An unjust law
Robert Grover, Emporia
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
In a May 19 editorial in reaction to the recent Arizona immigration law, Chris Walker stated, “We fail to see the harm in giving law enforcement the right to ask people for verification of citizenship.”
I disagree. In my view, the law is a simplistic and unjust response to the complex issue of U. S. immigration.
It is unjust because the law requires police “when practicable” to detain people they reasonably suspect are in the country without authorization. It would also allow the police to charge immigrants with a state crime for not carrying immigration documents.
Who will be detained? You, Mr. Walker, I, and other fair-skinned individuals undoubtedly will NOT. Instead, anyone with brown skin is “fair game.” Consequently, any American Indian, Asian Indian, U.S. citizen with Latino heritage, Filipino, Malaysian, Central American, South American, some African Americans, and some Italians and Greeks, and other citizens could be detained because they have brown skin.
Detaining a person based on skin color is blatant racial profiling. It is in direct conflict with the philosophy and laws of this country as stated in the 14th Amendment to the Constitution that assures freedom from unjust due process, and it says in part, “No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States.”
Furthermore, I submit that the law opposes the very tenets of Christianity. Asked to identify the greatest commandments,“ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 22:37-39, NIV)
The Arizona law does NOT live up to the Second Greatest Commandment.
Robert Grover
Emporia