Immigration reform is a hot topic nowadays. The U.S. Senate has passed their version of immigration reform legislation and now it's up to the House of Representatives to draft their own version or let the measure die.
A few senators -- "the pack of eight," as they're called -- composed of four Democrats and four Republicans introduced the legislation in the Senate. When these politicians were asked to comment about granting amnesty to millions of illegal aliens residing in America they cleverly coined the phrase: "We need to bring them out of the shadows."
With the exception of Native American heritage we're all immigrants or descendants of those who migrated to America.
Many in the past embarked upon a journey of a lifetime, at great sacrifice and risk, to trod toward a shared vision of liberty and freedom in a country called America. To sail toward that harbor where that welcoming beacon called the Statue of Liberty stands meant everything to those willing to simulate into American culture with its defined language and distinctions.
On the other hand, there are those in today's society who are fool-heartedly willing to compare that experience with the continuing influx of illegals coming into the United States.
There's no comparison between those who wanted to come to this country legally, abide by the laws of the land, and become a proper citizen and those who jump a fence, swim a river, or track through the desert to reside somewhere knowing full well it's against the law.
There are federal laws on the books to guard against such illegal entry into the country, but many politicians in Washington D.C. choose to ignore those laws. The Obama administration even went as far as to sue the state of Arizona when they tried to fortify the border and retard the flow of illegals coming across their state line.
With all the scandals emanating from the U.S. Capitol, confidence in our leaders and government is waning each day.
When politicians say "trust us" one need beware.
The Senate legislation is said to have included construction of some 700 miles of fence along the southern border. Ironically enough a measure was passed in 2006 to build that same stretch of fence along that same 700-trek. In reality, only 35 miles of the fence was built and the project was halted. When other prominent senators introduced amendments to the Senate's legislation to enforce the already existing laws to strengthen the border all such amendments were struck down.
One can only ascertain that there's little interest in the nation's capital in strengthening our borders. There's a far greater political ploy going on here. The Democratic Party wants to pad their voter rolls, as do some Republicans, but the current administration has no taste for border security and that's secondary in the political scheme of things.
That brings me back to that phrase the pack of eight so cleverly likes to use. "We need to bring them out of the shadows." That's a precursor of sorts. It's a defining tale of their own self- absorbing notions.
To say our government is corrupt is anything but a misnomer anymore. To use the political machine of government to target fellow citizens and spy on their conversations is deplorable, but that's just the politics of the day for many.
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Who needs to be brought out of the shadows? Is it aliens residing in America illegally, or many of our country's politicians who reside at the hub of controversy in the District of Columbia?
Many politicians like to slip in and out of the shadows of deception when it's politically convenient. They like to slip over that fence dawned in light and scurry to the shadows to avoid the true distinction of reality for it may damage their career.
The senior generation of America has seen what socialistic endeavors can do while enduring the anguish of World War II and that of the Cold War.
Yet, a younger generation, the 18 to 30-year-olds haven't experienced such things as their predecessors did. But when the revelation that America was spying on its own citizens was yanked from the shadows and put on display for all to see it opened far more eyes.
So who's really slipping in and out of the shadows? That magnifying pane of distinction has fallen upon Washington D.C.
Greg Allen's column, Thinkin' Out Loud, is published bi-monthly. He's an author, nationally syndicated columnist and the founder of Builder of the Spirit in Jamestown, Indiana, a non-profit organization aiding the poor. He can be reached at 765-676-5014 or www.builderofthespirit.org.
