Conflicts of Conscience; Immigration

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

The New Colossus – Emma Lazarus; Inscirption on the interior of the Statue of Liberty

When I was younger, mostly around my high school age, I began embracing the principals of the Republican party as my ideals. I’m not sure if I knew what I was completely getting myself into, but I truged down the right regardless of roses or thorns because several of my classmates at school had made themselves an annoyance by crowing a position of absolute Democrats. Like others in my school, I was tired of being lectured, set upon at lunch or in free periods, all because I didn’t agree entirely with said Dems positions.

This spirit of the elephant countined with me for a few years into college; I was at least a passive member of the College Republicans. Thankfully, at the same time, I was a member in a social justice community, determined to change the world by volunteering. Said members of social justice community wore my resistence down and eventually made me take a long hard look at were I really stood with all things political.

At that point, I could no longer be Republican, but I was not ready to embrace the Democrats. I could at least vote with my conscience, and let things fall where they did.

Why am I bringing this all up? Because I am honestly conflicted over the issue of immigration. I see the far right view of mass deportation, of the so-called Minute Men, of absolute xenophobia that would see anyone not born an American citzen treated like cattle. I see the far left view of total amnesty, which while acknowledges an immigrant’s humanity, does little to address the problem the U.S. has with it’s current immigration sytem.

And the Christian in me, the man who wants to follow the directive of “What you do for the least of my brothers, you do for me,” leans much towards the left. I want to live out what I’ve been taught and help these people, regardless of a language barrier or skin color, or any other feature. I still think our country could do with some reform in the matter of immigration, but I do not believe the lies propagated that immigrants are a drain on this country. We were built on the sweat and blood of immingrants, and we will continue to be do so.

I just find it distrubing that the parts of the elements of the so-called “religious” right ignore their own Christian compassion for the sake of a political standpoint.

Heaven on their minds

I’ve been listening to Jesus Christ Superstar recently.

Although I generally prefer Godspell, there’s something about the character of Judas that compells me, both his lyrics and the fact I can match the voice range well. Hey, I like to sing in my car.

But one song in particular really resounds with me. It’s the second song in the opera, right after the overture, titled Heaven on their Minds. Although the ensemble usually dances with that song, Judas is the only singer in the song, and it really defines his character from the onset.

Judas issue with the Jesus’ movement in the Opera ironically resounds with me as some of the major problems in mainstream Christianity. Too much Heaven on their minds.

Let me explain. One of the more common accusations towards Christians, much less religion in general, is that for people who proclaim and swear by a certain code of conduct then go and deny it out in their daily lives. More specifically, I’m talking about the type the can shout and wail about how much they love God and Jesus, but turn right around and ignore the basic level of compassion indicative to basic Christianity.

They focus too much on the life yet to come, but will ignore or even worse, berate and condemn the homeless man who stands on the street, the girl who stumbles into a teenage pregnancy, the immigrant trying to earn a living to support his family, or sometimes, even their friends for disagreements.

Too much heaven on their minds; too little concerns for their neighbors.