Compassion v. Reality
Having watched the news and read the papers lately regarding issues that did not involve the presidential election; I have come to the conclusion that it might be time to draw some clarification on two important traits. Let’s start by defining the word “compassion”.
“Compassion: sympathy for the suffering of others, often including a desire to help”.
It seems pretty simple if you ask me. The ability to feel for someone else’s misfortune and having the desire to help them is one of the most important traits we can have, both individually and as a nation.
Now let’s move on to another word, “reality”.
“Reality: actual being or existence, as opposed to an imaginary, idealized, or false nature.”
It seems pretty simple and straightforward as well. The ability to grasp that which is real and true versus that which is false or imaginary is one of the most important senses we can have, both individually and as a nation.
Please note in the definition of each word that they are in no way exclusionary of each other. It is not by definition a fact that if you are compassionate you cannot have a sense of reality or conversely if you have a grasp on reality you cannot also be compassionate at the same time. I happen to be a man that is blessed with both a sense of deep compassion while maintaining a firm grasp on reality. I only wish there was a little bit more of this ability going around, particularly in Washington DC. This brings us to a good example of that which I speak.
Both print and television media recently covered the story of Ms. Francisca Lino. Ms. Lino is a resident of Illinois that came to this country illegally and has been living here for a number of years. She is now scheduled to be deported. This case drew attention in that Ms. Lino has had six children while living in this country illegally and is married to a man that had a stroke. She works and is the sole source of income for her family which includes her mother-in-law who is undergoing chemotherapy. An extreme example of hardship to be sure and certainly worthy of compassion.
Her case was brought into the public spotlight by the spotlight seeking U.S. Congressman Luis Gutierrez. Representative Gutierrez stood with Ms. Lino and denounced the laws that are requiring her to be deported and the government agencies that are tasked with enforcing those laws. The following is part of his statement regarding this case taken directly from his web site:
“Ms. Lino’s family fundamentally depends on her, and neither they nor any other family should suffer because of our government’s profound failure to pass a law that respects basic family values,” “Even my colleagues on the other side of the aisle must understand that, in the midst of a financial crisis, we simply cannot afford to create situations that are doomed to strain our economy. How many times must we demonstrate our immediate need for an immigration system that ensures our security — border security, economic security and family security?”
As I said, Ms. Lino’s case is certainly worthy of compassion. Or to use the definition, certainly worthy of sympathy for the situation in which she finds herself. Sympathy for her family as well for the situation they find themselves in. And a desire to help her children in this time of need. I have all of these feelings. I can easily understand Ms. Lino’s desire to come to this country. As the grandchild of immigrants I heard and saw firsthand what people were willing to do to have a better life in this country. My grandparents struggled to get the proper paperwork in order and secure a sponsor to come to America. They were leaving a country that had just been at war and scrimped and saved every penny to be able to make the long and arduous voyage to America. It was not an easy road, but they endured because the prize was worth the struggle.
In reality Ms. Lino knew she was breaking the law and that if she was discovered she would be deported. She knew before having the first of her six children and accepted the risk because she did not come here to assimilate She did not come here, as my grandparents did, to become part of this country she came here to take all she could from it. Within weeks of their arrival at Ellis Island my grandparents were going to night school to learn not only English but American culture. I am not passing judgment on Ms. Lino. I am simply using the reality of her actions as the basis for my opinion.
Reality also forces me to say that, even though I am a natural born American citizen with an above average income, I cannot afford to have six children. If I cannot afford to have six children of my own I certainly cannot afford to pay for Ms. Lino’s brood. I do not know for sure how Ms. Lino paid the hospital and medical bills involved with the delivery of her six children, but I have a pretty good idea. Every year in this country billions of dollars are spent by local, county, state and federal government agencies to provide health care to illegal aliens. The reality is for Ms. Lino and the millions like her, we U.S. taxpayers simply do not have the billions of dollars it takes for you to come here and have babies.
The argument that these illegal aliens pay taxes as well doesn’t hold water when you take into account that the difference between what they pay in taxes and what is given to them in services amounts to about $20 billion dollars annually. It also does not take into consideration the $50 billion dollars annually that they send out of this country’s economy. Nor does it take into account the billions that are spent annually on legal non-citizens living in this country. It seems to me that Congressman Gutierrez is suggesting that basic family values mandates that we treat people who break into our home the same as we do people whom we invite in. “Hey, thanks for sneaking in my window last night. Can you stay for dinner?”
I strongly suggest that Representative Gutierrez concern himself with the basic family values of legal American residents before damning his colleagues from across the aisle. The reality is that Ms. Lino’s family’s dependence on her is no different than many families’s dependence on a majority breadwinner that is caught in an illegal act and sent to prison. Should we give all lawbreakers a get out of jail free card if some of the money they earn illegally is used to pay for school shoes for their kids?
It is estimated that a full 50% of the Hispanic population residing in Chicago is living here illegally. Officials are well aware of this but choose to do nothing about it out of fear of offending this strongly Democratic voting bloc. I think perhaps Representative Gutierrez may want to take a remedial math class if he thinks it would be a strain on our economy to remove these illegal aliens from the dole.
I completely agree that we need an immigration policy “that ensures our security — border security, economic security and family security?” But American law and policy is in place to protect American interests first. Our border, our economic security and our family security. The U.S. Constitution clearly states that you can be stripped of your citizenship if you swear allegiance to a foreign nation. I think that we should expand that to those who would swear allegiance to a foreign nation’s citizens as well.
With everything the Democrats tell us is wrong with our country why in the hell are these people willing to risk death to come here. Did the news of how screwed up we are not make it to the Tijuana Times? Were they not able to see any of the Democratic National Convention coverage from Mount Olympus? And once they get here and see for themselves all the problems we have with poor health care, diminishing family values, ever increasing economic woes, sending jobs overseas, allowing families to live in poverty and despair, poor education and unfair treatment why don’t they run quicker than a pair of Wal-Mart panty hose back across the border where things would have to be better? By the way, all the examples just mentioned were direct from the acceptance speech of “He Whose Name Shall Not Be Spoken”.
I have compassion for people who are hungry and in need. I give to the Salvation Army on a regular basis, but not so much that my family needs to use their soup kitchen. It is not the governments’ job to pass laws that relieve lawbreakers of personal responsibility. The laws are in place to protect us, senor, both individually and as a nation.
Perhaps Representative Gutierrez needs to look up the definition of the word “illegal”. He can look it up in a Spanish to English dictionary if need be.
