Nation braces for ‘Day Without Immigrants’

[markymark46975]

So. Am I the only person who doesn't have a "stake" in immigration policy that is annoyed by this? I think immigration is great! I think that if someone wants to move to the US and be a productive member of society that's wonderful and I welcome them. I live in a town with a high population of Arab-Americans and Latinos. I love the diversity,

Comments

[peaceofpie]

it's worth the wait!

Sometimes "the wait" is weeks/months/years during which your family cannot eat. Sometimes "the wait" is your kids cannot go to school because they have to work in sweatshops. Sometimes "the wait" is your government or your former employer or someone is going to kill you and your family if you don't get out.

People don't generally immigrate to the United States illegally, risking their lives and their families' lives, just because they want to screw you over. They do it because the situation where they were living was desperate enough that they needed to get out and COULD NOT WAIT ANYMORE. I doubt anyone wakes up and goes "Gosh, it would be so cool to be an illegal immigrant! I bet that would be way more fun than doing it legally."

[markymark46975]

I understand your point, but how often do you really think it's a life-or-death situation? Would it not serve them better to fight for change in their home country? It's not going to get better if everyone runs away. Certainly in our history we have had our bad times, but without the people voicing their dissatisfaction and working for change, they're dooming all subsequent generations to their same existence. Breaking the law is breaking the law, isn't it?
Realistically, we can't support a poplulation that grows exponentially. In the end we'll all pay a price for a population out of control. I don't hold the immigrants to blame, more our country and their country of origin.

[peaceofpie]

I don't think I get to decide what constitutes a life-or-death situation for someone who's life experience is as far removed from mine as that of most illegal immigrants. In the lifestyles that you and I are accustomed to, we are very much able to take for granted the ability to fight for change in ways that most people in the world cannot do.

Laws are made by people. Just because there's a law doesn't mean it's a good law, or that we're better off following it than not. Until recently, gay sex was against the law, and it still is in a lot of places in the world...should gay people stop having sex because it's breaking the law? Can you imagine if African-Americans had obeyed the law about sitting in the back of the bus? Or if Jews in Nazi Germany had obeyed the law about turning themselves in to concentration camps? Or if I obeyed the law about not pirating mp3s... ;-)

[markymark46975]

Yeah, I know. Shame-shame on the MP3s thing BTW....I buy them from MSN music for 99 cent ea. or if you buy the whole album it's like $9.99, still cheaper than buying them physically at a store.

[city_lights85]

Marky-
I agree with you 110%.