Ferocious debate instead of reason rules today's discussion on the issue of immigration. Heated opinions have replaced good listening skills in these discussions and divided the parties. The participants of the debate seem to be divided from logical solutions, and we must find those solutions. America is at war on 2 plus fronts. We want peace with the whole world, but mistakes about immigrants may cost us dearly if we forget those who are ignorant of the components of democracy.
America is an egalitarian system, which goes against the grain of most cultures in the world. Certain components of other societies, such as differing economic systems and local governments, religion and even family structure may include a system of terror that the people accept and adhere to. In some other countries, drugs and weapons cartels and other entities often rule communities with an iron fist, and these types of networks automatically accompany many immigrants.
It is most often those who are most oppressed who want to migrate to America to enjoy the freedom and safety they have lacked, but their privileged elite also often come as students and apprentices to learn about our free society and economy. Future leaders are attracted to American institutions, but embracing freedom may not seem imperative to the middle class of a foreign society, and the upper elite may even oppose it. Not grasping the democratic rights of the individual and its integration with a free economy gradually weakens and destroys them both. Whether out of personal irrelevance, ignorance or fear, people from these cultures may unwittingly give away their new found freedom.
Americans love our democracy, and we have a difficult time understanding why everyone would not value the same freedom we enjoy. We forget that many cultures are not accustomed to the rights afforded a citizen of the United States, that is, the Bill of Rights, so we make assumptions about the alien's understanding of our culture. We know that no person in America should submit to a system of terror, and aliens who reside in our borders must value our democracy. We realize participants in a free society must stand up to intimidation, and our law enforcement community daily fights systems of terror to maintain the public safety. But we forget some people won't stand up to the threat.
Christians have been cultivating our own heated debate about what this means. How should we respond to the aliens living within our borders? God doesn't allow people to live within his kingdom without laying down some very strict guidelines, and yet we are admonished to love the alien. In the law, God laid out requirements for the admission or expulsion of foreigners. The Bible also maintains in the New Testament that in order to live in the Kingdom of God, you have to believe its main tenets and demonstrate that belief. Those who do not love the Kingdom of God will be cast out in the end. Christians cannot ignore God's model and the picture it paints about the priority of education yet simultaneously claim to love the immigrant.
Extending compassion means taking the risk to be willing to teach others how to understand and adhere to the rules, or they must be sent to live in another place. An unchecked system of terror undermines the orderliness a democratic society requires. Tactics of terror include incarcerating its victims and snatching the freedom of its targets. Compassionate followers of Christ cannot leave a person captive to such fear. Compassion compels us to teach others about freedom and a better life.
Churches are often the first resource an immigrant looks to for education in English. Sometimes such ministries will also teach American Civics, but not usually. Why don't we believers advocate for a better tomorrow for all of American society by encouraging our guests to learn civics and the democratic way? Although foreign immigrants and those with permanent work visas bring many good things from their culture, we must also keep our eyes open for things from other cultures that undermine freedom. Compassion requires teaching them to adhere to our laws and to say no to any system of terror.
America is an egalitarian system, which goes against the grain of most cultures in the world. Certain components of other societies, such as differing economic systems and local governments, religion and even family structure may include a system of terror that the people accept and adhere to. In some other countries, drugs and weapons cartels and other entities often rule communities with an iron fist, and these types of networks automatically accompany many immigrants.
It is most often those who are most oppressed who want to migrate to America to enjoy the freedom and safety they have lacked, but their privileged elite also often come as students and apprentices to learn about our free society and economy. Future leaders are attracted to American institutions, but embracing freedom may not seem imperative to the middle class of a foreign society, and the upper elite may even oppose it. Not grasping the democratic rights of the individual and its integration with a free economy gradually weakens and destroys them both. Whether out of personal irrelevance, ignorance or fear, people from these cultures may unwittingly give away their new found freedom.
Americans love our democracy, and we have a difficult time understanding why everyone would not value the same freedom we enjoy. We forget that many cultures are not accustomed to the rights afforded a citizen of the United States, that is, the Bill of Rights, so we make assumptions about the alien's understanding of our culture. We know that no person in America should submit to a system of terror, and aliens who reside in our borders must value our democracy. We realize participants in a free society must stand up to intimidation, and our law enforcement community daily fights systems of terror to maintain the public safety. But we forget some people won't stand up to the threat.
Christians have been cultivating our own heated debate about what this means. How should we respond to the aliens living within our borders? God doesn't allow people to live within his kingdom without laying down some very strict guidelines, and yet we are admonished to love the alien. In the law, God laid out requirements for the admission or expulsion of foreigners. The Bible also maintains in the New Testament that in order to live in the Kingdom of God, you have to believe its main tenets and demonstrate that belief. Those who do not love the Kingdom of God will be cast out in the end. Christians cannot ignore God's model and the picture it paints about the priority of education yet simultaneously claim to love the immigrant.
Extending compassion means taking the risk to be willing to teach others how to understand and adhere to the rules, or they must be sent to live in another place. An unchecked system of terror undermines the orderliness a democratic society requires. Tactics of terror include incarcerating its victims and snatching the freedom of its targets. Compassionate followers of Christ cannot leave a person captive to such fear. Compassion compels us to teach others about freedom and a better life.
Churches are often the first resource an immigrant looks to for education in English. Sometimes such ministries will also teach American Civics, but not usually. Why don't we believers advocate for a better tomorrow for all of American society by encouraging our guests to learn civics and the democratic way? Although foreign immigrants and those with permanent work visas bring many good things from their culture, we must also keep our eyes open for things from other cultures that undermine freedom. Compassion requires teaching them to adhere to our laws and to say no to any system of terror.
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