{"id":1172,"date":"2017-01-30T14:12:35","date_gmt":"2017-01-30T18:12:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/beemandave.com\/beemanblog\/?p=1172"},"modified":"2017-02-22T06:16:46","modified_gmt":"2017-02-22T10:16:46","slug":"the-insanity-continues-what-about-immigration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beemandave.com\/beemanblog\/blog\/2017\/01\/30\/the-insanity-continues-what-about-immigration\/","title":{"rendered":"The Insanity Continues – What About Immigration?"},"content":{"rendered":"
Greetings and Salutations;<\/div>\n
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Everywhere I turn there are interesting topics to explore! \u00a0 There is not a dearth of topics, \u00a0there is a tsunami of interesting issues to explore! \u00a0 It has been a while since I touched on the issue of undocumented workers, \u00a0or immigrants, so, \u00a0when this question came up on social media…it seems to have kicked in an interesting examination of the whole subject. \u00a0It has been a while since I discussed this issue<\/a>, \u00a0so it seemed appropriate to expand on it here.<\/div>\n
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The question that got posted was this: \u00a0“ Question? ? Opinions only no fights please, where do you stand on immigration…???”<\/i><\/div>\n
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I, of course, am going to skip over the other replies, \u00a0although they did range from some fairly thoughtful ones, \u00a0to “Don’t sneak in”. \u00a0 My blog, \u00a0so, \u00a0MY answer (with some expansions) \u00a0is as follows:<\/div>\n
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Wow…how about you ask an EASY question – \u00a0like ” Breakfast- \u00a0Bacon or Sausage” (which, \u00a0by the by, \u00a0my answer is “both”). \u00a0 This is a challenge to answer, \u00a0as it is such a hot-button issue for many folks.<\/i><\/div>\n
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However…here goes….<\/div>\n
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In general, I am all for it. \u00a0The waves of immigrants we have had over the years have \u00a0brought diversity and strength to America. \u00a0The various cultures that have added to the mix in America have expanded our cuisine. \u00a0We have the options now of going from the “good old, \u00a0Steak and Potatoes”, \u00a0to Italian Pasta Dishes (Cacio e Pepe<\/a>\u00a0– which is Spaghetti, \u00a0with a lot of melted cheese and pepper, and is VERY tasty), \u00a0to Ethiopian dishes<\/a>\u00a0(Can be heavy on Meat, \u00a0but some really spectacular Vegetarian dishes), \u00a0to English cooking (One of my favorites, \u00a0the “Cottage Pie<\/a>” – which is beef and vegetables and spices topped with mashed potatoes). \u00a0And of course, many OTHER societies have brought pretty wonderful dishes to expand our food options.<\/div>\n
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The immigrants have brought their philosophical views, \u00a0which have expanded and modified our understanding of our own beliefs. \u00a0Now my ethical and moral basis was formed by growing up in the Lutheran Church. \u00a0 As a child, \u00a0I understood as a child, \u00a0and often thought that what Luther was writing about was the “One True Way”. \u00a0 Well, \u00a0when I became a man, \u00a0I put away childish things. \u00a0 My exposure to Islam, \u00a0Buddhism, \u00a0Native American beliefs, \u00a0and alternative Philosophies have expanded my understanding of things spiritual, and of the many, possible, “paths to God”. \u00a0 There are too many folks, \u00a0who, \u00a0I believe, are clinging to their childhood. \u00a0They reject the beliefs of these societies, \u00a0out of fear that it will destroy their own beliefs, or something like that. \u00a0 While learning about other beliefs and philosophies has, \u00a0indeed, \u00a0evolved my beliefs, \u00a0it has hardly destroyed them. \u00a0 Common threads I find running through almost all of these belief systems \u00a0are concepts like we should treat our fellow humans with kindness and tolerance. \u00a0That we should help the downtrodden and needy. \u00a0That we should work as hard as we can to examine ourselves, \u00a0and exercise our spiritual connection with ourselves and others, \u00a0to become a better person, and to gain depth of character. \u00a0 I believe that without the alternative views that other cultures bring to our society, \u00a0this spiritual growth is much more difficult, and far less likely to happen.<\/div>\n
