Discussion Reflection

After the class discussion that we had about Senate bill 1070 and illegal immigration in general, I feel that my opinion against the senate bill is fueled by the arguments made in class. I believe that the illegals have the right to be here just like any of the rest of us. Many had made the argument that the illegals are only making it harder for us to take jobs and that they are not paying taxes while still being able to seek medical help with no problem, making it harder for legal citizens to get the necessary medical attention. While I don't agree with some of the techniques used in class to change people opinions about some issues, I do understand why people are worried about their family's safety and well being. What I don't think that people realize is that, while the immigrants are here illegally they are indeed people too. They bleed, they die, and they suffer. Should we let them suffer just because they came to America, the so called "land of opportunity", looking for a better life, illegally? I understand that people worry about their own family's but I also think that it's a little selfish that we only take our own families into consideration when making these arguments. We have to remember that while we create arguments that protect our families, we are hurting someone else's families in the process. We tend to think of illegal immigrants as people who have no connections, in our minds they have no face, and they are only criminals. In all honesty, most of the illegal immigrants who come, come for their families or with their families. They come for jobs, safety and freedom. We've heard of the treachery and danger that happens in other countries, yet we don't have the humanity to want to offer safety to people who so desperately need it.
And while you may be thinking that I am only making an argument to protect these people, I must say that these very same people also create opportunity and  pull their own weight by working the hard, tough, laborious jobs that most people don't want to do, and for less than what we ought to pay them. Even though they don't pay taxes, we have to remember that since they are paid "under the table", they are also paid very poorly, and often under minimum wage, thusly if we were to take taxes, they would have an even harder time living.
And so I ask, that we think of them as people, as our equals whilst arguing for them to leave, while we ask them to abandon the needs of their families, so that we in turn can take care of our own. I am most definitely against the disgustingly selfish law that would occur with Senate Bill 1070.