"LET ME SEE IF I GOT THIS RIGHT!
IF YOU CROSS THE NORTH KOREAN BORDER ILLEGALLY
YOU GET 12 YEARS HARD LABOR.
IF YOU CROSS THE IRANIAN BORDER ILLEGALLY
YOU ARE DETAINED INDEFINITELY.
IF YOU CROSS THE AFGHAN BORDER ILLEGALLY,
YOU GET SHOT.
IF YOU CROSS THE SAUDI ARABIAN BORDER ILLEGALLY
YOU WILL BE JAILED.
IF YOU CROSS THE CHINESE BORDER ILLEGALLY
YOU MAY NEVER BE HEARD FROM AGAIN.
IF YOU CROSS THE VENEZUELAN BORDER ILLEGALLY
YOU WILL BE BRANDED A SPY AND YOUR FATE WILL BE SEALED.
IF YOU CROSS THE CUBAN BORDER ILLEGALLY
YOU WILL BE THROWN INTO POLITICAL PRISON TO ROT.
IF YOU CROSS THE CANADIAN BORDER ILLEGALLY
YOU GET ...
A JOB,
A DRIVERS LICENSE,
SOCIAL INSURANCE CARD,
WELFARE,
FOOD STAMPS,
CREDIT CARDS,
SUBSIDIZED RENT OR A LOAN TO BUY A HOUSE,
FREE EDUCATION,
FREE HEALTH CARE,
A LOBBYIST IN OTTAWA
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF PUBLIC DOCUMENTS PRINTED IN YOUR LANGUAGE
THE RIGHT TO CARRY YOUR COUNTRY'S FLAG WHILE YOU PROTEST THAT YOU
DON'T GET ENOUGH RESPECT
AND, IN MANY INSTANCES, YOU CAN VOTE.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I HAD A FIRM GRASP ON THE SITUATION.
In a fit of suppressed rage, I answered (sadly, I do not have Dymaxion World's eloquence, but I'm trying here):
No, this is not true.
Reading between the lines, this is really just an anti-immigration (and racist) propaganda meme that some right-wing nut job probably put together. There's an American version of this "joke" here:
http://www.ebaumsworld.com/jokes/read/80879617/
It's ridiculous that they're comparing the U.S. and Canada to any of these developing, corrupted, or war-torn nations. Is the author of this joke suggesting we brings ourselves to the level of Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, China, and North Korea when it comes to protecting our borders?
What we really need to think about is how fortunate North America is that it will accept people who need help.
Immigration laws are very strict in both the U.S. and Canada and are based on case by case bases. Every month you hear some tragic stories of families being torn apart when a parent is deported even when they've lived in Canada for decades. Of course, on the flip side, there are people who slip through the system, who've taken advantage of the opportunities presented to them and abuse the things they've been given.
That does not give us license to paint ALL immigrants with the same brush.
We worry about our national security, we worry about the economy, we worry that tax dollars aren't being invested to benefit "real" citizens. All of these are valid concerns. But gut reactions to inflammatory messages that spread resentment and hate will not solve these problems.
Being prejudiced against the next wave of immigrants, of people who can't speak our language, of a new neighbor who smells funny and eats weird food doesn't make us righteous: it makes us hypocritical douchebags. Once upon a time, it's pretty likely YOUR people weren't welcome here. Seriously. Go ask grandpa.
Do NOT pass this meme on. Instead, tell people that both Canada and the U.S. are countries populated entirely by immigrants starting with the first pilgrims off the Mayflower; that our collective identity is made richer with new voices and new faces; and that the investment we put into new generations will be returned to us ten-fold.
To quote from the Bible (no, I'm not Christian, but I can read the Word via Google search whenever I have a "I'm pretty sure the Bible didn't say that" moment):
http://www.openbible.info/topics/immigration
Leviticus 19:33-34
“When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.
“When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.
Matthew 25:35
For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
Exodus 22:21
“You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.
http://preachersfiles.com/helping-others-a-biblical-principle/
“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men” (Luke 6:35 – ESV).
“And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”
A companion scripture to the above passage would be Proverbs 3:27: “Withold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.” We are not to refuse exhibiting mercy and kindness to others when it is in our power to do it. The extent of God’s mercy and kindness toward us will be dependent upon our extending mercy and kindness toward others (James 2:13; cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:15).
In Acts 10:38 we read, “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good….” Jesus went about doing good to others; as His servants, we must follow His example (1 John 2:6). In Romans 12:18-21 (cf. Prov. 25:21-22), we learn that acts of kindness and benevolence can change people’s hearts. Our demonstration of love toward people might result in their obedience to the gospel of Christ. The “coals” referred to in Romans 12:20, are pains of shame which kind treatment will produce. We have an Old Testament example in 1 Samuel 24:16-19.
“You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.
http://preachersfiles.com/helping-others-a-biblical-principle/
“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men” (Luke 6:35 – ESV).
“And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”
A companion scripture to the above passage would be Proverbs 3:27: “Withold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.” We are not to refuse exhibiting mercy and kindness to others when it is in our power to do it. The extent of God’s mercy and kindness toward us will be dependent upon our extending mercy and kindness toward others (James 2:13; cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:15).
In Acts 10:38 we read, “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good….” Jesus went about doing good to others; as His servants, we must follow His example (1 John 2:6). In Romans 12:18-21 (cf. Prov. 25:21-22), we learn that acts of kindness and benevolence can change people’s hearts. Our demonstration of love toward people might result in their obedience to the gospel of Christ. The “coals” referred to in Romans 12:20, are pains of shame which kind treatment will produce. We have an Old Testament example in 1 Samuel 24:16-19.
1 comment:
Memes are always full of interesting facts like how drinking cold water causes cancer and photographic evidence that the Japanese eat babies. So, why wouldn't people believe this list of swell benefits that illegal immigrants get?
Actually, I like receiving these emails because it allows me to quickly edit down my friend list.
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