It’s Complicated.
“Pets: Please don’t feed stray cats, dogs, or illegal humans.” My new campground rocks. I can’t say enough good things about it. Good people, too. It seems to be the theme of my life that a large percentage of good people have some belief I find indigestible.
But it’s a different culture here. I’m pretty close to the border, and I’d guess that there must be a big border crossing nearby, because I have seen one policeman in a week, and about fifty border patrol cars. I see a border patrol helicopter every day.
In fact, there is a border patrol car parked somewhere along my street 24/7. There are signs all over the clubhouse saying, “Illegal’s, call 1-800-USBP-HELP.” (Yes, illegal’s, not illegals.) There are billboards everywhere.
Immigration is complicated. I don’t believe in closed borders, but I do need to do some open-minded research before I start making public judgments about it. I’d be happy for you to help educate me.
In the meantime, I love this campground rule, not because it gives me indigestion, but because it’s so indicative of how humans can be so cruel and insensitive to each other: they dehumanize them.
I hate this sentence, because seriously? If a fellow human being shows up on my doorstep, dying of thirst and hunger, I’m supposed to show them no more respect or mercy than a stray cat? (And it would be incredibly difficult for me to not feed a stray cat, too.)
I am grateful I live in a gated campground, because I will never have to wrestle with breaking or not breaking the rules. I will obey the laws of my country, of course, but I will pray I am never in a position to have to test that obedience.
If everyone loved someone who was gay, saw them in love with someone else firsthand, I’d bet the votes for same-sex marriage would be closer to 95% to 5%, rather than hovering around 48% to 52%. I’ve talked with people who think gay love is disgusting. I’ve watched their lips curl as they mentally made homosexuals less than human. I’ve said before that all love is beautiful. It is, if only you look.
Likewise, if everyone loved someone who wanted to immigrate to the United States, we’d have open borders. It’s easy to vote against immigration, but how easy is it to vote against Karin Bachmeier, your cousin? Or Juan Garcia, the love of your sister’s life? Geeze, we’re only 200 years old. We’re all immigrants, save many Mexicans and Native Americans.
Did you know that they’ve done studies? Remember Gladiator? Do you know why there was a dog in the opening battle? Because we humans react more emotionally to dogs dying than to humans dying.
We make dogs more than human and humans less than dogs.
Why is it that when it comes to fellow humans, a large majority of us close ourselves off to others? We judge them instead of walk in their shoes. We think of them as no better than strays, rather than drum up some compassion and empathy.
Because, at the end of the day, it’s not that complicated. That person is your brother, your sister, your mother, your lover. Every human is someone with hopes, dreams, and fears. Every human laughs; every human cries. Every human is worthy of respect and love and dignity. Certainly of compassion and understanding.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
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Natasha Fondren is an eBook developer, writer, and classical pianist. After a fifteen-year piano teaching career, she moved to Arizona and built a book design business. She enjoys the lizards and desert heat in Arizona with her Border Collie, Padfoot, and her cat, Dixie Doodle.
Beautiful, beautiful post. I do know that a news report of an abused or even just hurt dog gets more attention and people wanting to help than an article about an abused or hurt child.
I’m with you about all love being beautiful.
Isn’t that sad, Edie? Terribly sad!
The immigration issue is definitely complicated and more should be done by all the governments involved. But when hungry person shows up on your doorstep you pretty much have to feed them. Or somehow you become a lesser person.
Charles, I think you’re right. On all counts.
I’ve heard that about sympathy towards animals vs humans. It’s unreal.
Another great post. I’m in a particularly weird position with the whole immigration issue because of my husband. Some people assume I support illegals 100%, and that’s not the case. I don’t think it’s right that people sneak across the borders, but I also have sympathy for them, especially now that I live here and see first-hand the situations they’re trying to escape.
I never wanted to be an advocate for illegals, or even someone who had to choose sides, but life has thrown me in the middle of it.
Isn’t that weird, Melanie? Just weird.
I agree. Laws are less and less important, the closer you get to life and death decisions, LOL. Even just well-being decisions. I would rather we go back fifty years or so when it comes immigration laws.
I had to blog about this, too. I would feed a starving person, too but then I’d call the cops, if they were here illegally.
And I kind of think the don’t feed stray cats or illegal humans thing is kind of funny. But then again, I think the a lot of inappropriate things are funny. I have to laugh at stuff like that or I would cry a lot.
Katie, Glenn laughed at that, too. Technically, it’s set up the correct way for a joke, with a surprising end.
That sounds like an even-handed, reasonable approach, Katie! Probably I would have to do the same.
Here’s the deal IMO: They broke a law to get in the US if they are illegal. Or they are overstays on a legal visa. Or they obtained a visa or legal documentation fraudulently. These are all criminal acts. And the drain on the social systems is breaking them.
