Illegal Immigration The Same As The Holocaust?

Yesterday, I cross-posted an entry from the blog Liberally Conservative.  As part of the CAII, we cross-post each other's posts concerning illegal immigration.  The idea is to spread the word to as many people as possible.  (If you are interested in joining, see the link at the bottom of this entry.)  As I stated, I didn't write it, I just repeated it.  This AM, I got an interesting comment from Shanna on that post that I thought was worth answering as a blog entry and to share with the coalition, especially the original author.  Here is her comment and my answer.

Reading this, I can't help but think of the German Jews back in 1939 who were desperately looking for an allied country to take them before all hell broke loose with Hitler and the Holocaust. Needless to say, they got a big resounding "NO" from most all of the Western countries, but a lucky few managed to smuggle their children into England. Same shit, different smell...

I don't agree with drug smuggling or human smuggling, but at the same time, I don't think there's any shame in wanting to build a better life for yourself and your family. Just because you're born into a corrupt country with poor living conditions doesn't mean you have to be satisfied to stay there.

If I were an average joe, with very little control over how things are governed in my country, you can bet your ass I'd be doing everything I could to improve my lot.

Thanks for reading and responding.  Although I didn't write the entry, I posted it because I agree with the author.  That said, I would like to respectfully disagree with your comparison of those who suffered in one of the most horrendous tragedies of the twentieth century and the problems associated with illegal aliens.

First, the Jews were legal residents and citizens of their respective countries.  Most were just ordinary people, harming no one, just doing what people do.  Their  only crime was being Jewish. 

I imagine life can be rough in a third world country.  Poverty, disease and the like takes their toll on humanity.  On the other hand, in Mexico, there is no on-going genocide against legal citizens.  There are no death camps.  The economic slavery of the poor, after years of failed socialist style policies and corrupt governments, is not even close to the terror and genocide inflicted upon the Jews of Central and Eastern Europe.

I checked my stats and I see that you are posting from Canada.  You do not have the economic impact that comes with the absorbtion of millions of illegal immigrants.  The US is, for all intents and purposes, your buffer.  You are quite correct and I agree, there is no shame in trying to build a better life for me and my family.  That is my intent every day.  There are lots  of ways I can do that, but illegally is not the route I choose.  We have borders and border control for a reason.  Canada has them as does every other country in the world.  There are routes that a person can take to gain legal residence status if they are escaping tyranny and repression.  It's called asylum.  Being poor is not usually considered to be enough reason to apply for asylum. 

Yes, I agree that I'd like to think I'd do what it takes to improve my lot, but at some point, their attempt at improvement will eventually result in my inability to improve my lot.  We cannot continue to absorb all of these illegal immigrants with some harm to us.

One last thing.  To compare the Holocaust with illegal immigration does nothing more than cheapen one of the most evil chapters in the history of mankind.

VW

**This was a production of The Coalition Against Illegal Immigration (CAII). If you would like to participate, please go to the above link to learn more. Afterwards, email stiknstein@gmail.com and let us know at what level you would like to participate.

Comments

[Blandly Urbane]

Extremely sad comparison she made. If you and I and of course many others can sympathize with the lot of someone that just wants to make a better life, yet do not approve of their means of entry; why can someone from shanna's side of the argument not accept ours?

[canuckistani]

What surprises me is how little the U.S. gov't is doing to deal with this problem. The troops should be brought home from Iraq and stationed on the border. Heh.

[Violence Worker]

I agree C, that we should be doing a helluva lot more to secure our borders. Unfortunately, current US law forbids US troops be used in such a manner. Border enforcement is by law, a law enforcement activity. As such, the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 and the Insurrection Act of 1807 severely limit the Feds from using the Armed Forces in a law enforcement activity. The National Guard is authorized when they are under the authority of the state governor which is their normal state unless federalized (called up by the DOD).

But I also agree that the those acts should be updated to allow for federal troops to police our borders. We do need to finish the job in Iraq though. We should re-expand the military and bring it back to 1980's levels. Then we would have plenty.

VW

[sally]

all they want is a better life can't you understand that? if you lived one day in their shoes i bet you would understand what it is to live in poverty and not be able to do anything for your starving kids except cross the border knowing you might die. waiting years and years and spending hundreds and even thousands of dollars to get your green card is not an option. you can not wait all those years and see your kids are starving! all they want is a better life i have seen the struggles that they have to go through and i thank god every day for not being in their shoes and having to struggle so much. i hope no one ever discriminates you or treats you like a criminal for wanting a better job and a better life they are human beings after all not just illegal aliens as some like to call them. i am proud to be hispanic and i will fight for them no matter what!!