… has always been one of those issues which I really puzzle about. What happened in America recently has really triggered my thoughts. There are a lot of advantages and disadvantages of having illegal immigrants. I think no one will deny in that they are a vital component of our economy, and have definitely enriched our society culturally. Yet, where do we draw the line? Beside the fact that they are in a country illegally, how much does one expect them to integrate into our culture? (I know that the Bush administration has proposed something at a completely different level to what I am writing about here.) We go aboard to experience something different, but when the same people create their own communities within “our” country, we feel that they are not integrating. If we look back in history, when the West went to Egypt, Africa, Asian etc, they bought their way of living with them completely, and we called that “civilisation”. Just look at India! For a lot of people, their identities are closely tied with their religion, language and culture.
I have talked to a few people about policy on immigration, and it seems an impossible question to answer. People will always strive for a better, safer place to live, to work, to experience life, and who are we to stop them achieving their dreams? Doesn’t living in a country with infinite opportunities give us an responsibility to provide and stand up for those who do not?
Your thoughts on this issue are most welcomed.
