Soap Box

OK, so I've waited a long time to write this blog. Most of my friends disagree with me on this issue, and, by nature, I dislike confrontation. Not only that, but most of my friends are smarter than me and so when there is an issue of disagreement, odds are I'm mostly wrong. This, however, is just something that won't leave me alone, so I'm going to break one of my “nearly unbreakable” personal codes and speak. (By the way, that code is: It is better to be silent and thought a fool than to speak up and remove all doubt.)

Here it is; I am opposed to Arizona's new “immigration” law.

I'm not opposed to the part of the law that makes being in the U.S. illegally a state crime. It's already a federal crime, so that part's nothing new. Now it's just double illegal. (As a matter of full disclosure, I find U.S. immigration law to be repugnant and contrary to the high ideals that underpin our freedomocracy.)

Secondly, I don't really care about the arguments that focus on state vs. federal obligations, jurisdictions, et al. To me that is all just political blah blah blah.

What I am opposed to, and what won't leave me alone is this idea. In Arizona, U.S.A., law enforcement officers may (or must as I read it) act on a “reasonable” suspicion that immigration law is being broken by requiring the suspicious person(s)to immediately prove their innocence. And that, tragically, certain people are “reasonably” suspicious of breaking the law solely by virtue of their skin, hair, and eye color.

Not too distant history should cause us to shutter at this idea. We should be nauseated to remember the place that laws and tactics like this one took mankind in it's recent past. I am reminded, as I read some supportive comments of nice Christian folk, that we are not better than the people who chose those paths, no less susceptible to propaganda that demonizes and dehumanizes. If anything we are weaker and more susceptible. If anything the media forces that shape our world view and opinions are more crafty and powerful.

Please, let's turn back. Let's not accept, or worse yet be cheerleaders for, the lowering of our standards of fairness, justice and righteousness, even for the sake of our security and comfort. As Christians, people who's citizenship is not in this world, let's act better. Let's find and promote solutions that bring glory to God and demonstrate Christ's example of selflessness, mercy and above all love.