Maryland's Dream Act: Who are those they's?

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Who are those they's?

I have friends on both sides of the health care debate. They hate each other, with blood-curdling passion. Each says, about the other, at least these five things: "they" are (1) stupid, (2) hypocritical, (3) dishonest, (4) violent, and (5) cynical about the poor. The insults diverge (Socialists, Limbaugh ...), but not right away. I won't hide my position; it's the same as the USCCB's.

This kind of angry polarization is destructive for everybody. I think of pro-lifers, who usually aim for 51%. You can make short-term tactical gains with 51%, but long-term strategic changes require 68%. Divisive rhetoric will never get there.

Every legislator and activist in the nation should examine Kevin Durant's approach. I don't mean his lay-ups, although that's good too. He manages to be incredibly ambitious, and still be a gentleman, even facing LeBron James.

So what's the impact of today's Supreme Court's decision on the Dream Act? No direct impact. But when anger and bitterness and hatred go up, the chances for the Dream Act go down. Generosity and curiosity lead to hospitality; fear and greed lead to hostility. Tone matters.

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Intro

There are about 12 million immigrants in the United States without legal documentation. Numerous efforts to solve the challenge of illegal immigration have failed. One such effort is the Dream Act. The federal Dream Act addresses the national challenge, but there are other state efforts as well, including the Maryland Dream Act. The Maryland law deals with a very small piece of the overall issue: it would provide in-state tuition rates at community colleges and in-state tuition rates for juniors and seniors at four-year state colleges and universities, to undocumented immigrants who meet a list of conditions. The law passed in April 2011, but opponents of the bill collected signatures to force a referendum on the issue in the 2012 election. Polls in late 2011 indicated that voters were split, but the bill was likely to go down in defeat.

Many of the leaders of the opposition to the Dream Act are conservatives who identify themselves as Christian. My intent to is open and maintain a civil argument among Christians on the issue. It is not my intention to exclude anyone from the debate; I am focusing on a debate among Christians because that’s who I am.

I am convinced that Christians who oppose the Dream Act have overlooked the clear and forceful teaching of Bible and the Church throughout the ages.

The easiest example: nearly everyone makes a mistake in discussions of the Last Judgment as described in Matthew 25. Nearly everyone makes the SAME mistake -- and it’s an interesting one. (See "9 of 10 ...")

So let’s talk.