Unpacking Ideas

While we are repelled by the idea that an undocumented immigrant might “get away with something” if we grant amnesty, we are complacent if not comfortable when one of “our own” is blessed with forgivness. Is anyone in Mississippi confused about this?

The American Enterprise Institute (AEI) and The Partnership For A New American Economy released a new report last month about immigrants in the United States and their impact on employment levels for native-born workers.   You can download the entire article at http://www.aei.org/article/society-and-culture/immigration/immigration-and-american-jobs/. Do Immigrants Take Our Jobs? Principal Investigator, Madeline Zavodny of Agnes Scott College in Georgia led [...]

The Church’s response today to our Muslim neighbors, and to all of our neighbors who are different from us, must be formed – and corrected if necessary — by the example set by Jesus of the Gospels. We welcome them, we love them, we serve them.

It appears Alabama is no longer a safe place for immigrants to live and work. They are leaving Alabama. Who can blame them? It appears Alabama is not a safe place for me, unless I am willing to ignore the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke’s Gospel.

Let’s step into the light of the lamp beside the golden door and stand up for the richness of our real American values: We are a people who welcome the tired and poor. We are Americans.

Effective immigration reform must be addressed at the federal level. Consider the policy chaos if 50 states pass separate, customized immigration reform bills

Mr. Phillips’ visceral attacks in response to this advocacy, by contrast, reflect neither American values nor the Christian faith. But as a committed Christian and United Methodist who follows Jesus, I am committed to praying for Mr. Phillips.

Plainly, perhaps simplistically, the life and teachings of Jesus as recorded in the Gospels determine my religious views which form my political views….not the other way around.

The DREAM Act has always been a matter of “doing the right thing.” It addresses the plight of children who were carried here illegally by their parents. They broke no law willfully. They just came with their family. They have grown up us children of America. DREAM would provide them with the chance to earn a pathway to status by being good students and soldiers and preparing themselves to excel and to form part of the backbone of our nation.

Immigration reform is a perfect example. It is no surprise that a bit of misinformation about immigrants and immigration reform is promoted. The invitation to welcome strangers has threatened us for centuries, so, misinformation about immigrants and immigration reform efforts is to be expected.