Two men whom I admire - Two different perspectives on immigration Read KERA News: Two Texans Offer Different Take On President Obamas Pending Immigration Reform [ Link to story ow.ly/EAYM9 ], dated 20 Nov. 2014 Senator John Cornyns worldview is the rule of law. I quote Senator Cornyn from the article: The message is that the President has given, and our Democratic friends have given is ‘we give up.’ We’re not going to do our job as legislators. Were going to let the President with the stroke of a pen provide an executive amnesty to millions of people and create an awful lot of harm in the process. “The President is going to tell people whove been waiting patiently in line, playing by the rules, get in the back of the line, I’m going to put millions of people ahead of you who in front of the line who haven’t played by the rules,” My friend Sol Villasana has a different, but important worldview, the worldview of a son of an immigrant who served honorably in U.S. armed forces during WWII and subsequently became a U.S. citizen. I quote Attorney Sol Villasana from the article: “The Republicans have consistently poisoned those waters with their venom and their hateful speech against immigrants. These are children who came here when they were children, some of them are still children, and shouldnt be treated as criminals.” Villasana says Obama is, finally, just doing the right thing. “That’s just being a leader and doing what is correct and keeping families together. Now, my perspective. I share both worldviews. Sol is correct about some individual Republicans who consistently poison those waters. I am a Republican and a former Democrat who grew up in South Texas with immigrants. My heart goes out to immigrant children who have grown up in this country, been educated in our public schools and have aspirations to greatness. For many years, it has been the practice of my wife and me to serve Latinos in Cuba, Peru, El Salvador and Mexico. We also had a local ministry to Latino immigrants right here in Rockwall. I dont say this to set myself on some pedestal, but simply to explain how it is I know Latino people and their experiences in their home countries. Not all Republicans are anti-immigrant, Sol. There is this natural animosity that arises between ethnic groups, differences that change dramatically after members of those groups come to know one another in real and personal ways. I hasten to add, it goes both ways, too. If you wish to see real examples of hateful, angry statements against American Anglos, just read comments on Univision Noticias. Although I must also say, there seem to be an awful lot of agreement between Spanish-language comments and recent anti-immigrant rhetoric. I refer to NBCNEWS - NBC/WSJ Poll: Nearly Half Oppose Executive Action on Immigration [link to report: ow.ly/EB3Qr ] Comprehensive Immigration Reform - Do We Need It? Short answer: no. Is our immigration process complex? Yes, because it address a myriad of issues. Is our immigration system broken, as the president claims? No, but his administration most certainly is. Time was when U.S. immigration laws were convoluted, confusing and in disarray. The Congress crafted laws that homogenized immigration policies, the most recent was the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act. Lawmaking takes time. Lots of time. Time to acquire information. Time for thoughtful testimony before legislative committees. Time for Congressional Budget Office scoring to determine how to fund new laws. Following the rule of law, as set forth in our Constitution, Article I provides for all laws to be created by the Congress, the Legislative and most superior branches of government. Article II provides for an Executive Branch to carry out laws crafted by the Legislative Branch. While I share Sols eagerness to serve the best interest of immigrant children, I am fully aware of the perils of a rogue president creating law out of thin air, as President Obama does. A failure of due process prescribed by the rule of law is a failure that affects the whole of our people. Abrogation of constitutional duties is an injustice to all people of this country. As Martin Luther King, Jr. said, Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” This president achieves his ultimate objectives by dividing this country. United we stand; divided we fall. Now, even the presidents own party is dividing. I suggest we work to address issues through consensus, thereby rendering justice to all. Leaving on a light note, I offer this link to a Black Eyed Peas song, Where is the Love. youtube/watch?v=WpYeekQkAdc&spfreload=10 John White
Posted on: Thu, 20 Nov 2014 15:08:18 +0000
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