We Were Once Strangers

I've been reading the book of Exodus in the morning, and I've gotten
to the part after God rescues the Israelites out of Egypt and is now
dispensing His laws for them. Two of the main themes, the maintenance
of a just society and the welcoming treatment of foreigners, are
relevant to the current debate in our country over illegal immigrants.
Given that it involves angles like jobs, national security,
xenophobia, and the law, it is an emotionally charged debate.

What makes the debate juicy to follow but which is ultimately
unhelpful in determining a just solution, in my opinion, is the
"either-or" stance many people seem to be taking. On one side, you
have people flustered that we wouldn't uphold the laws that are on the
books. On another side, you have people incredulous that we would be
so closed off and rude to a people group so desirous to be on our side
of the national border.

I support President Bush and others seeking to find a way to be both
welcoming and lawful, two traits America would like to be known for,
two traits that I believe God in the book of Exodus was calling the
Israelites to display. I am loath to make comparisons between Old
Testament Jews and modern-day Americans, but here is one case where it
might make sense. After all, regardless of our own current religious
persuasion, we ought to be able to comprehend the importance of
maintaining a lawful society.

We also ought to understand that aside from the native Americans, we
all were once strangers arriving to a new shore, and so we ought to be
welcoming to those who are doing today like we did yesterday. And yet
how quickly after we arrive on these shores do we take on a sense of
entitlement, that this land is ours and that we ought to look upon
newcomers with suspicion and disdain. God calls the Israelites to a
welcoming countenance by reminding them they were once foreigners and
should therefore know what it's like for the foreigners in their
midst.

I'll leave the details for the politicians and lawyers, but I regret
that some in this debate would wish to forcefully and hatefully deport
all the illegals, and that others would wish to allow them to remain
in an illegal, limbo state. I support immigration policies that
welcome those who seek to live and work here, and that provide a
process for becoming legal members of a lawful society. I hope that,
like the Israelites after the Exodus, we Americans will desire to be
both lawful and welcoming.