Tag: immigration

Stop the Memes, Shut Up, and Actually DO SOMETHING

/ CD Hamman / Leave a comment

It’s nothing new or unusual to be scrolling through Facebook, or any other social media platform, and come across a meme. Most of these are funny, and harmless. Some may be sarcastic. And still others are just plain ridiculous. But it’s mostly in good fun. Until we see the political ones. Even worse are the political ones which someone has been kind enough to manipulate scripture in an attempt to back up their position.

Here are some examples:

“God is in favor of walls.” “God welcomes immigrants.” “There are walls in Heaven.” “You can’t be a Christian and be against immigrants.” or something similar to “Heaven has an immigration policy too.” “God says your suppose to be kind to immigrants.”Of course these are just a few examples, and they almost always have a Bible verse listed somewhere.

Please, do us all a favor and just stop. First, most people refuse to acknowledge any legitimacy to the arguments on the other side. And there truly is a middle ground. But also, you all are just showing ignorance. And yes, I believe it is ignorant, as well as disingenuous, to simply pick a position then try to use Scripture to justify it. Especially when you’re twisting it, and completely ignoring the rest of it. Finally, posting memes does absolutely nothing to provide possible solutions.

Are you still with me? Good. But I must warn you, I’m not letting you off the hook. Because now I want to know if you are actually even trying to do something. Well, are you?

Have you done anything besides post a meme, or tell others that their position is wrong? First, have you at least taken the time to try to understand the other sides position? Any of it? Have you tried to understand the issue or the people? Or do you just post your memes, and your thoughts and prayers, and think that’s enough?

When was the last time you wrote to your United States senator, representative, or president? Heck, if it’s an issue at the state level when was the last time you contacted your state senator, representative, or governor?

But don’t simply contact them and tell them how you feel. Think through the issue, as many sides as you can, and present a possible solution. No, you’re not going come up with the whole solution to every possible scenario, but stop just posting memes, shut up about your feelings, and actually try to present a possible solution to the issue.

Finally, to our senators, representatives, and our President: with all due respect; Stop with all the political posturing. Stop pointing fingers at each other. Shut up, sit down, and actually work toward solutions. Heck, turn to us, your constituents and actually encourage us to get involved. Oh, and stop being so concerned with the media. Do your job right and your constituents will respect you. We are more important than the media.

Let’s Roll

/ CD Hamman / Leave a comment

As I drove yesterday, September, 11, I noticed that along most of my drive through Illinois, on I-64, most overpasses had police, fire, EMS and others standing, and waving flags. And what kept repeating, over and over, through my head was the phrase “Let’s roll.” The following is just some of the random thoughts I had, as this phrase repeated over, and over, and over in my head.

“Let’s Roll.” These are some of the final words uttered by Todd Beamer, on flight 93, as he and other passengers decided that they were going to take action against terrorists who had hijacked their plane, and who had plans of attacking our nation, just as three other planes had already done that day, 17 years ago.

“Let’s roll.” Probably means something a little different to each person. To me, it means the time for talk, debate, and planning is over. It’s now time to act. In my job as a truck driver, it means I’ve done my pre-trip, planned my route, and it is now time to roll out, and get to my destination.

I’m amazed, and saddened, at how divided our country has become over the last 17 years. Though, to be honest, it’s been happening a lot longer. Our politicians and our news media give sound bites. They keep talking about what should be done, but they fail to actually do anything.

Let’s take immigration as an example. For the past 40 years our elected officials in both major political parties have given a lot of lip service to tell us something needs to be done. But that’s all they do, is pay lip service.

Of course immigration isn’t the only issue they do this with. But it’s the one I’m going to take on right now. You see, I can’t help but wonder if, just maybe, we had done our due diligence, and actually checked out the individuals who carried out the attacks, if maybe they might have been noticed, and stopped before they actually entered the country. You see, every nation wants to know the background of anyone entering their country.

Yet we have people here who think we should just open our borders and let people come on in. However, on the flip side, we also have people who think everyone should be stopped, and turned away, or treated as criminals.

I really don’t like either option. Yet our elected officials are too busy arguing for their own way that they refuse to see a middle option. An option that demands that those who wish to come into our country are welcome and able to do so, while also requiring that they pass a background check. That children are verified to actually be with family members, to help ensure their safety.

There should be an option for those who are already here, even if they didn’t come in the right way, to turn themselves in, plead guilty to a misdemeanor, pay a fine, and obtain legal status.

For those who have been brought in as children, and who have grown up here, this is their home. This is their culture. They should be permitted to have a path to becoming citizens.

Finally, the laws need to be changed to encourage people to come in legally. It should not take 20 years for an application for residency to be approved, yet the reality is just that. There is no excuse in this day of information being instantly accessible for this.

It is past time for Congress to shut up, and do their jobs.

There are obviously so many other issues that our government needs to address. Yet to be honest, I wonder if it also isn’t up to us to address some of them ourselves

Minimum wage. You know what, I’ve survived working for minimum wage. I also busted my butt to get something better. In other words, if your tired of being broke, then figure out what you need to change.

You don’t like the people who were elected? Get registered and actually do your research and get out and vote.

Read, and learn what our constitution says. Do some research and find out exactly why the founding fathers set up our government, and our system of electing the president, like they did.

Worried about those who are homeless, and poor? Stop saying the government should do something, and reach out and give of yourself.

Worried about violence, or your safety? Do something to take responsibility for your safety, as well as your family’s.

In other words, regardless of the issue, stop the lip service. Do the research, do you due diligence, and get busy.

You want our nation united? Do something to reach out to your neighbor, even if you disagree with him or her on a few things.

Immigration, homosexuality, abortion, race relations, police relations, and whatever else, these are issues. But affected by those issues are individuals: neighbors, family members, friends, co-workers.

Pray for our leaders, neighbors, co-workers, families, friends, and even our enemies.

The time to talk, and debate has to stop sometime. At some point, it’s time to take action. We can disagree, and still love each other. If we learn to move toward each other, I’m willing to bet that we can safely find our way to middle ground. But, we have to take the first step. Are you ready to roll?