Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Couldn't Have Said It Better Myself

Recently large demonstrations have taken place across the country
protesting the fact that Congress is finally addressing the issue of illegal
immigration. Certain people are angry that the US might protect its own borders,
might make it harder to sneak into this country and, once here, to stay
indefinitely. Let me see if I correctly understand the thinking behind these
protests.Let's say I break into your house. Let's say that when you discover me
in your house, you insist that I leave. But I say, "I've made all the beds and
washed the dishes and did the laundry and swept the floors; I've done all the
things you don't like to do. I'm hard-working and honest (except for when I
broke into your house).According to the protesters, not only must you let me
stay, you must add me to your family's insurance plan, educate my kids, and
provide other benefits to me and to my family (my husband will do your yard work
because he too is hard-working and honest, except for that breaking in part.) If
you try to call the police or force me out, I will call my friends who will
picket your house carrying signs that proclaim my right to be there.It's only
fair, after all, because you have a nicer house than I do, and I'm just trying
to better myself. I'm hard-working and honest, um, except for well, you know.And
what a deal it is for me!! I live in your house, contributing only a fraction of
the cost of my keep, and there is nothing you can do about it without being
accused of selfishness, prejudice and being an anti-housebreaker. Oh yeah, and I
want you to learn my language so you can communicate with me Why can't people
see how ridiculous this is?! Only in America....if you agree, pass it on (in
English.) Share it if you see the value of it as a good simile. If not, blow it
off along with your future Social Security funds.

I don't know where this was originally published. I found it on a message board and the source wasn't quoted. This writer perfectly explained he absurdity of the illegal immigration debate.

6 comments:

Agius said...

It's easier to swallow this analogy than to actually think about the causes and effects of illegal immigration. By oversimplifying the issue to this degree, you don't have to consider the consequences of trying to enforce border security, or weigh them against the potential benefits of allowing open immigration. You can let the right-wing culture of xenophobia grow and fester without feeling bad about it.

Be suspicious of analogies. If you look, they're usually biased constructions designed to keep you from thinking about the other side's arguments. This analogy does not work, if considered from any other point of view.

LennyP said...

We already have a very open immigration policy. The topic is not about immigration. It is about ILLEGAL immigration. The cause of illegal immigration is lowlife parasites. The effect is a drain on society. The cure for illegal invaders is always violent force.

Anonymous said...

we as a country need to take care of our own first. isn't the statistic that 1 in 5 children go to bed hungry? many people don't have medical insurance, and we solve the problem by making it easier to buy medicine from canada. our country isn't perfect. yes, it is better than some other countries, but i firmly believe we should help our own and THEN help the other COUNTRIES to build up, not allow every cheap worker in until they assimilate and want better wages. which will happen. do you really think the immigrants will stay like this? wait until they become middle class, then you'll see how "xenophobic" people can be.

and am i mistaken, or is only the republican image that is against illegal immigrants? i could've sworn all the corporations and factories suddleny finding cheap labor weren't weeping at all.

Anonymous said...

As the writer of this post uses the analogy of invading a house that someone owns should I assume that he is an American Indian?

Sherrykins said...

You are absolutely right lennyp, it's all about ILLEGAL immigration! My husband and I as US citizens pay almost $600.00 a month for health care insurance while they come here illegally and have FREE health care. That's only for starters, what about when an illegal immigrant has a child while in this county, why should that child automatically be a US citizen? They should both be deported immediately and refused re-entry!

What a hot topic!!!!!!

LennyP said...

Being born a US citizen would be hard to undo because it is part of the 14th amendment. It was enacted as a way to make the freed slaves US citizens.
Something I found about from an electrician who is a friend of the family is that the legal workers have to jump through hoops to be allowed to work on the secured sites. Ridiculous background checks that will bar you from working there for the slightest blemish. How is it that undocumented workers are working there without any background check? They cant have a background check because they are undocumented. Wouldn't that be a huge national security issue?