This one is a biggie. It's a biggie because most people are totally clueless as to the big picture of immigration ... the little picture ... each individual picture. How do I know that? Well, because I will admit to being clueless in the past. Okay, okay. First it started with indifference. Then to annoyance that I might have to think about it. Then wrong assumptions and blanket statements. THEN educating myself and a change in my viewpoint based on facts and Christ.
It's a link day, my friends. I detest doing this, because most people will not click and learn, click and be challenged, click and disagree. Yet, there are soooo many facets to immigration in America. I don't want to focus on one area. So, here goes.
You can leave.
Or not.
Start here - this would be one of my faves - and read the whole stinkin' thing, please!
The Truth About Undocumented Immigration
Used and Abused: Are they really living off free hand-outs?
If You're a Foe of Immigration, at Least Knock Off the Hateful Speech
Why do they come?
Modern Day Slavery
Do you have answers to these questions, based on things you've learned (or just on the guy at the coffee shop):
Why would someone come here illegally? Aren't they criminals? Didn't they break the law?
Should we give a flying flip?
Can a person enter our country and start a new life for themselves like they did decades ago?
What does it take to become a U.S. citizen?
What does it COST to become a U.S. citizen?
DO we give a flying flip?
(cartoon by Andy Singer)
15 comments:
Post Request: I have started started seriously praying about adoption. I was hoping you would share about your experience (how God provided, how He lead you, etc.) I so enjoy your blog. Oh yeah, you might like this quiz... http://www.themoralesfamily.us/granola.htm
HA! Sarah, I'm a Super Nutty, Ultra-Crunchy, Granola Earth Mama!
For now, check out my label cloud on the right, and you can read all of my adoption posts. Because we are still in the middle of growing our family, it is an ongoing saga. That might catch-you-up!
me too!!! Thanks I'll check the blog cloud.
Ha - another adoption question for you. I've read most of your adoption posts and I'll go back and see if I missed this somewhere but I'm curious /wondering what you think about preserving the birth order of kids already in the home when considering adoption.
I had always thought it was super important. but I'm questioning if it really is, or if that was an excuse/stumbling block I've set up for myself.
I'd love to know what your thoughts are.
Hey Lee!
Funny you should mention that, because that is a HUGE topic of discussion in this house.
Here is my answer: it depends!
Don't ya' just love that?
Seriously ... it depends.
The children that are currently in your home have to be your priority. You should read everything there is out there on how personalities develop in the first few years based on birth order (fascinating and vital stuff). Look at the situation long and hard.
Of course, you will not be at a loss for information, because birth order does not get messed with just in adoption, but blended families face this all the time as well.
The factors can be endless. For instance, lets say you adopt a sibling group, but they have OTHER siblings that are not being adopted. You may bring in children that will (in their new home) be the oldest, but in their old home they were the younger ones, etc. Then, you have every child basically in a new birth order, yet their personalities are based on their original birth order, AND some of them are dealing with separation and loss - all of them are dealing with extreme change.
Some can climb that mountain. You have to look at your family - your situation. Our family can consider adopting out of birth order, to some extent. We have our own parameters we feel like we can handle.
Each placement is absolutely unique, so one out-of-birth-order placement might be feasible for your home where another might not. I don't think it should never happen, but it should always be weighed HEAVILY and approached with extreme caution.
I promise I will come back and read all your links.
But for now, I have very mixed feelings. But one thing I do know...if you come to a new country with the intent to live here PLEASE learn to speak the language.That's fair Isn't it?
Fair? Sure!
So, which Indian tribe tongue will be our official language? We better all get busy!
Thank you so much for taking the time to write this post! Very gutsy of you. I haven't made it through all the articles yet, but this topic is a hot one with me. I grew up in 3 countries besides the US. Learned their languages. It was a good idea. But learning a language is a small part of this HUGE issue. People are dying. I don't have to read these articles to know that. It's a sticky situation and I appreciate you drawing attention to it.
