Hillary calls Immigration "a black hole!"

This week, Hillary characterized our immigration system as a "black hole." I'm not certain, but I imagine she means that immigration issues take a very long time to finalize. I agree.

I can also imagine how frustrating it must be for immigrants to wait years for green card issues, or visa extension issues to get resolved. I'm sure there was less anxiety when my parents emigrated from Sweden in the 1920's, but it still had to be tough waiting all those years before they became citizens. (7 years right? Jr. High Civics class - Mr. Dixon) And Susan and her family had to wait to become citizens after they arrived from China. For Sue's father, the wait was extended about 30 years, since he couldn't become an American citizen until he'd left his job as an interpreter at the United Nations.

So there's really no argument from me as to Hillary's statement. But while her description was stated as a recrimination of our way of doing things, it's my opinion that it's a good thing our immigration system is arduous.

When you think of the OPPORTUNITIES we're affording people we allow into this country - to become part of the greatest system of government - to become part of the greatest money making machine the world has ever seen - to become part of the strongest, most inventive, most copied, free-est society in the history of the world ....

I guess I'm saying, it should be hard to become part of this nation!
Why shouldn't we be selective when it comes to people we offer this gift to?

Think about it this way, most people want to come here because where they live they have nothing. Or at the very least, their lives are so intolerable they have to get out. They could choose any other country on the face of the earth, but they chose The United States of America! WHY? Isn't it because of what I said earlier? Isn't it because.... even with everyone saying how bad we are.... when it comes right down to it, it's our freedoms, our joy, it's our bounty they want to be part of.

In essence, what our country represents to them - is the greatest gift they will ever get. You hear émigrés say it all the time .... IT'S EVERYTHING!

So why shouldn't we be defensive about membership?

Why shouldn't we be even more selective?

America is the greatest "GIFT" the World has to offer!


Dum Spiro Spero