What should be done about illegal immigration?

So I take it your answer to my question is: "Yes, I would find it acceptable if Albuquerque confined German immigrants to the back of its buses."

That's interesting.

That's interesting.

Thomas wrote:

That's interesting.

But actually she always follows that general line - mostly more politely circumscribing it, though.

Thomas wrote:

So I take it your answer to my question is: "Yes, I would find it acceptable if Albuquerque confined German immigrants to the back of its buses."

That's interesting.

Language barriers and culture differences aside, I cannot in my wildest imaginations figure out how you possibly extracted that from anything I said.

If you are going to deal in ad hominems, Walter, please be more specific. Exactly how do I do that?

Foxfyre wrote:

If you are going to deal in ad hominems, Walter, please be more specific. Exactly how do I do that?

Nothing at "ad hominem" - I just think that you indeed have a great talent to write a 'weaker' form of what you actually think.

My opinion, based on what I read .... and, of course, admittingla how I read it.

I'm most certainly not as religious as you are, but as a Christian I can't tolerate a couple of things, neither here (and that's where I'm predominantly active) nor elsewhere (which I can't change but only discuss).

Foxfyre wrote:

Thomas wrote:

So I take it your answer to my question is: "Yes, I would find it acceptable if Albuquerque confined German immigrants to the back of its buses."

That's interesting.

Language barriers and culture differences aside, I cannot in my wildest imaginations figure out how you possibly extracted that from anything I said.

It flows quite naturally from your rhetorical question: "What fundamental right is there to sit in any particular place on a bus?", your assertion that citizenship makes a difference, and the fact that German immigrants are citizens of Germany, not America. (I should probably have made that clearer in my hypothetical. In fact, I should have used a German tourist.)

Moreover, a look into the 14th Amendment should convince you that the equal protection of the law is not confined to citizens. The amendment reads in relevant part: "[N]or shall any State [...] deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." Note: "person", not "citizen".

This argument is a political battle between two groups of Americans... those who are promoting law and order and harsh penalties, and those who are asking for understanding, compassion and a respect for diversity.....

But your side can't even get HR4437 passed. It is not the "illegals" (who can't even vote) who are stopping this bill, it is the fact that many Americans want their country to be a place of compassion and understanding.

You and I have apparently have different views of what values America should hold to, and this means that we will have the political struggle that we are now engaged in...

ebrown_p wrote:

This argument is a political battle between two groups of Americans... those who are promoting law and order and harsh penalties, and those who are asking for understanding, compassion and a respect for diversity.....

But your side can't even get HR4437 passed. It is not the "illegals" (who can't even vote) who are stopping this bill, it is the fact that many Americans want their country to be a place of compassion and understanding.

You and I have apparently have different views of what values America should hold to, and this means that we will have the political struggle that we are now engaged in...

You persist in making statements that indicate I'm not compassionate, understanding and am racist / do not want diversity. That's ridiculous. The people of Dulfar are being murdered by the thousands. How about if it were 12 million of them coming into the US without any knowledge of who they are? Would you fight passionately for them to be allowed to stay? And, then 12 million Chinese coming by boatloads and unchecked flight records due to an opressive government? And, 12 million Iraqi's escaping chaos, are you gonna voice your compassion for them so they can all stay?

Is that the only compassionate, understanding and non-racist answer to the problems of the world? Or, would we all be better off dealing with the issues so they can have the lives they dream of in their own country?

You persist in making statements that indicate I'm not compassionate, understanding and am racist / do not want diversity. That's ridiculous. The people of Dulfar...

If we use your logic eBrown we will have to conclude:

a) You want as many illegals to move here as want to move here
b) You don't want the government to do anything to stop them or do anything but welcome them with open arms when they come
c) You don't mind that hard working people who have played by the rules all their lives are, against their choice, having to support many of the illegals who get here
d) You don't mind that hospitals close emergency room and deny everybody emergency care because they can no longer afford to provide free services for so many
e) You don't care that all students suffer from so many special needs kids who can't speak any English being admitted to the schools to receive a free education
f) You don't care that 40 to 60% of the prison populations of the border states are made up of illegals who have committed serious crimes
g) You don't care if a few terrorists slip across the border along with ordinary people
h) You don't mind if a few more tons of illegal drugs are brought into the country and peddled to your kids
i) It's okay with you that wages are artificially depressed in industries where large numbers of illegals are working
j) You don't care if the United States becomes just another overpopulated, under resourced third world country unable to take care of its own people, much less able to help out others in time of need.
k) You don't care that those who have played by the rules to immigrate legally are punished while illegal activity is rewarded.

Or maybe you don't want all this, but just don't want to see that everybody here wants the best solutions and are looking for the best way to accomplish them. Making negative personal assumptions about those with whom you disagree simply is not useful or constructive to the debate.