| As the nation sputters forward into a new | | | | Illegal immigrants are simply illegal. They |
| problem of illegal immigrants, | | | | have broken the law; have traveled hundreds |
| neo-conservatism and budget crisis we must | | | | of miles to sneak into the country and work |
| wonder what to make of it all. The signals | | | | for cash under the table. They use our |
| are confusing. | | | | schools, our medical benefits and take away |
| | | | jobs from our countrymen. Hypothetically, if |
| On the one hand we have illegal immigrants | | | | we opened up our borders and let everyone |
| who have had to hide from the law, work in | | | | immigrate to the U.S. without hindrance than |
| poverty like conditions and do not have the | | | | our country would cease to be one of the |
| same access to education that we have. We | | | | wealthiest in the world. That means your |
| believe they are hardworking people truly | | | | wages would decline because there will always |
| trying to make the best life they can. They | | | | be someone else to do the work for cheap. In |
| have the American work ethnic that has been | | | | essence, employers would use their workers |
| lost on so many native born Americans. | | | | until they were worn out and then get another |
| | | | truck load full. Workers would loose their |
| However, there is a negative side to illegal | | | | bargaining power. Would it be such a great |
| immigrants that isn't always mentioned. | | | | place to live then? |
| Illegal immigrants have made a choice to come | | | | |
| and live under the conditions they now find | | | | We must understand that the laws are enacted |
| themselves. No one forced them to move from | | | | to protect our American standard of living, |
| their native lands and hide away in the U.S. | | | | maintain fair employment and keep the nation |
| | | | competitive. Once this batch of illegal |
| Recently, immigrants took to the streets and | | | | immigrants becomes citizens there will be |
| protested potential laws that would make it a | | | | another group forming behind them. Where will |
| felony to be an illegal immigrant in the U.S. | | | | the cycle end? |
| They sang the national anthem in Spanish and | | | | |
| waved Mexican flags. Is this appropriate to | | | | Does that mean we should abuse them? No! It |
| insult the country you want to join? | | | | does mean that they should be removed and |
| | | | sent back to the countries in which they |
| A total of 11 million illegal immigrants hit | | | | came. It does mean that we have consistently |
| the street having major protests in excess of | | | | and routinely treated illegal immigrants much |
| 400,000 in Los Angeles and Chicago. Similar | | | | better than any other nation. In what other |
| gatherings were found in Houston and San | | | | great nation can illegal immigrants gather in |
| Jose. They chanted, "We are not criminals" | | | | such a public display of protest and not be |
| and "We want to stay!" | | | | put under mass arrest? |
| | | | |
| As Muslims we have two responsibilities when | | | | This may not be the answer that we are |
| it comes to immigration policy. We must | | | | looking for nor may it be what many of the |
| support our host nation in policies that are | | | | Islamic and Muslim papers are reporting yet |
| deemed to protect our collective whole and we | | | | they may be more concerned with U.S. bashing |
| must thwart those efforts that are | | | | than protecting. No matter which way you |
| destructive to people. What does this mean? | | | | slice the onion we need borders no matter how |
| | | | much it makes us cry. |