>
  > To: <Vision2020 at moscow.com>
  > Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 2004 9:24 PM
  > Subject: [Vision2020] Question for debate-"Why not open the
  > US-MexicanBoarder?"
  >
  >
  > > I fail to understand why it is that everyone seems to want to keep the
  >
  > > boarder closed between the US and Mexico.
  > >
  > > Who cares if  Mexicans comes into the country? If they are not granted
  >
  > > citizenship, it is not like they are a threat to real US jobs.
  > >
  > > If seems to me that the major problems caused by immigration are
  > > caused
  > not
  > > by the crossing of the boarder, but by the illegalization of crossing
  > > the boarder.
  > >
  > > Please explain to me why it such a big deal if Mexicans come and go as
  > they
  > > please into this country and buy our stuff?
  > >
  > > Donovan J Arnold
  > >
  > > _________________________________________________________________
  > > Is your PC infected? Get a FREE online computer virus scan from
  > > McAfee® Security.
  > > http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963
  > >
  > > _____________________________________________________
  > >  List services made available by First Step Internet,
  > >  serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
  > >                http://www.fsr.net
  > >           mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
  > > ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
  > >
  > >
  >
  >
  > _____________________________________________________
  >  List services made available by First Step Internet,
  >  serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
  >                http://www.fsr.net
  >           mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
  > ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
  >
  >
  >
  >

  _____________________________________________________
   List services made available by First Step Internet, 
   serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.   
                 http://www.fsr.net                       
            mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
  ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.fsr.com/pipermail/vision2020/attachments/20040929/00f2f36e/attachment.htm