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Immigrants have brought their art to add to our society. \u00a0Life is more than work, sex, food and sleep. \u00a0 Art is a vital part of life for me. \u00a0 It adds joy to our lives, \u00a0it brings interesting experiences, \u00a0it shows us a point of view that we might ignore. \u00a0Not all art is for everyone, \u00a0however, I find that as I have gained in age and maturity, \u00a0I am able to appreciate the messages of art that I completely missed when I was younger. \u00a0 Look, \u00a0for example, \u00a0at Disney productions. \u00a0Their films are very accessible to a child – which makes sense because children are their target audience. \u00a0 However, \u00a0the films also appeal to adults, \u00a0as they include very subtle humor, \u00a0and layers of meaning that speak to issues on the adult level too. \u00a0 Walt Disney was, \u00a0of course, \u00a0the child of immigrant parents. \u00a0 On a broader view…In my life, \u00a0I have viewed Kabuki Theatre, films made by foreign immigrants, and a variety of other artistic works that had a different view of reality, \u00a0and, \u00a0were good for me to see. \u00a0 As a matter of fact, \u00a0the influence of the world on American Arts is pervasive and intimate. \u00a0Here is an interesting article <\/a>that looks in greater detail at these influences.<\/div>\n
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Immigrants have also brought an amazing work ethic to the country. \u00a0We, \u00a0who are privileged enough to have been born here, \u00a0often compare badly with it. \u00a0 More on that later…<\/div>\n
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I am not attempting to claim that immigration is a source of the best of the best, \u00a0or that it is totally trouble free. \u00a0It is true that along with all the good that has been added to the country by immigrants, \u00a0it has brought a few criminals and problems with it. \u00a0This is, after all, real life. \u00a0 Real life means that we will have that close relative that is abusive to their spouse and family; \u00a0that are alcoholics; \u00a0that are drug dealers or junkies; \u00a0that are pedophiles. \u00a0 However, \u00a0that does not mean that every member of the family is evil, and to be ignored or shunned. \u00a0 All we can do is help the folks with problems overcome their issues, \u00a0 or bring them to Justice. \u00a0In addition…while the politicians really LOVE to scapegoat the immigrant population for crime, \u00a0in general, \u00a0their comments are lies, \u00a0pushed for their own agenda, \u00a0not because of any evidence that immigrants are a danger. \u00a0Here is a fairly dense, but detailed analysis<\/a> of the issues of immigrant crime and such. \u00a0 \u00a0 In short, \u00a0it says “We do not know for sure, \u00a0because the data are not good. \u00a0However, it does appear that at worst the immigrant community has the same percentages of crime as the rest of the country…and may have a LOWER percentage”.<\/div>\n
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One of the big issues today is the topic of terrorists entering the country via immigration. \u00a0This is an amazingly ignorant view. \u00a0The fact is that the last time foreign terrorists attacked on American Soil with any success \u00a0was 2001\/09\/11. \u00a0 And…THOSE 19 guys were in the country legally! \u00a0 Every so-called terror attack since then has been \u00a0executed by natural born citizens, and so would not have been stopped by ANY immigration rules in force. \u00a0Again, \u00a0I am sorry to say that the appearance is that the claims of immigrants being a danger are nothing more than the mindless racism of a population filled with propaganda based fears.<\/div>\n
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I believe that the rules for achieving citizenship in this country are profoundly broken and MUST see some radical reform, \u00a0if we really want to cut back on the problems.<\/div>\n
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I am not entirely happy or comfortable with the arbitrary limits for migration from a given country to the United States. \u00a0 Most of these laws seem more oriented towards ensuring that people of color are kept out, \u00a0in preference to White folks. \u00a0 \u00a0Also blocked are those people whose beliefs are NOT those of the Fundamentalist “Christian” community. \u00a0 Our Founding Fathers were Deists, or Agnostics…they were NOT Christians. \u00a0 The founding principle of America are based on the idea that a diverse society is a strong society, \u00a0and that a Theocracy is, \u00a0by definition, \u00a0a bad thing that will \u00a0(sooner rather than later) destroy that society.<\/div>\n
