this land is my land, this land is our land

like everything else in life, immigration, and immigration in the united states in particular, is a divisive issue. i myself have wanted to tackle the issue here for a few months, but i've felt that it was such a lofty and expansive topic that i've never been sure how to tackle the beast. i've made no secret of where i stand on the issue, but in case you haven't had the pleasure of hearing one of my diatribes on the subject, here's a bullet list of my beliefs:

---it's a deeply complex issue that affects not only our national security, but also education and health care and the outdated system in place is in deep need of reform. (how you go about reforming it is beyond me and left for people much more intelligent than i). 

---contrary to popular belief by arizona legislation, not all undocumented immigrants are drug dealers. most immigrants (documented and undocumented) are simply trying to make a better life for themselves and their families).

---undocumented immigrants pay taxes too. at bare minimum, they pay sales tax, but check with the IRS. the system is set up for undocumented immigrants to pay taxes. promise. 

---arizona senate bill 1070, which was signed into law by arizona governor jan brewer in april is morally and unequivocally wrong. until the governor and its supporters can explain to me what an "illegal alien" looks like, it is a prejudice law that will target the latino community.

---the recent uprising by republican officials to repeal the 14th amendment because immigrants (and terrorists!) are abusing the law is ludicrous and laughable. yes immigrants come to this country to have children, but that does not give anyone else in the family the right to remain in the u.s.a and there is no documented evidence that terrorists are having "terror babies." rather than try and score political points during an election year, elected officials should push to enforce the current laws. 

now that you've heard a few of my rants, there's some light at the end of the tunnel. lucky for you this entry isn't about my diatribes against the current system. instead, i have one question. why are christians so divided on the issue of immigration?

i saw the photo above as i was in madrid yesterday looking for flats and it reminded me of a conversation i had with my friend tracy last october. tracy, like me, was a volunteer with rostro de cristo and when i went back to visit we ended up in a conversation about, of all things, immigration. during that conversation she said something that has stuck with me. her statement hasn't necessarily stuck with me because of it's eloquence or profoundness, but rather because of how true yet simple it was. she said (and i'm paraphrasing) that it "seems like christians (in the united states) are americans before they're christians. what happened to 'we're all God's children?'"  

before i delve deeper into my own thoughts, though, i want to hear what you think. so again, why are christians so divided on the issue of immigration? go!