BY DANIEL
and DEBORAH CANTIS
This is in response to an a guest commentary by Barry Wendell published in the Opinion section of The Dominion Post on March 17, titled “Here’s why Jews stick with Democrats”
The main emphasis of his commentary was about immigration and his perception of President Trump’s demonization of immigrants. Trump is not demonizing legal immigrants.
It seems Wendell missed the root cause of the immigration problem. The root cause is “illegal” immigration, which he doesn’t mention once. It seems that when Democratic President Obama was in office he addressed concerns about illegal immigration at the southern border of our country as well and implemented similar enforcement as Trump. Was Obama also demonizing? What changed? Could it be that there is a Republican in the White House? Support of a wall at our southern border to protect our country and its citizens is neither liberal/Democrat nor conservative/Republican, it is just “right.”
We assume Wendell’s relatives were legal immigrants as were ours. Our grandparents were “legal” immigrants who came through legal ports of entry, had sponsors to ensure they had jobs and were law abiding. They also went through the dedicated process that it took to become citizens.
On a current note; we have a friend whose wife was from the Philippines and has proudly become a U.S. citizen after making three trips to Pittsburgh, two trips to Washington, D.C., and incurring approximately $10,000 in expenses to accomplish her legal citizenship.
Is it fair to those who abide by the laws of legal immigration vs. illegal entry? The answer is “no.” It is not equal justice when you let people enter illegally. To quote the inscription etched in stone on the front of the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., “Equal Justice Under Law.”
If people want to reside in our country they need to comply with the “law.” From the moment illegal immigrants decide to cross our border they have disregarded our laws. Not a good beginning.
Since Wendell quoted the Bible’s scripture we too will quote scripture;
Leviticus 24:22: “You are to have the same law for the foreigner and the native-born. I am the Lord your God.” (NIV)
Romans 13: 1-5: “1. Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.” (NIV)
The law is the root. We have immigration laws for all, not just for some.
Wendell was mystified why some Christians follow the Republican Party. Well, most Republican/conservative values support Christian values. Per a survey done in 2000 following the presidential election, almost two-thirds of the voters who attend religious service at least once a week voted Republican and two-thirds of those who seldom attend church voted Democrat.
We are Christians, Republicans and for legal immigration.
Daniel and Deborah Cantis are lifelong residents of Monongalia County. This commentary should be considered another point of view and not necessarily the opinion or editorial policy of The Dominion Post.
