Leaders avoided legality issue in letter
The leaders of the religious community who authored the letter requesting a more civil, respectful, and caring discussion about new neighbors could start by being truthful. They show their own lack of respect to the people by purposefully confusing the issue of legal immigration versus aliens coming to this country illegally. There was no issue or discourse until some groups wanted to grant amnesty to those who broke our immigration laws and cut in line in front of those who are attempting to come here legally.
Their age-old argument that immigrants are humans, again refusing to acknowledge the difference between illegal and legal, ignore the criminal activity of those who came and broke the law. All people are human but criminals whether they are robbers, muggers, trespassers, or other lawbreakers, are treated differently than law-abiding people. The authors of the letter refuse to respect this difference between those who come here legally and those who do not.
The authors point out that the Latino community is treated more poorly due to racist portrayals. It is not a racist portrayal, but one of frustration and national identity. Those coming here illegally demand their criminal activity be excused. The demands by the illegals, those coming from Mexico being the largest group, and their supporters also demand free education including bilingual programs, free health care, and other benefits that legal residents do not receive, are the cause of the animosity. They demand all this while also demanding "their" rights to keep "their" national culture, language, flag, and national independence celebration. There are no other national groups who demand these rights. This is where the fault lies.
Until the spiritual leaders who authored this article "elevate the dialogue, maintain a spirit of respect, and discuss to focus" on the truth and understand the difference between legal and illegal we will not be able to solve these issues or improve our communities regarding this issue.
Dan Kairis
South Elgin