I just visited Belgium and the Netherlands for a week with my family and was so shocked to find that just about EVERYONE spoke English. From the bank teller to the post office workers to the check out boy in the supermarket. Same thing when I was in Italy last year. It made me feel so embarrassed to only speak my own "native" language. And signs there almost always have an English translation. Why should the rest of the world bend over backwards for us when we act like everyone who comes here should learn to speak English or go home?
Interesting discussion on the languages. May I point out that there is NO official language in the US. And I believe statistics show that in a few years more people in the US will speak Spanish than English.
Living in Romania has given me a little perspective on what it is like to live in a country and not speak the language, even if products and maps and websites offer an English translation, most people in the service industries (pharmacy techs, store clerks, etc) don't speak English, and it's frustrating. Of course, my reaction to that is to buy every Romanian language book and cd I can find and start learning.
On the other hand, I have studied 2 other Romance languages (French and Spanish) and Irish (which is also Latin based) and have university education and a desk job where I have time to sit and study. But I am lucky.
Being here like this I can't help but imagine what it would be like if the tables had turned and I had to come here because I was a farm worker from a country suffering a drought and I came here to find work where I heard the farm industry was booming. What if I wasn't allowed in because I didn't speak fluent Romanian? And if I was allowed in, how exactly would I go about learning it if I was busy trying to just live? I bet my children would speak Romanian, though if they grew up here. And their children would forget English all together. Cultural integration is a multi-generational experience. Be honest, how many of us really know that our forefathers spoke English when they arrived on US shores? I am fairly sure mine did not.
And just to play devil's advocate a moment, would it bother you as much if the family next to you only spoke Dutch as if they only spoke Spanish?
Just saying....
Christine,
Immigration is not a new issue. It is as old as the Exodus in the O.T. More than 175 years ago, Texas experienced immigration. The immigrants of that time had to promise to do three things. One, renounce their USA citizenship and become Mexican citizens. Two, become Roman Catholics and leave the Protestant tradition. Three, learn to speak Spanish. Those immigrants had no intentions of fulfilling those three laws. I find it intersting that the desendants of the early Texas immigrants are now trying to impose laws that their ancestors were never willing nor serious about observing.
Immigration is a complex issue. It is not a either/or issue. It is more of a both/and issue. Civil disobedience led to the Exodus of the Isarelites out of Eypt to a new life. Civil disobedience led our beloved USA to become a nation. Civil disobedience let our country to pass the civil rights laws in the 1960's.
I know that other persons can debate my thoughts. I am not intersted in debating. The fact is that we cannot discount the history of what I have outlined. I appreciate your willingness to put in on your blogging table. Maybe its because you are a Howard Payner, willing to address issues that others are not willing to admit or address.
I admit, I haven't read all those links yet. It's late. Hopefully tomorrow.
but I want to point out that BOTH of my children are immigrants. They entered the country legally. It is a ROYAL, HUGE, PAIN IN THE ARSE to make your own child a citizen. HUGE. And the costs? Prohibitive for many. I mean, really prohibitive.
After Immigration Services went through a near-by factory and deported a ton of workers, I had students that were too scared to come to school. They were born in the country and were legal citizens, but their families were scared the children would be taken away or held for ransom. Oh. my. gosh. How scary and what a way to live in fear. :(
Chistine,
I want to clarify my earlier response on immigration. I am not advocating civil disobedience at all. I am saying that in the past, when it has not been possible to do it in other ways, civil disobedience has been the way to get things done for a higher good and for the common good of a community or nation.
I love reading your blog. I'm immigrated to the US several years ago. I did it legally, so I know how difficult it is to obtain legal permanent residency. People always say things to me like, "You're married to an American? Can't you just automatically become a citizen?" Ha!
Christine,
Thank you for your insight. My wife and I just stumbled across your blog last week. We recently moved to Oklahoma and live in Norman. We are thankful to read someone like yourself who is thought provoking and does not take herself too seriously. You're our kind of girl! Keep up the great work and challenging us with interesting issues that we should all be grappling with these days.
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