It's hard for many of us living in rural central Kansas to understand the emotion that's driving the massive demonstrations across the country in response to the immigration legislation being hammered out in Washington, D.C.
The focus of attention, of course, is the porous border our country shares with Mexico. Frankly, it's not always clear to us whether the heart of the issue is illegal immigration or the fact that the vast majority of immigrants coming from Mexico happen to be Hispanic. We live in caucasian country, by in large, and rarely encounter immigrants, whether legal or illegal.
There is no question the vast majority of immigrants coming to us from Mexico see economic opportunity in this land, even if it is perilous to pursue it. They accept many of the jobs we don't want, many work longer and harder than we do, and for less money than we think we deserve.
Change the times and country of origin, and the lure that draws Mexican immigrants to this country is no different than the one that drew our own ancestors here a century or two ago. Of course times have changed, and the issues are complicated in this day and age. But there must be a way to develop a workable system that enables people of good intent to both benefit from, and contribute to, our country's economic promise. Can we find a way to make them friends instead of felons?
The immigration issue tests not only our collective creativity by also our sense of justice. -DR
