Regardless of where you stand on refugees, immigration, etc., you should read this book. If nothing else, you should read chapter 6, Not (Quite) Refugees: Other Displaced People. It will clarify the legal definitions of various groups who try to enter the US, why they come, and the complications they face. I think it will open your eyes, but even more, I hope it will open your heart.
I have noticed that in talking with people about specifically about refugees, they use descriptions and labels that are not accurate. This can strain conversations because definitions are not clearly understood and we end up, unintentionally, talking about different issues. We also tend to talk about refugees and other displaced groups in overly simplistic terms and often we don’t know the web of legal complications that each group faces. Our lack of understanding leads us to believe solutions are easier than they really are, which also leads us to think less of those trying to enter the United States in a way other than traditional immigration. The truth is that the legal issues all groups face, who are trying to enter the U.S. from another country, are seldom simple, especially for the most vulnerable, in fact the more vulnerable a group tends to be, the larger the legal hurdles seem. This book (especially Chapter 6) helps clarify definitions and explains the complications, so we can all speak more intelligently (and hopefully more compassionately) about what is happening (whether pro or con), and even better, speak more thoughtfully about possible solutions.
The other thing Seeking Refuge does, is highlight problems getting so much attention in the news today, like private detention facilities at the border. If you look at the copyright you will notice that this book was written before Trump became president, but it points out many of the same problems that the press (and other groups) only recently seems to be outraged about. You can argue about whether Trump has made these situations better or worse, but it is disingenuous to let Obama or other previous presidents off the hook. Each president, for as long as I can remember, has had the same opportunities (including having a period of time where their party controlled both the House and the Senate) as Trump to work toward fixing broken immigration systems, but they all failed. It doesn't take much to figure out that I am no fan of Trump, so this is not a defense of Trump because I think he is doing a good job, but the problems addressed in this book are the result of many terms of failures by our political "leaders" who continue to kick the problem down the road. Trump is the recipient of this mess, not the creator.
So, this is just a humble suggestion - read the book and/or do some genuine, objective research before going on a social media rant, so you can speak with some degree of understanding that might lead to productive solutions. Stop worrying about who to blame. In fact, stop worrying about the politics of this until you sort out the theology of this. Set politics aside and take an honest look at scripture. Decide how the church should respond to the refugee, the alien, the immigrant, the displaced stranger, the poor and the oppressed. Think less about boundaries of the United States and think more about the boundaries of the Kingdom of God. Once you have God's perspective sorted out and once you understand all the legal terms to describe different displaced groups of people, you might think differently about the politics of it all. In fact, you might not care about the politics of it all - you might care more about the rightness and righteousness of it all and be more motivated to do something yourself!
I have noticed that in talking with people about specifically about refugees, they use descriptions and labels that are not accurate. This can strain conversations because definitions are not clearly understood and we end up, unintentionally, talking about different issues. We also tend to talk about refugees and other displaced groups in overly simplistic terms and often we don’t know the web of legal complications that each group faces. Our lack of understanding leads us to believe solutions are easier than they really are, which also leads us to think less of those trying to enter the United States in a way other than traditional immigration. The truth is that the legal issues all groups face, who are trying to enter the U.S. from another country, are seldom simple, especially for the most vulnerable, in fact the more vulnerable a group tends to be, the larger the legal hurdles seem. This book (especially Chapter 6) helps clarify definitions and explains the complications, so we can all speak more intelligently (and hopefully more compassionately) about what is happening (whether pro or con), and even better, speak more thoughtfully about possible solutions.
The other thing Seeking Refuge does, is highlight problems getting so much attention in the news today, like private detention facilities at the border. If you look at the copyright you will notice that this book was written before Trump became president, but it points out many of the same problems that the press (and other groups) only recently seems to be outraged about. You can argue about whether Trump has made these situations better or worse, but it is disingenuous to let Obama or other previous presidents off the hook. Each president, for as long as I can remember, has had the same opportunities (including having a period of time where their party controlled both the House and the Senate) as Trump to work toward fixing broken immigration systems, but they all failed. It doesn't take much to figure out that I am no fan of Trump, so this is not a defense of Trump because I think he is doing a good job, but the problems addressed in this book are the result of many terms of failures by our political "leaders" who continue to kick the problem down the road. Trump is the recipient of this mess, not the creator.
So, this is just a humble suggestion - read the book and/or do some genuine, objective research before going on a social media rant, so you can speak with some degree of understanding that might lead to productive solutions. Stop worrying about who to blame. In fact, stop worrying about the politics of this until you sort out the theology of this. Set politics aside and take an honest look at scripture. Decide how the church should respond to the refugee, the alien, the immigrant, the displaced stranger, the poor and the oppressed. Think less about boundaries of the United States and think more about the boundaries of the Kingdom of God. Once you have God's perspective sorted out and once you understand all the legal terms to describe different displaced groups of people, you might think differently about the politics of it all. In fact, you might not care about the politics of it all - you might care more about the rightness and righteousness of it all and be more motivated to do something yourself!
No comments:
Post a Comment