southernhybrid
Contributor
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2018/05/28/an-undocumented-immigrant-saved-a-toddler-dangling-from-a-paris-balcony-now-hes-a-national-hero/?utm_term=.d1f61f98efa3
Why are so many people xenophobic when it comes to desperate people trying to enter their countries without going through legal channels? Immigrants, for the most part, add a lot of benefits to society. It takes great courage to travel to another country, knowing that you might not be welcomed. Most people that do this are hard working people who only want a better life for themselves and their families. Yet, there are a lot of people who don't care about the hardships and often violence that these people left behind. Why is that?
These people, at least in the US, and probably as well in countries that have low birth rates. are needed to do the jobs that are hard to fill, to start up small, local businesses and to help support older and disabled adults by paying taxes that help support the safety net. Of course immigrants would rather migrate legally but many Western countries have made that almost impossible. This is especially true in the US and France.
It seems to me that we have a lot to lose by denying so many people the right to contribute to our society. Without young immigrants, farmers suffer, older people can't find helpers when they need care, etc. We need a lot more young workers as the large baby boomer generation is in the process of retiring. Is it simply hatred and racism that motivates people to deny these people to want to keep these workers out? I've worked with many immigrants. I never asked them how they got to the US. I was only happy to have them work with me. I've also visited some immigrants, some were likely undocumented, when I worked as a home health nurse many years ago. They were all decent people who appreciated the care that I gave them. To me, they were assets and not liabilities. I once hired a company to paint my house when I lived on the north side of Atlanta. All of the painters were Hispanic immigrants, possibly undocumented. They did a fantastic job and even chased down my little dog and brought him back to me when he slipped out the front door unnoticed.
While the African man in Paris should be applauded for his heroic deed, one shouldn't have to be a hero to receive entry into a country. I personally find it sickening that this xenophobia has infected the US, and many other Western countries. What can be done to change this? ( yeah I know, it won't happen under the current administration )
And, please don't tell me how you or your family came her legally. Many of my relatives came here legally too, but that was during a time when all you had to do is step off the ship and give a reason why you wanted to be a part of the US. Those days are long over. My husband's late grandmother came here from Syria. She was desperate, but all she had to do was give a reason why she wanted to be a part of the US. She was only 16 at the time. Can you imagine what she would have to do to legally enter the country now? These days it's extremely difficult to obtain legal status. I'm not saying we shouldn't vet people, but to me, it's obvious that the current situation is both hateful and stupid. We need immigrants to help make America great again!
Why are so many people xenophobic when it comes to desperate people trying to enter their countries without going through legal channels? Immigrants, for the most part, add a lot of benefits to society. It takes great courage to travel to another country, knowing that you might not be welcomed. Most people that do this are hard working people who only want a better life for themselves and their families. Yet, there are a lot of people who don't care about the hardships and often violence that these people left behind. Why is that?
These people, at least in the US, and probably as well in countries that have low birth rates. are needed to do the jobs that are hard to fill, to start up small, local businesses and to help support older and disabled adults by paying taxes that help support the safety net. Of course immigrants would rather migrate legally but many Western countries have made that almost impossible. This is especially true in the US and France.
It seems to me that we have a lot to lose by denying so many people the right to contribute to our society. Without young immigrants, farmers suffer, older people can't find helpers when they need care, etc. We need a lot more young workers as the large baby boomer generation is in the process of retiring. Is it simply hatred and racism that motivates people to deny these people to want to keep these workers out? I've worked with many immigrants. I never asked them how they got to the US. I was only happy to have them work with me. I've also visited some immigrants, some were likely undocumented, when I worked as a home health nurse many years ago. They were all decent people who appreciated the care that I gave them. To me, they were assets and not liabilities. I once hired a company to paint my house when I lived on the north side of Atlanta. All of the painters were Hispanic immigrants, possibly undocumented. They did a fantastic job and even chased down my little dog and brought him back to me when he slipped out the front door unnoticed.
While the African man in Paris should be applauded for his heroic deed, one shouldn't have to be a hero to receive entry into a country. I personally find it sickening that this xenophobia has infected the US, and many other Western countries. What can be done to change this? ( yeah I know, it won't happen under the current administration )
And, please don't tell me how you or your family came her legally. Many of my relatives came here legally too, but that was during a time when all you had to do is step off the ship and give a reason why you wanted to be a part of the US. Those days are long over. My husband's late grandmother came here from Syria. She was desperate, but all she had to do was give a reason why she wanted to be a part of the US. She was only 16 at the time. Can you imagine what she would have to do to legally enter the country now? These days it's extremely difficult to obtain legal status. I'm not saying we shouldn't vet people, but to me, it's obvious that the current situation is both hateful and stupid. We need immigrants to help make America great again!
