The U.S. should not follow Europe’s path
Advertisement
Text size: small | medium | large
Michael Ragland
Published: July 9, 2008
Recently the European Union made a legal decision to detain illegal immigrants for up to 18 months before deporting them. There has been criticism of the EU’s new law which will take effect in 2010. It
would be a mistake for the U.S. to take the same path Europe has for historical and political and socio-economic reasons. The U.S. is not Europe when it comes to history and demographics although
there are some similarities. America’s “legal immigrants” and minorities represent much more political, social and economic power than in Europe; illegal labor to big business as well. Europe
is “generally” more nationalistic than the U.S. In terms of democracy, the U.S. has a history of democracy whereas Europe has had several police states or undemocratic regimes. That’s not to say
America hasn’t had its trying moments, such as the genocide of the Native-Americans, slavery, sufferage, civil rights, etc, and it still struggles with these to an extent. But American history, while
intricately linked with European exploration, has its own unique history.
I hope to never see a term of up to 18 months imposed upon those arrested who are found to be illegal aliens in the U.S. First, it would likely be impossible. The U.S. legal, judicial and correctional
systems would likely not be able to take in all those arrested and found to be an illegal alien in the U.S. There are millions in the U.S.
Prince William County’s new anti-illegal immigration law stipulates anybody, irrespective of whether they’re a citizen or not, will have their immigration status checked. What happens to the arrested
individual who is found out to be an illegal alien? It then becomes a federal matter and it’s up to the feds.
Although there has been an increase in criminals deported who are illegal aliens, Congress has yet to come up with comprehensive immigration reform under the Bush Administration. Is the illegal alien to be held (for how long?) in jail or prison until he or she can be deported to whatever country he or she came from? How many illegals are currently in our correctional system serving time for crimes they have committed? Quite a few I imagine. Are they deported after they serve their 30-year sentence?
MICHAEL RAGLAND
Triangle
Post a Comment
The commenting period has ended or commenting has been deactivated for this article.
Can't find what you're looking for? Try our quick search:
Reader Reactions
Posted by ( Ragland ) on July 12, 2008 at 7:49 pm
Phdee:
You write, “Ragland: today the news reports that the UN Council is or is thinking of charging the Sudanese sitting president with criminal charges for genocide. It seems the world likes to pick and choose. The US is just as bad - we went aftetr Saddam. We went after Milosovic. Yet, for other “hoodlums”, they are our friends. You make good points in your response. Americans in my opinion will be treated in a manner that we treat others.. This present admin has ruined American standing in the world.“ Thanks but President Clinton did somewhat intervene in stopping the ethnic cleansing regime of Milosivic. The U.S. doesn’t really support many of the resolutions of the U.N.; I don’t think anybody pays much attention to the U.N. in its ability; has it condemed China for Tibet? The U.N. also allowed the genocide to happen in Rwanda as well as the U.S. and the French. Yes, the U.S, does pick and choose. There were conferrences in the past like the Evian Conference yet the Holocaust occurred unimpeded. Before the U.N. there was the League of Nations. I think all countries more or less suck, just like people. If that sound anti-social it is not intended; just my observation.
Most people are willing to follow a large group. Think of a large group as an enzyme and maybe it was acquired early in our evolution when we were picking insects off each other and a virus was acquired.
The U.S. SHOULD cease all trade with Sudan and impose other sanctions against it (except for humanitarian aid) and it should also, instead of having invaded Iraq and Afghanistan (rash products or by-products (excuses) responses to 9/11 consider shoring up a multilateral military force to down the government in Khartoum and initiate war crimes trials.
A recent book entitled “Human Smoke” argues pacifism. I don’t agree with the author in all its totality but in principle he makes a convincing case that violence responding to violence only enlarges violence as a whole.
I don’t demonize the U.S. It is very internationally ignorant. Under the last eight years a fool has been under the helm used by others for their own ends. Historically, Bush will be remembered as one of the worse U.S. presidents if not the worst. Look what is happenning overseas as well as the domestic economy; Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, high priced oil, home foreclosures, increased food prices.
Reagan was another dunce. And let’s not forget how much attention Congress and the media paid to the Monica Lewinsky affair; year after year I was confronted by this trivia tripe and I thought it would never end.
Michael Ragland
Report Inappropriate Comment
Posted by ( Ragland ) on July 11, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Willow 703:
There are different kinds of genocides; there is a discipline called “comparative genocides” and it is devoted to this.
Michael Ragland
Report Inappropriate Comment
Posted by ( phdee ) on July 11, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Ragland: today the news reports that the UN Council is or is thinking of charging the Sudanese sitting president with criminal charges for genocide. It seems the world likes to pick and choose. The US is just as bad - we went aftetr Saddam. We went after Milosovic. Yet, for other “hoodlums”, they are our friends. You make good points in your response. Americans in my opinion will be treated in a manner that we treat others.. This present admin has ruined American standing in the world.
Report Inappropriate Comment
Posted by ( Ragland ) on July 11, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Correction: “No one disputes we can’t pull out of Iran soon. If the current presidential administration mightily defecates and makes a mess it takes a long time to clean it up sufficiently. wrote to Phdee “ Of course, I meant Iraq and not Iran.
MR
Report Inappropriate Comment
Posted by ( willow703 ) on July 11, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Ragland,
You don’t watch TV, read newspapers or News magazines? You obviously don’t Bill O’Reilly. You should. In spite of what the far left says, he’s a straight shooter; kind of like my father. That’s the opinion of a Liberal of 55 years standing.
As for common knowledge, it is common knowledge that tens of millions of people believe in astrology, palmistry & other idiocies. Are you one of those believers?