So while I’m all for judicious social programs, I do not feel responsible for providing livelihood, education, more than emergency medical aid or any other assistance to those who did not follow channels to get into this country. We are EXTREMELY liberal compared to other countries in our immigration rules and our treatment of illegals, so I am not going to worry about their feelings overly much.
There has to be a limit on what we can do. If they apply and receive entry, I’m glad to see them come in; but not if they are sneaking in.
Written, I can understand all that. (Although my limited research says they can’t and don’t use social programs.)
I just don’t understand why we’ve become so drastically difficult about it in the last ten years, and even the last twenty or so.
Another beautiful post, Natasha.
It’s an odd thing, but there’s an automatic reaction to seeing children and animals hurt because they are pure victims and most times can’t defend themselves. I think we’re almost desensitized to seeing other human beings hurt, because we give them a back story or at the very least, they’ve got a fighting chance. But to hurt someone purely innocent who can’t fight back, gets to us – even thought we’ve been desensitized to everything else.
I don’t get the mindset that wants to keep homosexuals from getting married. I just don’t get it. Fine if you don’t believe in homosexual marriage for yourself, but making the decision for anyone else? What does it matter to these people? And to me, it’s fine if different religions won’t sanctify a gay marriage – they have the right to preach their religion, but they don’t have the right to inflict it on society as a whole.
Immigration – well, there’s a large topic. Maybe I’m too close here, but my grandparents and even my father were immigrants. He was raised here, but he was born in Sicily. I have many friends who are first generation. I’ve had many friends who were illegal. I wouldn’t turn one of them in.
I don’t think social systems should support illegals because they’re not paying into the system. But I have a problem with social systems to begin with – not the principle behind most of them, but the way it works in reality – meaning the system is corrupt and an awful lot of the money is not going where it’s meant to. And from the illegals and first generationers I’ve known, I don’t think it would matter one bit if they were outside the social systems. They’re not here to take advantage of anyone (for the most part) they’re here for the same reason every immigrant came here – to build a better life. Our fabric of many nations makes us a stronger one… but this argument is far from new. It’s just that when we look back historically at the cold reception every other wave of immigrants received, we call it what it was – prejudice. Eventually history will write this debate in much the same way.
I hear you, Merry. I’ve known a few in Little Italy when I lived there, and my step-grandparents were immigrants. It was a WHOLE LOT easier to get into the US, then.
I researched a bunch, yesterday, and I’d say most all our immigration laws have come about from prejudice or fear. It’s hard to be accepting of a system based on that.
While my heart says everyone should be allowed everywhere, to do what they will, there is the practical issue of space and resources. I would hate for our country to become severely over-populated, our natural resources pushed beyond their limits, the last of our open lands developed to accommodate a burgeoning population. After all, the trees and animals have just as much right to the land–who are we to keep interfering with their growth? All that being said (and ramblingly so), if any living creature were starving under my nose, I would feed them, and the law and I would have to square up later.
HAH! I love that! “The law and I would have to square up later.” LOL!
I would hate that, too.
I guess I’m with Wyrdd on this one, re: immigrants. I think there are many ways for people to come to this country. I say that with reservation though, because I’m torn over hungry kids vs keeping the US a good place. And I admit some prejudice based on the drug wars going on down there. (Which I’m tackling in my next book, if I EVER finish this one!) That shit scares me.
I see what you’re saying, Bets. It’s become so difficult, though. There were many ways for people to come to this country, but a lot less so in the last ten years. A lot less so in the last twenty years. Before that, I’d agree with you!
There’s really no such thing as an “illegal human.” Humans all have a right to be on this earth. The national governments that want to declare certain humans as “illegal” within their borders are what ought to be illegal. I can’t imagine how far into the future we’ll need to go to have a world government, but that’s actually the only sensible form of human governance.
Eric, I laughed when I read your comment. So true! And you know what? Maybe it’s the little strain of Native American in me, but just driving across the country, the idea that we can “own” land seems preposterous.
The United States had a good framework for a world government, at one point. Strikes me as less so, now, although that my be more my perspective than the actual government.
It’s enough to make me take Excedrin. Good post, though, Natasha, as always!
Me too, Rick! LOL!
One comment on the social services — a lot of illegals DO pay into the system. Taxes are taken out of their pay like authorized workers but they aren’t allowed to use those services. Yes, there are illegals who are paid cash/under the table, but many pay taxes.
So true, Melanie. And am I wrong? I think I read that even LEGAL immigrants can’t get social services for 5 years.
I’d find it pretty hard too, to not feed anything/one hungry – except crittersuch as mosquitoes and their ilk.
Me too, Bernita. Speaking of critters, I killed my first ant yesterday. This was a big step, but living in the desert has changed me.
I still feel guilty, though.