I think they are missing the point!

Did you ever get the feeling that someone was really, really missing the point? I mean did you ever read a newspaper story and wonder whether the persons involved really realized what they were saying? Well, the story below was found by Father Orthohippo. He found it on a blog. However, I present to you the original story from the newspaper called the Tucson Citizen. The story dates back to January 2008.

A delegation of nine state legislators from Sonora was in Tucson on Tuesday to say Arizona’s new employer sanctions law will have a devastating effect on the Mexican state.

At a news conference, the legislators said Sonora – Arizona’s southern neighbor, made up of mostly small towns – cannot handle the demand for housing, jobs and schools it will face as illegal Mexican workers here return to their hometowns without jobs or money.

The law, which took effect Jan.1, punishes employers who knowingly hire individuals who don’t have valid legal documents to work in the United States. Penalties include suspension or loss of a business license.

Its intent is to eliminate or curtail the top draw for immigrants to this country – jobs.

The Mexican delegation, members of Sonora’s 58th Legislature, belong to the National Action Party (PAN), the party of Mexico’s president, Felipe Calderón.

They spoke at the offices of Project PPEP, a nonprofit that provides job retraining for farmworkers and other programs.

The lawmakers were to travel to Phoenix for a Wednesday breakfast meeting with Hispanic legislators.

They want to tell them how the law will affect Mexican families on both sides of the border.

“How can they pass a law like this?” asked Mexican Rep. Leticia Amparano Gamez, who represents Nogales. . . .

There was more to the story and you can read it if you wish. Needless to say their travel to Phoenix did not have any positive results for them. No, despite my leanings in the area of social involvement and responsibility, I do not believe in open borders in the sense that people should just be able to enter someone else’s country without permission. I do believe in open borders in the sense that I believe that there should be basic freedom of movement for people. There are countries in which people are not free to leave if they wish.

But, I think that there is an Orthodox point to be made. You see, the legislators from Sonora had a very real worry that the returning throngs of the Mexican citizens from their state were going to overwhelm their social services and their economy leading to the very serious possibility of a social collapse in the state of Sonora. They are probably correct in their analysis, sad to say.

And here is my Orthodox point. Be as frustrated as you want to be with the extremely bad decisions made by previous Mexican and USA governments. But, remember that there are many innocents in Mexico who are not crossing the border and who have little effective voice in the way in which their government is run. That is why the Orthodox jurisdictions jointly run Project Mexico and St. Innocent Orphanage. In Guatemala we run the Hogar Rafael Ayau. And so on . . .

In the midst of your frustration remember that as Christians we are called to have a concern for the poor, the widow, and the orphan. Many of them have no personal responsibility for the actions of their fellow citizens and have never tried to get into the USA. They are not legislators. Many of those we help are not even adults. And, many of the adults are doing what they can to support their families with honesty and integrity.

So, whatever your political opinion on the subject of immigration, I urge you to not forget those in other countries who can use our Christian love, charity, practical help, and witness. If you are Orthodox, I urge you to support Project Mexico or one of the orphanages. If you are not Orthodox, I urge you to support the missionaries of your group who are going to other countries to build orphanages, to help villages have a safe water supply, to build houses, churches, etc., for the poor.

Do not let your frustration with our or other governments keep you from supporting those who are sacrificing in other countries in order to preach the Word and to be the presence of Christ to so many needy people. Do not forget the poor, the widow, and the orphan.