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For people wanting to become permanent residents of the country, \u00a0or naturalized Citizens, \u00a0 the process is horribly complicated. \u00a0 It can take decades, \u00a0and require the citizen-to-be to expend large amounts of money and time. \u00a0 \u00a0I would change this by speeding up the process a bit, \u00a0and, \u00a0increasing the number of locations where the prospective citizen can go to get their paperwork, \u00a0etc, \u00a0processed. \u00a0 More on this later…<\/div>\n
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We have, \u00a0over the decades, \u00a0promised tens of thousands of people automatic citizenship if (for example) \u00a0they worked with our troops in a war zone, \u00a0acting as interpreters and facilitators. \u00a0 Many people have put themselves in harm’s way to make our soldier’s lives easier and help make sure they came home in a seat and not a coffin. \u00a0 \u00a0We have a shameful record of discarding these people like used tissues when we walk away from a war zone. \u00a0 We did it in Vietnam and every war through today’s excursions in the Middle East. \u00a0 \u00a0 I would require that we, \u00a0as a nation, \u00a0live up to our promises. \u00a0 If we agreed to give citizenship to these people, \u00a0they should get their papers, \u00a0and be brought to this country.<\/div>\n
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I mentioned the issue of a work ethic in America…which brings up the \u00a0issue of temporary workers. \u00a0 This is “THE” hot button for a lot of people. We do not have a “Guest Worker” program in America to speak of, \u00a0and the only available visas really only benefit \u00a0the ultra-rich. \u00a0 While there are H-1B visas that are used to bring in foreign workers for high-tech jobs, \u00a0 that is not only a very limited number, \u00a0but, \u00a0it is often subject to abuse, \u00a0turning the workers into indentured servants, \u00a0 not valuable resources.<\/div>\n
I would change the rules so as to make it easier to get a “Guest Worker” visa, \u00a0and minimize the cost of that Visa. \u00a0 \u00a0 By giving these Guest Workers legal status, \u00a0 we would cut the costs involved in enforcing the complicated laws we have now, \u00a0and, would help improve America’s image in the world. \u00a0We would help the Guest Workers too, \u00a0in that it would stop many of the abusive actions they suffer from now.<\/div>\n
Would this take jobs away from Americans? \u00a0 I rather doubt it. \u00a0 Most undocumented workers in America are doing the work that Americans will NOT do. \u00a0 \u00a0They are spending 12+ hour days out in the fields, \u00a0picking produce. \u00a0 They are working long, \u00a0dangerous hours building structures. \u00a0 They are quietly moving through the halls of hotels, \u00a0hospitals and other places, \u00a0 cleaning the bathrooms, \u00a0changing sheets \u00a0and ensuring that the place is comfortable and clean for the next resident. \u00a0 \u00a0 They are doing the hundreds of thousands of hours a year of shit jobs, \u00a0for minimum wage or less, \u00a0with no benefits, \u00a0that Americans will NOT do. \u00a0 \u00a0They are trapped in this role because even minimum wage in America is better than they can make in their home country…allowing them to send money home to keep their families alive. \u00a0 \u00a0They work under abusive rules and actions because they know that they can be turned over to ICE by their employer…they will be sent back to their home country, \u00a0and their employer will not only suffer no penalties, \u00a0but, will simply hire another undocumented worker to take their place.<\/div>\n
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Sorry for the length…if you have hung in there, \u00a0but, it is a complicated issue with no simplistic answers (such as are presented by people all the time).<\/div>\n
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I mentioned, \u00a0a bit earlier, \u00a0the amount of time it takes to get permanent resident visas for foreigners. \u00a0 This last Friday, \u00a0the president elect signed an Executive Order blocking the entry to the country by citizens from a short list of Middle Eastern countries. \u00a0Now, \u00a0This has had many, \u00a0many bad effects….but, let me tell you about what has happened to one family.<\/div>\n
