Compassion Regarding Immigrants Called Political Correctness

It seems I have been labeled politically correct! For those that read my blog regularly, I never thought I would be called such thing. I'm insulted!

A reader who calls himself "Katie's Dad" thinks my perspective on immigration is to soft, and from what I can tell, advocates a closed-door policy in regards to immigration.

Let's clarify some things. I am a believer in liberty, and a believer in the power of the American way of life. When I say the "American Way" I mean the way any man can work hard, study, and move up in life through honest hard work. Reading history, I also know a FACT: We are a nation of immigrants! Say what you may about certain periods in our history where we rejected immigrants and turned our backs on them, we are a collection of diverse people, united by our common values. I am NOT advocating multiculturalism by no means! I believe any immigrant that comes into our country should come committed to complete integration. But, complete integration does mean complete abandon of our ethnic and cultural history or values.

So, yes, while Tancredo may speak honestly, I don't believe he knows the full range of issues that relate to the problem of immigration. This issue should be more than just a simple "close the doors and protect our way of life" mentality. We are a nation founded on certain values and mores. These include helping the poor and needy. That is why we send so many missionaries and provide so much relief. That is also why we should welcome anyone who wishes to form part of this great American nation.

Here are the comments by Katie's Dad:

I have my doubts about [Tancredo not being a racist]. I do hope he runs for President. Yes, his words are sometimes harsh, but the time for confronting this issue with tough talk and action has come. I welcome it.

"The problem is that this subject and issue requires tact and care. We are talking about the lives of millions of individuals, women and children. Compassion needs to be evident."

Your call for tact and care sounds an awful lot like a deep seated buy-in to the cult of political correctness to me. It is our "compassion" that has gotten us into this mess. It may well be time to return to the immigration policies we had between 1924 and 1965; the circumstances are similar. Those who wish to help third worlders should do so by going there, or contributing to organizations that help people in their homelands rather than bringing them here.

There are five billion people on this earth who live in as poor or poorer conditions than Mexico. Are we to import them all in the name of "compassion?" The mere notion is absurd, but that's what you appear to suggest, albeit indirectly.

When I come across "conservatives" who buy in to multiculturalism, I sincerely wish that Emma Lazarus had never been born. Today her words are a curse. People take that trite "give me your poor, your tired..." mantra far too seriously. It's a silly poem, not a credo. In many ways, we are worse off because of it.

Many Americans' ancestors, mine included, did not fight, bleed and die to create a balkanized nation of many cultures and languages. America's "purpose" was made quite clear in the Federalist Papers. According to Jay, Hamilton and Madison, our commonalities are far more important...and worth preserving...than our differences.

Tancredo speaks honestly. That creates disconnects, sometimes painful, with those who have hidden agendas or are unaware that they wallow in the cesspool that is political correctness.

I am all in favor of bringing to light the issue of ILLEGAL immigration, and ALSO, the many problems related to immigration in general. We should talk about integration, common American values, the dangers of multiculturalism, and what exactly is it that makes America attractive to immigrants. We should talk about border security. But, we should not forget that our compassion, our ability to help others, our commitment to give a hand to the poor, our commitment to provide for liberty, happiness and security, and our commitment to provide an environment where anyone can create economic prosperity are the core values that make us a great nation.

Like it or not, it is immigrants that made this nation great. Immigrants committed to contributing and becoming Americans. Let's talk about this, but let's not get distracted by rhetoric that uses fearmongering and lack of information for the sake of political power.

Here is the original comments I wrote regarding Tancredo.

I am all in favor of enforcing labor laws, and making sure companies are not hiring illegal immigrants. In this sense, I am in agreement with Tancredo. What concerns me is that Tancredo is taking an extreme, on-sided position that ignores the reality and needs of immigrants who have come into this country illegally. I am not saying we should give amnesty, but I am saying there is more to the problem of illegal immigration than supply & demand. I believe the government needs to address the issue of immigration quotas, and the completely inefficient methods being used to process legal immigration requests.

Tancredo needs to show compassion, American hospitality towards the world's poor and needy, and include provisions that provide for an increase and quicker processing of legal immigration applications. There needs to be a two-pronged strategy to fixing the problem of illegal immigration. Enforce our current laws by prosecuting companies that hire illegals, by effectively deporting any individual found to be in our country illegally, and by fixing our border and immigration process to safely allow more law-abiding, hard-working immigrants to come into this country if they so desire.

Until he stops acting like a good-old-boy, and behaving like a racist anti-immigrant white politician, he is going to find himself losing a lot of ground in the mainstream, where people know how to balance the issues. Please make a note--I believe Tancredo is not a racist, and that his motives for controling illegal immigration are in the right direction. The problem is that this subject and issue requires tact and care. We are talking about the lives of millions of individuals, women and children. Compassion needs to be evident.

Tags: Politics, Current Affairs, California, Homeland Security, MEXICO.