Things with Which I Disagree - Part I

So, I'm part of this discussion group...and the topic for tomorrow is kind of wacky. The leader of this week's topic sent us to read this blog that got me all sorts of feisty. In case you're interested, here's a link: http://www.woundedpig.com/about/

I should have known it was going to frustrate me from the very beginning:

"Bloggers have a responsibility for their words, because words change people. I fully expect that what you read here will change you, whether it’s through encouragement or chastisement, support or criticism. You’re looking for answers, just like me. Since I’m going to help you find those answers, I am indebting myself to you for what I say.

This weighs on me. I don’t wield that power lightly."

Now, I think there's some validity to this. I do think what people read/hear impacts them in some way, shape, or form. However, I think the emphasis he puts on this and the weight he says he carries because of it express a deep-seeded arrogance that makes us not get along from the get-go.

One of our "assigned" readings was his blog on Immigration. He expresses that we have a problem with immigration that is actually a problem in which too many people are deserting their own countries. He says:

"This country is free because we made it that way. We used to be under a dictatorship. We used to be oppressed and exploited. We used to be serfs!

The thing is, we did something about it. We shrugged off our shackles and overthrew the oppressors! From the Boston Tea Party through the Constitutional Congress, we made our Freedom happen, and we deserve the freedom we have.

Rather than come here and take our freedoms from us, let the deserters do the same things we did. Shake off their own oppressors in their own countries."

Now, I have a few problems with this. First of all, the way he uses "we" here - as if he or I had ANY part in the battle our nation fought for freedom. I'm sorry, but just because you're enjoying the benefits established by those who came before you does not mean you get to accept any credit for that process. Additionally, I don't know how much of a comparison he can make between the process of gaining independence that was gone through by the early American settlers and that of many current US immigrants. Chiefly, those who settled in the US had the opportunity to completely remove themselves geographically from their oppressors and create a "fresh start". Also, although I do agree that immigration reform is needed, one of my biggest problems with anti-immigration arguments is that it seems as though no one can stop and remember that the majority of "Americans" are immigrants. The only true natives of this country were themselves oppressed - BY THE VERY PEOPLE WHO WERE TRYING TO ESCAPE OPPRESSION! Ok...enough of that.

He goes on to say:

"Look at the straight economics of it. Americans need more-than-the-average amount of natural resources. For example, our entire country is based on the highway system and auto industry, so we need oil and steel to get around. There use to be enough oil here, but that hasn’t been true since the early 1970’s or something. Now we have to import it all. We don’t have enough resources for ourselves here, so we can’t share with others.

So if you’re thinking of coming to America for the resources, the news isn’t good: You’re better off staying home. Your own country’s resources certainly ought to be good enough for you. After all, they’re good enough for us — we’re importing them as quickly as we can."

Now, come on - Americans "need" more than average? Really? Do we? Or do we just like and use more. Are you sure it's not just that we're used to using more? Now, I'm not saying I'm not as big a user as everyone else - however, I also recognize that, as a middle-class American, I'm pretty much living the life of luxury compared to most of the world. Also, it's fine to mention how much we're importing...but are we really importing from the areas from which the largest numbers of immigrants are coming? Probably not. Get a more valid argument. Thanks.

In another prescribed post, my new not-so-BFF talks about the American under-privileged... but I'll save that for another day. For now I need to go find a way to be positive :)