My feelings on the immigration debate.

[xiphias]

It's a sonnet.

The New Colossus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

-- Emma Lazarus

Comments

[nextian.livejournal.com]

Ahahah, this is why I friended you. Hello again, and points for rocking.

[kalmn.livejournal.com]

ah, thank you. that's it, exactly.

[felis-sidus.livejournal.com]

I'm at odds with myself over this issue. On the one hand, I detest immigration quotas, and believe that we should welcome anyone with the gumption to move to a new country. On the other hand, simply legalizing so many illegal immigrants seems unfair to the legal immigrants, who may have paid a high personal price to enter the country legally. It somehow seems to denigrate their efforts. If we do hand-wave illegal immigrants currently in the country to legal status, then at least, at the same time, we should abolish all immigration restrictions effective immediately.

Yes, that could create social and economic chaos if we found ourselves suddenly innundated with great numbers of immigrants, but I can't think of a solution that doesn't involve risk, yet is fair to all. Where's my magic wand when I need it?

[the-siobhan.livejournal.com]

I'm kind of interested in seeing what will happen to the economy if 12 million or so cheap labourers are abruptly removed from it.

"Interested" in this context meaning, "Glad I get to watch it from way over here."

[thnidu.livejournal.com]

I don't think anyone is proposing a "hand-wave", although the nativists are doing their best to blur the distinctions by calling any proposal "amnesty". The proposals all, AFAIK, involve proof of productive and law-abiding life, and further time after application.

[deerdancer22.livejournal.com]

I think it would be fine. With so many baby boomers retiring soon, it will be a plus to increase the labor pool. They are taking jobs that would otherwise, on the whole go unfilled. I think we are fine to continue our tradition of welcoming.

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

WORD.

A
who knew you'd have something sensible to say.