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For 14 years, \u00a0a fellow named Assali \u00a0has been working to get the rest of his family out of Syria. \u00a0HERE is the original story – http:\/\/www.wbur.org\/hereandnow\/2017\/01\/30\/syrian-family-pennsylvania <\/a>\u00a0 They are people, \u00a0just like you and me. \u00a0They are Christians. \u00a0They have families that they love and care for. \u00a0His father and brother are artisans, \u00a0who create beautiful Crosses and chandeliers for churches. \u00a0 However, \u00a0Syria is a war zone, \u00a0and they are likely to die every day. \u00a0Finally, \u00a0though, \u00a0he succeeded. \u00a0He got all the paperwork done successfully. \u00a0He paid all the fees. \u00a0He jumped through all the hoops the government puts up to make it harder to emigrate to America as a permanent resident. \u00a0 His family in Syria sold their home, \u00a0shut down their business, \u00a0packed up the possessions they did not sell, \u00a0and boarded transport to America. \u00a0 They had already bought a nice, little house with that money, \u00a0located just outside Allentown, PA. \u00a0 However, they were supposed to arrive in America on Friday night. \u00a0Friday afternoon, the donald signed his E.O. \u00a0which took effect immediately. \u00a0So…this family arrived at the airport, \u00a0was detained, \u00a0and put on a flight back to Syria that night. \u00a0 Even under the best of circumstances, \u00a0it will be 90 days before they can come back and present their VALID paperwork, allowing them to enter the country. \u00a0 Even under the best of circumstances, \u00a0it will cost this family a big chunk of cash to return. \u00a0They will have to find a place to stay for 90 days. \u00a0They will have to purchase more tickets for the flight. \u00a0If they had contracts for work in the United States, \u00a0those contracts will be long gone, \u00a0so they will have to start over from scratch. \u00a0Then, \u00a0there is the issue that the president elect has already said that he is going to make the ban on emigration from Syria \u00a0permanent! \u00a0 We, \u00a0as a country have screwed this family over, \u00a0who played by the rules, \u00a0and who were not an enemy. \u00a0 I hope they are better people than I am, \u00a0because if this happened to me, \u00a0it would leave a bitter taste in my mouth that would last for a long time. \u00a0 I would never be able to trust America again.<\/div>\n
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This is a concrete example from the hundreds of lives which have been turned upside down over the past few days. \u00a0 It is a stain on what little honor America has left, \u00a0and has hurt our standing with billions of people in the world. \u00a0 the donald is proving again that he is either the most foolish sock puppet to hold the Office, \u00a0or he has such terrible judgment, \u00a0driven by unending ignorance and prejudice that he is going to destroy America in less than four years. \u00a0 his decisions have already done damage that will take decades to repair.<\/div>\n
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\u00a0=-=-=-=-=<\/div>\n

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Greetings and Salutations; Everywhere I turn there are interesting topics to explore! \u00a0 There is not a dearth of topics,… Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[22,5,386,9,10,23,12,13,14],"tags":[670,666,669,597,668,667],"class_list":["post-1172","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ethics","category-food-2","category-general-thoughts","category-humanity","category-nuttiness","category-political-rants","category-politics-2","category-questionable-decisions","category-recipes","tag-hoops","tag-immigration","tag-laws","tag-the-donald","tag-undocumented-workers","tag-work-ethic"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/beemandave.com\/beemanblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1172","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/beemandave.com\/beemanblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/beemandave.com\/beemanblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beemandave.com\/beemanblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beemandave.com\/beemanblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1172"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/beemandave.com\/beemanblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1172\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1196,"href":"https:\/\/beemandave.com\/beemanblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1172\/revisions\/1196"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/beemandave.com\/beemanblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1172"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beemandave.com\/beemanblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1172"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beemandave.com\/beemanblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1172"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}