I don’t know about you, but I’m a bit tired of all the quirky, off the-wall, mud slinging comments that some involved in the presidential election are making. The irrelevant comments as well as the over analysis of common phrases candidates are using is nothing more than a big, fat, blatant distraction.
Since the selection of Sarah Palin as the Republican vice presidential candidate, the race to the White House has been a far less-serious matter, rather, it’s riddled with Palin putting her acting skills to use as she rants off the latest insult to Barack Obama and his campaign. Pure distractions.
We’re less than eight weeks from one of the most important elections in modern history. Eight weeks — yet Palin and Republican presidential candidate John McCain are more concerned with creating their “maverick” brand.
One particularly serious issue that I’d like to hear the presidential candidates (not their vice presidential appointees) talk in-depth about is the United States’ issue with illegal immigrants.
Whenever one mentions illegal immigrants to politicians, most will give some generic response that doesn’t offer a solid solution. Instead, these general comments only demonstrate how candidates are afraid to take a stance on a tremendously controversial issue.
Earlier this week nearly 600 immigrants suspected of being in the country illegally were detained from Howard Industries, a transformer plant located in a small southern Mississippi town. One hundred of the detainees were released for humanitarian reasons. Women represented the majority of the 100 released because they had children. Rather than be shipped off to a facility in Jena, La., like the others, the women wore electronic monitoring bracelets, which allowed them to go home with their children until appearing in court next month.
The workers apprehended were from Brazil, El Salvador, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama and Peru.
I’m interested in hearing how presidential candidates on both sides of the ticket plan on addressing the issue of immigration once elected. True, it’s an incredibly touchy subject; however, it’s an issue that needs to be addressed.
Personally I feel that anyone who is willing to come to the United States, work hard, and live an upstanding life should be afforded that opportunity as long as they go about everything legally. However, my opinion is just one of a small few as many people would rather see these human beings deported to their home countries and continue to live a life of impoverished despair.
Surprisingly, I’ve heard a lot of criticism from African-Americans who are resistant to allowing immigrants to reside in America. The reason it’s so surprising to me is because many of these immigrants have been subjected to the same treatment our ancestors did as slaves. Yes, these immigrants are working, but they’re working for far less than what’s mandated by the law. This is a problem.
By no means am I suggesting that today’s immigrants have it as worse as the slaves of yesterday. It is important, however, to note that while the two are entirely different, both share some commonalities such as injustice and unfair treatment.
So, as you skim the television channels and search the Internet for information on the presidential candidates, I challenge you to really focus on the issues and learn how each person feels about the things that are of the utmost concern to this country.
The issue of immigration is a very important one and the Recorder will keep readers abreast of it as developments occur. In the meantime, I’d like to hear your thoughts on the issue and what you think would be an effective solution.
Send your comments to newsroom@indyrecorder.com so we can learn what’s on your mind. Some comments are subject to publication.
