Immigration Just Won't Go Away

spira arts / flickr

Back in early December I wrote a piece about immigration and linked it with no room in the inn when Jesus was born. On Christmas Eve this article was published in The Greenville News (SC). I had several positive responses to what  said--but one reader was not so happy with what I had to say. I include his email to me and my respond. I have left his name out on purpose.

The Letter to me...

"Roger Lovette’s column asking us to make room for all of the illegal immigrants in this country is instructional, but for exactly the opposite reasons he argues. He exposes the failure of liberalism (or “Progressivism” as they now call it). Does he literally follow his own advice, giving illegals “his room”? If not, he is a hypocrite and guilty of more NIMBY behavior. But even if he does, he does not realize that doing such a thing hurts the very people he is trying to help!  

Of course immigrants are welcome here, but in an orderly fashion that ensures their own well being and fairness to all. But to do it in the reckless way Obama allows just condemns these people to poverty, legal problems, dissolved families and increased debt and security problems for our country. It is very instructional to note that infant Jesus and Mary and Joseph’s dilemma was caused by a government edict (travelling for the census) that was imposed on the people without regard for their own well being, much less practicality. Jesus’s plight did not improve until he returned to Nazareth, with his parents, and where his father had a job and could support his family. Government can not legislate prosperity. It must be created. "

My response:

"Thanks for reading and responding,________. A couple of things...I don't like labels--liberals or conservatives, etc. I am both liberal and conservative depends on the issue. No room in the inn for means that we make room for the desperate and the frightened and the needy. We're not talking about drug dealers, etc. Criminals. To treat those looking for a safer place which America promises to be--is what I think the Judeo-Christian heritage is all about. It takes 13 years for an undocumented person to get citizenship--and then it is costly--which is one of the reasons so many are still undocumented. I know some of these people and I see them all the time.   The spirit of Jesus is to be kind and humane to everybody. I make a special effort when I see these folk to smile and be civil...what a terrible thing to be in a strange land and to be treated less than welcoming.  

This immigration thing is an enormous problem. We do know that Congress has done very little to respond to one of the hurting problems we face on immigration. We will probably never agree--but isn't this the American way--we can disagree and any issue and still be friends. I think one of the problems is that we all need to turn down the rhetoric and listen to one another. I have read your letter carefully...and I take you seriously. I do hope you will keep reading whatever I write in the paper. May this new year be good to you and yours. Roger Lovette "

                                             --RogerLovette / rogerlovette.blogspot.com