Hypocrisy occurs when we use standards to evaluate other people’s thoughts and actions that we do not use for ourselves — largely as a way of feeling good about who we are and what we are doing. While there may be no way to avoid being hypocritical, it’s quite revealing when we don’t judge our own actions as harshly as those of others.
71 responses to “Close That Door”
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Close that door
Whenever I talk about the issue of immigration, illegal immigration in particular, I always seem to have two completely different viewpoints. One being that I feel that any immigrant that enters this country undocumented and lives off of the American culture and takes advantage of everything that Americans have built though out our short history to better themselves is just taking advantage of a weak system. These immigrants enter into our country without warrant and without going through the proper channels to do so. As Sam brought up in the video, at one point or another we all immigrated into this country. And when we first arrived on this land we were as unwanted and illegal as any of the immigrants today. But I feel that there is a difference, the times were different 300 plus years ago when the first Europeans came here and took the land from the Native Americans. What I mean by that is before America was ever discovered or colonized countries had been invading and taking over native tribes all over the world. I am not trying to say what we did was right or that we had a just reason for doing so, but the fact is the people that came here felt that they had as much of a right to this land as anyone else. The way they went about taking the land and persecuting the Native people was absolutely wrong, but without it this country would not be the same, which still doesn’t make it right. However what im trying to get to is that once we established a country we in acted laws that were meant to be followed and were followed by my ancestors and most others, namely immigrating through Ellis Island. Now im sure that not all the immigrants that came here during that time were legal but most were and most went through the unbelievably challenging process to attain citizenship. As many immigrants today must still do, and in today’s world it is much harder simply because America is a much more desirable place than it once was and whether right or wrong people should have to “earn” a way into this country. Not because we are better than they are or because immigrants are less deserving of a chance to live here. But the fact is for 300 years Americans that immigrated here worked and struggled and fought for everything we have today. We fought wars to define our country and battled adversity around every corner. There have been so many sacrifices to make this country what it is today and for people to just simply walk across a boarder and enjoy the same benefits as those who have work and sacrificed for what they have is wrong in my eyes. I have no problem with immigrants but illegal immigrants are almost given a free pass to enjoy a lifestyle that was not easy to create.
At the same time what illegal immigrants do for this country can not be denied, from working jobs that others will not, to simply trying to live what the American dream has always been, better their lives and their children’s lives. No one can blame them for wanting to come here and for the way they conduct themselves once they are here. They are a asset to this country.
However my feelings still are that illegal immigrants should have to go through the same process as any other immigrant to be aloud to live in this country. It is only fair.
Illegal immigration is a difficult topic. There are many exceptions to the rule and people who fall through the cracks. I remember watching a CNN report about illegal immigration that have been living here in the US and did not know that they were illegal. Their family moved here and never was told about moving from a different country – and to say the least mortified. These people who were totally americanized and seemed to look like any other person on the streets were being deported. It was shocking to say the least because there was no connection to their “homeland” and some hardly knew the language that they were being sent back to. These people’s lives were being totally turned upside down and seemed so unfair to them.
Now I am not saying that all illegal immigrants are in that situation but there are people like that. People who had no choice in the matter and are suffering because of it. There are those who want to come to the US and have no problem lying under the radar – and it upsets me. So, is it okay that I am upset with that even though my ancestors laid under the radar too? I think another reason I am upset about illegal immigrants is that one of my best friends is a Mexican who is living in the US as a resident and applied for his residency the “right way” or whatever the right way is. He is following the rules of “our” country and patiently waiting for his citizenship.
I don’t know what to think about our government’s history and the thought of us stealing Native American land. It is nothing to be proved of for sure but what is there to do about it now? Should we say… “Okay, we are sorry. Here’s your land back.” No, it would never happen. Not in the United States. It is a problem. It is a question. One question. Whose land are we on? Is it Native American’s land? Is it “Gods land” or is it no one’s land? And who knows? The United States is powerful now but we could fall just like the Roman Empire fell. We could be taken over by another country and “our” land could become someone else’s. It is a freaky idea but it is quite possible that land belongs to certain people for only a small amount of time. I am not saying it was right for us to kill Native Americans for this land but the same could definitely happen to us as well. It makes me wonder if Native Americans are just waiting for us to get the karma. What goes around comes around?
There are many issues today that involve the topic of immigration into the United States. Some people are for it, some are against it and others just don’t care about it at all. I know that the vast majority of the people living in this country are descendents of immigrants due to the fact that the only people that are really from this land are Native Americans; so saying that no one else should be allowed to immigrate here is hypocritical. The United States is one giant melting pot of races anyway, that is the beautiful thing about this great country. I just think that if people are going to immigrate here, they should be doing it through the correct legal process.
