What would it take for you to flee your country and leave your children and family behind in hopes you will find the means to rescue them? What would it take to force you out, poverty, sickness, corruption, disparity, natural disaster? How helpless does one have to feel before abandoning one’s whole life? Wikipedia includes a definition of refugee that encompasses people who “often risk their lives on dangerously crude and overcrowded boats to escape oppression or poverty in their home nations”. Do they really have to be on boats or can they be crammed into the backs of semi trucks crossing an ocean of sand? Let me ask, how desperate would you have to be before you fled into the arms of a sweat shop where you don’t speak the language in a neighborhood that welcomes you with feelings of resentment and disgust? How cold hearted does a person has to be to turn that refugee away? How do we tout ourselves as nation founded on Christian ideals but still trade people lives for higher profit margins and flatter cell phones that play better ring tones? How can people trust a woman to raise their children but not afford the same woman the dignity of having health insurance or citizenship? If companies can’t afford to pay a living wage to all their employees and this influences how we legislate then why don’t we give child labor another go, I’m sure that would be extremely cost-effective?
Who benefits from steeling our attention to debate a problem that has such clear cut moral resolutions?
8 comments:
i hate the entitled minset - whether it's socio-economic, gender, religion, whatever. the fact that anybody thinks they are entitled to anything that others aren't, really grates my nerves. why can't people wrap their minds around the fact that we all weren't born with the same set of opportunities. we all aren't coming to the table with the same plate of food, let alone the same plate size. people are heartless, and sickenly so, it's usually the fortunate ones with god on their side. they really don't want certain people to have a better life, they just want to be able to tell their friends they help those in need, when they choose.
Arnold Schwarzenegger once said
"I used to say, 'Everybody should pull themselves up by their bootstraps just like I did.' What I learned is not everybody has boots."
After that I liked him a little more, even though he's a Republican.
Great post! Thoughtful and insightful. I wish I had more answers, but I also wish more Americans would look at the WHOLE picture instead of just the pieces they want to see.
at least he's thinking. i'm with you on wondering who benefits from this whole issue. it seems everytime there is a big national "issue" ie; gay marriage, stem cell, immigration, etc. it's always followed by some scandal that miraculously is swept under the rug, or not given the proper amount of attention because everyone is so exhausted from the diversion "battle." you have obviously noticed this too. frustrating! they keep dangling the carrott in the opposite direction of the prize.
I do think it's a little unfair to those who have made the effort to do everything legally. But that's the only issue I've read on the other side that makes any sense so far.
We do have to follow rules.
It's just maybe the rules need to be updated.
I think Cameo hit it though - Although this issue is important, what are we not seeing while we debate?
yes, i'm all for following the rules. that is the only fair way. and maybe the rules need to be updated. i have to admit i'm not very knowledgable when it comes to this whole thing. there's a lot i don't know. but i do know there has to be a balance. and i also know i'm waiting for the real shit to hit the fan.
When the shit hits the fan, don't forget to duck.
i'm wearing goggles and a raincoat.
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