free speech takes a hit

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by brianwspencer

Ok, we're at a total impasse because you think the 16th century and the 21st century are basically the same thing, so I'll let the others take this on with you.

Using all encompassing categories to compare the 16th century and the 21st is sophomoric, and you should know it.

I suppose I don't feel bound to use my four century removed ancestors as an example of how I should live my life today, four centuries later. If that were the case, I would have my slaves typing this for me because I would be too busy with other things.

Because my ancestors may have done something unethical or illegal (did the Native Americans have written laws against this sort of thing? Whose laws were my ancestors breaking? The law of goodwill?) does not disqualify me from being permitted to take the view that our laws should be followed, period, and that we should prosecute illegal aliens.

If your father were a murderer, would it make you a hypocrite for thinking that murder is wrong? Methinks not. So the fact that my ancestors were immigrants who took over a country with force does not make me a hypocrite for not wanting people to illegally overrun my country now.

Wrong is wrong regardless of one's past, but to understand what is happening, one needs an understanding of history and an understanding of the forces at work here...blaming the poor never does any good. Yes, we need to somehow work with the Mexican government...that's where statesmanship comes in, of course they'd rather see folks leave. No, it's not black and white, liberal and conservative but we know why different types of folks resist meaningful reform. I agree that we need an orderly process and we must fix a clearly broken system...my only dog in this fight is that we won't accomplish that by demonizing the poor! And yes, I have always admitted that I consider all folks my brothers and sisters, we can't fix the world but we can do a lot more. Thinking that we can close our borders and hide from the world's problems is what is naive! Everytime this debate comes up, it focuses on the "criminal aliens" instead of the causes...treat the symptoms while ignoring the disease!