Illegal immigrants are causing huge problems in this country. It bothers me that they can sneak over here and take jobs away from American citizens just because they will do the work for so much cheaper. That job should be done by an American who needs the money, not some illegal alien. Every political figure now has to consider what his or her opinion is going to be on the subject since it is always in the news today. I understand that white people are considered to have come here “illegally” since they pretty much just took land away from the Native Americans, but things are different now and I would like to see all immigrants that come to this country to come the correct way. Mexicans trying to sneak over the border or Cubans coming in on rafts is not what I mean by coming the correct way. These people are just causing trouble at the borders as patrol men have to keep a close eye on the gates at all times since they have been trying to sneak in so often as of late. Things would run a lot more smoothly if the immigrants’ would just obtain green cards like they are supposed to. They would be considered members of the country and people like me would know that they are not here as illegal aliens. It’s a win-win situation.
I understand that what I have said may all be considered pretty hypocritical since white people “walked through the doors” of Native Americans and now we are trying to close those same “doors” on people trying to come here. I don’t think that we should be closing those doors, just locking them until we see proof of proper documentation. When an immigrant can show legitimate papers that they are members of this country is when I am satisfied. Until the day comes where every immigrant to this country is here legally, I will always be a little bitter over the subject.
When it comes to immigration, I find myself kind of stuck in the middle of the argument. I can’t still figure out who is right or wrong. Should we let other people come to this country? Or should we just say no and make the life of those who are already here hard? You see, you would never understand the situation or the problem unless you put yourself in their shoes. I can’t deny it, I am glad that I am here and that I’m enjoying the opportunities given to me by this country. My family wasn’t force to immigrate. We came to look for a change. We were never face with violence or lack of money. When we finally got here things were not as tense as they are today. We were received with open arms. However, is really sad what is happening today. Did you know that there are millions of illegal aliens who work in this country, but because they are not legal they are abused by their employer? Did you know that constantly illegal immigrants (especially females) are sexually assaulted and cannot complain to an authority because of the fear of being deported? At times when they do complain to an authority the authorities don’t listen and instead beat them and afterwards deport them. You see, the situation back in their home countries is not as good. Some come here because if they had stayed in their country, by now, they would either be dead because of hunger or violence. What is really sad and what makes me mad is when I hear others saying they should go back to their country, they don’t belong here. So I ask who are you to say I don’t belong here. Just like you I am here to work hard. I would not like to get into the history of America. I remember an instructor of mine said to a group of us(minority group) in class, “you belong here just as much as anyone else, and if you look through history you will surely know why this is, (one example look at the history of Latin American countries and the U.S.—search Destino Manifiesto meaning Manifest Destiny).” May I say this instructor was white. (I prefer to not specify in this blog the reasons because it would be too long, but it is sad that many people don’t know the history of their country). However I am not here to write on this paper who is right and who is wrong and who did what in the past. Every year I go back to my country. It is interesting how every time when foreigners go to my country to visit they are received with a warm welcome .Yet people from my country come here and they are faced with a very different treatment (keep in mind not everyone is the same, I am not generalizing, there are those who treat us with kindness).
Something that really disturbed me was the blog of the first person to post something on this page. So many things to say, yet in paper and calmed, cannot be said. It’s back to the same thing that professor Richards mention, HIPOCRACY. One part you state “you should adapt to the culture rather than the culture adapt to you”, I completely DO NOT agree with this statement. So I was raised and born in the Dominican Republic. It is impossible that I leave my culture behind because IT IS WHAT I AM, I REFUSE TO DO IT. I mean don’t get me wrong, we should also sympathize with your culture and respect it. However just as you want me to respect your culture I too would like you to respect my culture. (Trust me with my culture I am not hurting you). I understand that I am a guest in this country and that I should behave like one. I also understand and expect that if I show respect, in turn, I expect you to respect my beliefs and my culture. The last time I checked, this nation is a free nation. Anyone is allowed to believe and practice what they want as long as it doesn’t risk the life of another person. So if I still have a passion for my country and want to show patriotism why not post a flag in the window of my house. It is not hurting anyone.
Again back to the hypocrisy part. I completely agree with what Professor Richards says. It is ironic how America is a land of immigrants and today there are slamming the door on the face of many who want to come here. I think a solution must be found to address this problem. But I also think you would never understand the decision these people make to immigrate unless you put yourself in their shoes. Trust me if things back in their country were not as bad they would not come here. Why leave your family and friends behind to come here and be face with the reality of discrimination? I am not trying to make you change your mind. We are in America and you are free to express and think any way you want, but before you do that, stop for a second and look around you. People do things because the situation they are place forces them to. You should see the things these illegal immigrants go through to cross the border and once they are here they are faced with the cruel reality of being discriminated against. For example, females get rape, others are beaten half way and left to die in the desert, and in other instances some don’t even make it because the Pollero (the trafficker) kills them after they have been paid. Those who do make it go through so much to at the end find themselves with this, this really saddens me. I am not going to apologize if my way of expressing myself has hurt anyone. I am just speaking as I feel. However, I do not want anyone to take it personally or feel offended, is just my opinion, and I welcome you to express yourself back if you do or do not agree with my statements.
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