Why does an imaginary line in the sand determine a person's worth?
“What I have a problem with is them tapping into the resources, be it minimum wage/cash only jobs, school aid or whatever, when some Americans can’t get the help they need. We’ve got ppl in LA, still living in trailers after Katrina. Those ppl should come first.” “But, I don’t feel it’s my responsibity as a taxpayer to help support ppl that come into this country illegally.”
These are a few quotes from the immigration thread. Where does the difference between an illegal immigrant and a Katrina victim, or you and I for that matter, lie? Why does it make a difference if tax money goes to help people on “our” side of the line, or to provide care to an illegal immigrant with cancer? From our perspectives both Katrina victims and illegal immigrants are the same, both are strangers and human beings.
So, I guess my real question is, why does an imaginary border determine worth?
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8 Answers
Let me start by saying that I do not necessarily support the position that I am about to lay out. I just think it is the reason that many cite.
The doctrine of limited resources is what is behind many people’s fears about illegal immigration. That the country has a finite amount of money available for aid, for wages, etc., and that those limited resources should go first to people who are citizens or people who have entered the country through legal means following the necessary processes.
A border is a law drawn in the sand. It’s not imaginary as much as it’s invisible.
Tax money should go to the legal citizens and residents for which is was originally intended. Charitable money should go to those in need whoever & wherever they are.
The New Colossus
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, YOUR POOR,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
Our lady has not welcomed the poor, huddled masses yearning to breathe free for some time.
It is a shame.
Agreed that it is too hard and too expensive to come here legally. Instead of building walls, I’d prefer to see the system revamped to lessen the strictures.
When people come over illegally, they’re at a disadvantage in the work place. They must, oft times, accept lower wages for the same work since they’re operating outside the law. That pushes wages down for everyone since it’s unfair competition.
Because the people in power have realized that people need someone to feel superior to, someone to take the blame. They can’t treat people of color as inferior scapegoats; they can’t treat gay people as inferior scapegoats. But they can treat people who are here in violation of immigration law as inferior scapegoats.
I mean, what are the undocumented people going to do? They can’t organize and they can’t vote. So it’s a cheap shot at a defenseless group by politicians, but it plays amazingly well with people who are down on their luck but legal citizens.
Funny…I distinctly remember protests here in Dallas, and seeing protests around other parts of the U.S, like L.A.
Is citizenship worth the expense to come here legally? Also, it’s not like there aren’t people who are willing to help legal immigrants go through the process.
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