Sunday, June 27, 2010

Two Sides to Every Story

I read an article on azcentral.com http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2010/06/27/20100627arizona-immigration-law-leaving-state.html
Undocumented couple leaves SB 1070 behind by Daniel González

I am tired of feeling like and being called a racist. I am a loving caring person. This article got me thinking really thinking about the situation our country has gotten it’s self into. Thank you Mr. González for making me think.

Side one. The story that Mr. González shared is one of people, real, live, everyday people that have feelings. People with families, people that want what’s best for their children. They want to live in peace and harmony. They are willing to work hard and take care of their own. Their children go to school. They are doing their best, the best way they know how. They have to give up everything because of a mean spirited law that judges them unfairly. They had to move from friends and family to an unfamiliar state so they can feel free. The story reminded me of the stories of the Jews hiding from the Nazis. The step by step the close calls to being captured, the tears and heart aches. Feeling like you are on their journey with them.

Side two. Wait a minute, these aren’t people being judged unfairly because of their religion, these are people that have broken the law for the past 15 years. These are people that left their family once already to start a new life. This isn’t the first time they have had to cross borders in darkness. They have skirted and broken laws for years. They forged documents and have had to watch their backs for more than 15 long years.

There are consequences for our actions. Many times those consequences affect our families, our children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, parents and spouses. I feel deeply for others that have been effected by the consequences of others. I have known many who’s whole lives have been up-rooted and turned upside down because of the choices others make. When you break the law you have consequences. The couple in the story said the sweeps made them feel like prisoners. Well you can only feel truly free when you are obeying the law. Their children didn’t want to go to Mexico because they are Americans. The parents, not us, are responsible for the heart ache their children are feeling right now. It is the parents consequences that caused their children to leave their dog and puppies. Do I feel bad for the kids, yes, but that doesn’t mean I think we should change our laws. I hurt for the children but they aren’t the only children suffering because of choices made by loving parents. Millions of children have had to give up beloved pets to move, give up friends, start over because their parents choose to move.

Children are ripped away from their parents every single day in this country because of a parent that chose to break the law. The parent is taken to jail and their children suffer and they have bad dreams, and they cry and hurt because of the choices their parent have made. Has Mr. González and other forgotten completely that being an illegal immigrant means they have broken our law. Someone choosing to break the law does not make me a racist.

Reading this article has also got me to be thinking about the tens of thousands of people that have protested on one side or the other of this heart wrenching issue. Why don’t we get all of those people that feel so strongly together and come up with real solutions that would benefit everyone. Solutions are out there. I am tired of this and other issues ripping our beloved country apart. We are the UNITED States, not this group or that group. We should be working together to make this country the best it can be. A place of peace and plenty. A safe place for our children to grow and prosper.

If all of the protesters got together against the Mexican drug cartel they could conquer the real foe. If the organizers of the protests could organize people to work and create a businesses, if they could come up with a way to create jobs in Mexico those illegal immigrants never would have wanted to leave in the first place. They wouldn’t have to leave their families for a better life. Let’s put our time, money and energy into helping them make their country a great place to live. Let’s be good neighbors and help them take care of their own. Let’s look at why they feel the need to leave in the first place and help with solutions for a better world.

I am not a racist. That's my side of the story.