the rights of the immigrant

Reading the latest news about demonstrations and protests over the state of immigration law, it's a bit disturbing to see how the issue has been framed by many people with attitudes of racism that amount to the old tired fallacy of "those dirty Mexicans are stealing jobs from us good Americans" (the last I checked, I don't see Americans rioting in the street to go pick apples, do construction, wash dishes, etc. for sub-standard wages and horrible working conditions). This is especially prevalent among shameful intimidations of the so-called Minuteman movement.

Yes, I agree that immigration needs to be reformed - but reform can only take place if other parts of our society are reformed, such as the way companies do business, or the way that our culture views and treats immigrants. Passing a law that will criminalize anyone caught simply helping illegal immigrants is a step in the wrong direction.

As a Christian, I'm also bothered by the fact that "Christians" as a whole in America haven't done more to speak out in defense of immigrants, even when the Bible has clearly mandated that as Christians, we are to be advocates for powerless groups in society like immigrants. Props to the few progressive Christian groups like Sojourners that have publicly stated that defending the rights of underprivileged groups like immigrants is a commandment from God, not an optional exercise.

"When an alien* lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the LORD your God." - Leviticus 19:33-34 "Do not deprive the alien* or the fatherless of justice, or take the cloak of the widow as a pledge. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you from there. That is why I command you to do this." -Deuteronomy 24:17-18 "Cursed is the man who withholds justice from the alien*, the fatherless or the widow." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!" -Deuteronomy 27:19

Besides, all Americans are the children/descendents of immigrants, except for those Americans who are indigenous to this land.

*'alien' = immigrant. Not ET... but y'all are smart enough to know that, right?

.:.


cardinal sin of writing

In other political news, Ben Domenech, the former editor of Michelle "Let's Intern Japs & Arabs" Malkin's last book, recently resigned from his job blogging for the Washington Post after evidence of his plagiarism was found. I first heard about the story on Orcinus.

You'd think a published writer working for the WP should know better - it's too easy nowadays (ie, Google) to find anything that's ever been published...
posted by G at 7:30 PM   |

in?scrip?tion (n-skrip-shun)n.
1. The act or an instance of inscribing.
2. Something, such as the wording on a coin, medal, monument, or seal, that is inscribed.
3. A short, signed message in a book or on a photograph given as a gift.
4. The usually informal dedication of an artistic work.
5. Jeremiah 31:33