by Sandy » Thu Aug 27, 2015 11:06 am
In most cases, borders between countries are lines on the ground. Traditional and cultural boundaries which are actual barriers to travel, such as the oceans, rivers, and mountain ranges, which were once pretty difficult to cross, are now easily crossed due to transportation technology.
I can't think of anyplace in the world where a political boundary that separates a wealthy, prosperous country with abundant economic opportunity from one where the poverty level is high, opportunity is limited, and the government is oppressive and corrupt, that is not a sieve through which thousands of literal refugees cross, seeking a better life for themselves and their families. Of course, that kind of migration also provides cover for criminal activity, but generally, it is either political or economic oppression that prompts the movement. Southeastern Europe, the trek from Turkey and the Middle East into Central Europe, has always been a problem and it has only become worse since Yugoslavia dissolved. The boundary between Austria and Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Yugoslavia was a major entry point for refugees from the Soviet Bloc for years. It's mostly in the mountains, heavily guarded, and yet the number of people who crossed over during the "iron curtain" era was proportionately higher than our problem along the southern border. The Berlin wall was not only a barrier with electrified fence along the top, and armed guards so close together that they could see each other (and a tremendous drain on the economy of the GDR), but over 5,000 people got over, under, or through it during its existence (including many with US CIA help). Altogether, about 2.3 million East Germans crossed the heavily guarded border to the west during the existence of the GDR, almost 20% of its entire population. Today, the problem in Europe is refugees from African countries crossing the Mediterranean. Interestingly enough, CBF has missionary personnel working in refugee communities in southern Spain, where large numbers of illegal immigrants from Africa are located.
You can complain about it, exaggerate the impact of it, claim that it will ruin the economy, use it as a political wedge and claim you have the solution to it, or to blame your predecesor for not doing anything about it, but it does not change the fact that this is a problem that will continue to exist as long as there are people who are oppressed, whether politically or economically, and they are able to get to a place where they have an opportunity to change their circumstances. Governments can do as they please, but I'm going to be supportive of a solution that 1) considers the people who are seeking opportunity or assylum as human beings who are, in God's eyes, equal to myself, and 2) is willing to consider out of the box, non-traditional, solutions which work on resolving the root problems, relieving the suffering, and opening the door to allowing people who want to work and contribute to do so.
What we are seeing now, particularly on the Republican side of the aisle, is selfish bigotry.