They just don't know how to think

[lynxreign]

This morning on NPR there was a story about San Francisco. SF is a "sanctuary city". In other words, they don't automatically send every illegal they come across to the Feds for deportation. There was a protest and counter-protest there yesterday, described in the story teaser as a "clash", despite the protest being peaceful, though loud.

On the one side you had hundreds of people from immigrant's rights groups, on the other you had a dozen "Minutemen". You know about the "Minutemen", the idiots who have taken it upon themselves to "patrol" the border with Mexico.

The underlying cause for this appearance by the Asshats, sorry, the Minutemen, was a crime committed by an illegal immigrant. The immigrant in question is a minor who had already been arrested several times for violent crimes. The then committed a triple murder in a drive-by, using an AK-47. Horrible? Yes. Worthy of prison and/or deportation? Sure. However the underlying cause of this crime was not that he was an immigrant or an illegal immigrant.

It isn't as though no American citizen (of any race you care to choose) has ever committed murder. Surely no legal citizen has ever joined a gang or killed someone with a gun or performed a drive-by. I mean, if it weren't for the illegals, there'd be no gun violence or crime in the USA at all!

Using this crime as a prop for their xenophobic, racist crusade makes about as much sense as blaming the British for shipwrecks. It is a complete disconnect, but since so much of this country is completely irrational, they make the connection and get people to agree with them.

Comments

Re: I think our immigration laws are wrongheaded

[maps-or-guitars.livejournal.com]

Meh. If a law is wrong it has no value, and enforcing it is throwing good money after bad. The law is *creating* the real problems associated with the immigration issue. Change the law, admit it was wrong, and offer amnesty to the immigrants while coming down hard on the coyotes and country clubbers who preyed on them.

Re: I think our immigration laws are wrongheaded

[chaoticmoth.livejournal.com]

But as a nation of laws we base out society on following the laws and trying to change the ones we disagree with as things evolve. Since I get some firsthand experience with the visa laws and regulations from my job I know that things tighten and loosen, sometimes without much warning, all the time. Change can happen, does happen, and will happen, but while we discuss this from the sense of the moral rightness of the arguments the other side feels the same way. Sadly we are a nation that is sharply divided on this instead of meeting in a commonsense middle. What's the saying? Imagine someone of average intelligence and then realize that half the country is dumber than that?

[lynxreign.livejournal.com]

If we were a nation of laws, that'd be fine, but we're not. We're partly a nation of laws and partly a nation of power and priviledge.

[maps-or-guitars.livejournal.com]

What he^ said.

and partly a nation of power and priviledge

[chaoticmoth.livejournal.com]

Which is what happens when you don't enforce the laws. :)

[lynxreign.livejournal.com]

So until the laws are enforced evenly and unjust laws are eradicated, why pick this one to enforce?

So until the laws are enforced evenly and unjust laws are eradicated, why pick this one to enforce?

[chaoticmoth.livejournal.com]

I am in favor of enforcing all the laws, not just this one. As for eradicating unjust laws, as soon as you convince enough people of your view that will happen. Changing or striking down a law is a legal process within the law, so more power to you! :)

‹MÌÁ € ÀV¶+°­àk@ÉaàÐ½$~üOfãŠ=£©ÅD’^! ¹8zð¡¦Q?ÙÙªýLý‚î讹Ä�

[lynxreign.livejournal.com]

All the laws? Really? Then you'd best get busy!
It’s against the law to sing off key. (http://www.dumblaws.com/laws/united-states/north-carolina) As I recall, you might be guilty of that one.

And Amy shouldn't go to Charlotte
In Charlotte, women must have their bodies covered by at least 16 yards of cloth at all times. (http://www.azzit.de/humor/30.html)

You'd better how your daughter isn't a prodigy
it is against the law for children under the age of seven to go to college. (http://www.anvari.org/cols/Weird_Laws_of_the_United_States/North_Calironia.html)

And be on the lookout for unruly animals
it is against the law for dogs and cats to fight. (http://www.strangefacts.com/laws.html)

And those are just a few from your state. You really want resources and time wasted on this crap?

[chaoticmoth.livejournal.com]

Nope, I want the lawmakers to remove them from the books. Why don't they? Because they aren't enforced. If they were enforced they would be changed, here is a perfectly timed news story to prove my point. :)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080731/ap_on_re_us/gay_marriage

[lynxreign.livejournal.com]

So by your logic you should go agitate to have them enforced.

[chaoticmoth.livejournal.com]

If I wasn't the lazy american that I admit I am that would probably be a good idea. :)