The first contacts between the Jamestown settlers, the Mayflower company & Native Americans were hostile and were documented by the English; just as the Holocaust was documented by the Nazis.
What part of “documented” do you not understand? Where are the documents that prove, or even imply, the existence of any European policy aimed at killing all Native Americans. As for those small-pox infested blankets, the General involved, Lord Jeffery Amherst, never followed with that plan. Stop getting your history from movies “based” on events that never happened or made by people with an anti-American agenda; like Oliver Stone & Spike Lee.
The International Criminal Court is pursuing and indictment of the leader of Sudan for crimes committed in Darfur. They have “documents”. Where are your “documents”?
What happened in Cambodia was Cambodians killing Cambodians, hardly genocide. Stalin, a Russian, killed millions of Russian, Mao, Chinese, killed millions of Chinese. Is that your understanding of genocide? Find a dictionary and look up the word!
Above my computer I have 8 books about Native American-European relations,“1491; Captain John Smith; Soldiers in King Philip’s War; The Indian Slave Trade; Virginia’s Western War; etc., elsewhere I have dozens more; I don’t read fiction.
Do you have books? Must be all fiction.
Report Inappropriate Comment
Posted by ( Ragland ) on July 11, 2008 at 11:49 am
Phdee:
How will traveling Americans be treated in foreign countries if they are arrested. I’ll never forget Midnight Express. Honestly, however, in times of war the Geneva Conventions isn’t always workable. As somebody said war always brings out the worse in people. I personally think the “terrorists” at Guantamano Bay should be tried in U.S. courts and either found guilty or acquitted. Some are terrorists and I don’t think they should be tried under extrajudicial rendition or under conditions like guantamano but under the U.S. justice system.
The current system is fighting terrorism with terrorism. This thanks to this republican administration. The CIA is involved as well as other “intelligence services”.
The Bush Administration and CONGRESS should have never voted for the “preemptive strike” especially since there was not an imminent threat.
There are other dictators in the world; why not the U.S. invade North Korea since it starves its people, has built nuclear bombs, transpports government sponsored illegal drugs to Japan, etc. I guess China wouldn’t like that.
Now we have the possibility of a U.S. war with Iran if McCain gains power. Can one sense there is something angry about McCain, that he is seventy-two and is a war monger?
No one disputes we can’t pull out of Iran soon. If the current presidential administration mightily defecates and makes a mess it takes a long time to clean it up sufficiently.
Notice how McCain was once big on campaign finance reform yet now that he is reaching towards the stars he has devoted himself to give bigger tax cuts to the rich more than Bush. Although I’m not sure I’m willing to be MCCAIN voted for the premptive strike on Iraq which killed a couple hundred thousand Iraqi women and children. What a proud moment.
Then we have the U.S. government supporting terrorist regimes; let’s not forget “president for life” Musharaf in Pakistan where Bhutto was recently assasinated. Pakistan is a military dictatorship apparently fighting Al-Quada type terrorists. So Pakistan is a steadfast ally of the U.S. So is North Korea which was farcically taken off the terrorist list. Jong still starves his people and North Korea is still an indoctrinated nation with no civil liberties. Fear runs North Korea and it is still a terrorist nation.
Sudan with its genocide in Darfur is an ally of the U.S. government because the northern government in Khartoum is willing to give information about terrorists to Washington.
Saudi Arabia is definitely an undemocratic regimes as are many Arab countries yet they are U.S. government allies because of their oil which we really don’t need but special interests drive.
The world is _ucked up. It will not take decades but centuries to change how we think. As Einstein stated, “The atom bomb has changed everything except the way we think.
Michael Ragland
Report Inappropriate Comment
Posted by ( Sammy B ) on July 11, 2008 at 11:18 am
“The Trail of Tears was a result of poor planning & lack of financing which could not be overcome once it was underway.“ I had to read your comment twice, Willow, because the first time I read it I could not believe that any sane person would casually brush off 8,000-10,000 brutal, agonizing deaths in the same language one would use to describe a failed investment project. It may not strictly conform to international law, but I personally consider evidence of genocide to be present when apologists try to explain away massacres as a chain-of-command failures or argue that some members of the victim group are presently doing well. Explain all you want; the Native American population today is about 2% of what it once was and much of their culture has been destroyed forever. Whatever label you choose for it, the suffering of Native Americans is one of this nation’s most terrible sins.
Report Inappropriate Comment
Posted by ( Ragland ) on July 11, 2008 at 11:16 am
Willow 73:
The U.S. government wanted Indian land; when they didn’t give it up they were slaughtered. Yes, many Indians died by European diseases but also by battles with the army which decimated them. I call that a “document” that the Army was charged with raiding Indian land, raping Indian women and slaughtering Indians all because they wouldn’t give up their land. What do you think. Again, I think I’m responding to somebody whose mind is rigid and inflexible and biased. Go Redskins!
Michael Ragland
Report Inappropriate Comment
Posted by ( Ragland ) on July 10, 2008 at 8:05 pm
Willow 73:
Never heard of Churchill and means; common knowledge dictates the Native Americans were slaughtered in great numbers by European colonialists. Thanksgiving and Pocahantas were merely interludes in a longer term strategy.
Would you say what is happenning in Darfur genocide or the genocide in Cambodia? Do you think the Holocaust occurred?
Michael R.
Report Inappropriate Comment
Posted by ( Ragland ) on July 10, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Willow 73:
My message to Sammy B. was intended for you. Known laced small pox quilts were purposefully passed to Indians. European colonialism slaughtered Indians wholesale. Where do you see the plethora of Native Americans today? Think about it.
Michael Ragland
Report Inappropriate Comment