This is an excellent video come to explaining why mass immigration to the U.S. (or anywhere else) is not the solution to Poverty (or much of anything else).
This is an excellent video come to explaining why mass immigration to the U.S. (or anywhere else) is not the solution to Poverty (or much of anything else).
2 responses to “Another Favorite Video -Immigration, World Poverty and Gumballs”
I totally agree with this gentleman. The United States has existed forever, and has never benefited from a mass influx of immigration from England, Ireland, Africa, etc. We all bloomed where we were planted, and are all proud, native Americans.
I also completely agree with his stance that actions are futile unless they completely solve all problems. This morning, a starving child tugged on my pant-leg and asked if I could spare some food. I gobbled down my snickers bar and told him that feeding him would be pointless, because it does nothing to solve the problem of world hunger.
Okay, so firstly, I should thank you for both coming to the site and commenting. Thanks! The more people comment with reasonable content and the intent to provoke thought, the better.
Secondly, I should apologize. I have to “moderate” this site. That’s not because I fear anybody commenting, but because probably eighty percent of everything I get in comments to my posts is spam.
It mostly follows a format of trying to look like a meaningful comment, but putting a website link for the user name or similar. In any case, once I see a “real” comment, I really don’t pay a great deal of attention to what it says until after it is approved as valid.
Though I would think it obvious, I like to be clear what my intention is for replying to what you’ve said. My intent is to “answer.” I will try to grab the points from your comment, and respond to what I believe you’re trying to say. If I get what you’re saying wrong, by all means, let me know. That being said, let’s get on to the meat of this reply.
I should make a “disclaimer” here. What the creator of the video had in mind, I cannot always say. That in mind, the comments are with regard to why I agree with the video and my thoughts on your reply.
1. The U.S has not been around forever.
Though the U.S. as an entity has not been around forever, functionally, the land upon which it sits has been “around forever.” One can certainly argue a distinction and it’s reasonable so to do, but I have to ask what the point of doing so in this case might be.
2. The U.S. has never benefited from an influx of immigrants (I assume you’re intending to imply the opposite)
I don’t believe anyone is arguing that there is a case for stopping all immigration. The point as I see it, is that one cannot attempt to use immigration as a solution to poverty, world hunger and other problems in other countries.
That doesn’t mean that legal immigration to the U.S. should cease. However, those allowed to immigrate to the U.S., should be selected based on what makes sense, not some half-considered solution (that doesn’t actually fix what it was intended to). Sometimes, it should be offered to refugees who would be unable to survive without it and things of that sort. More often than not though, it should be about mutual benefit to the person being allowed to immigrate and to the U.S.
As to benefit or lack thereof, different people would definitely have different perspectives on that. If you asked the members of my family that immigrated to the U.S., by and large, I’m sure they’d tell you it was a wonderful thing. If—on the other hand—you asked members of various American Indian tribes, I doubt you would generally get the same response.
In reality, immigration is pretty much always A “mixed bag.” There is pretty much always benefit, benign activity, and detriment.
Immigration today is a different animal than it was even just a few decades ago. This is partially due to illegal immigration and partially due to the number of people already in the country and the number wishing to immigrate. The level of complication involved in taking in new folks is always at least partially a result of the number of people who presently reside in the country, along with the various associated burdens the country (in whole or part) will suffer as a result of their arrival.
Part of the video’s point is to show that it’s not the benefit to the U.S. needs to be considered, but the benefit to the country from which folks are coming.
3. We all bloomed where we were planted
It is true that not everyone will “bloom where planted.” The fact is though, if you “siphon off” the “best and the brightest” from other countries (which is largely how immigration works), you end up with those worse off (and less able to lift their countries) being the ones that are left behind (which complicates and generally intensifies the issue). It doesn’t fix things in much of any way except to take the best and the brightest and move them to a more hopeful place.
That doesn’t mean that immigration should cease, but that—again—trying to use it to solve world poverty (and many other issues) is not the answer (certainly not for the majority of people involved).
4. We’re all “proud Native Americans”
Funny you should say this. Your heritage aside, you were born in the U.S. (as was I) and have lived the majority (if not all) of your life here. If you don’t qualify as a “Native American,” perhaps the “standing definition” is “broken?”
Between you and me, I can probably make a legitimate claim to not being a “Native American” (because of my time in Australia, and my beliefs as a Christian). You—on the other hand—were pretty much born and raised in the U.S. (making you as native an American as I can imagine).
I know people whose families have lived in the U.S. for longer than my own will disagree with this, but may I point out that my family is largely from Germany and the U.K., yet I can lay much less claim to being a native German than an African, Asian, Indian or any member of any other group who has been born and raised there (including—funnily enough—American Indians).
5. Actions are futile unless they solve all problems (per the video, in your apparent understanding of what is being said)
I think if you asked the video’s creator, he (or she, since the “narrator” may not have been the creator) would not argue that immigration has no part to play, just that for the majority affected (stated as 99.9 percent—not sure that was even intended to be accurate, much less that it is accurate) it cannot be “the answer.” Further, creating problems for others by overwhelming those others, cannot help but not be a “good solution” to any problem. Immigration is fine and good so long as it is reasonable. The video’s creator appears to be trying to argue that:
A) It is not reasonable at present and
B) We really need to work at solving the problem(s) where it’s (they’re) occurring as much as possible (since that’s where the majority of folks affected will both be and stay, massive attempts at immigration aside).
6. Starving child tugging at pant leg
Certainly feed the child if possible, but do your best to do more. Don’t just foster dependency, help the child to move into a position of self-sufficience. It’s important to note though, that we’re talking about 1000 starving children tugging at your pant leg, and you having enough substance to feed just one of them without putting yourself in peril. Would you like to help more than you are? I would hope so! Can you always do that? Not so much.
7. Snickers bar
It’s my sincere hope that—unless you have nothing else to give—the Snickers bar is not what you would give the starving waif. That would almost be cruel and unusual punishment. Hopefully, you’re not eating too many of them yourself either.
8. Feeding him does nothing to solve the problem of world hunger
I don’t think anybody is trying to argue that any small thing you can do for others is not beneficial—whether in an attempt to do your part to solve the problem of world hunger, or just helping somebody up when they happen to fall down around you—or frankly, whatever.
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Okay, I hope I’ve addressed your comments sufficiently, if not let me know, and rest assured, I have plenty more to say—that’s why this site exists.
Having said what I have to this point, I’d like to add just a little more.
As I think you’re pretty well aware. I am a Christian. I may not be a good Christian, I certainly would not try to argue such a thing. Nonetheless, I count myself a believer in and follower of, Jesus Christ. I don’t know where you stand with that and as a result, I don’t have any idea what you know or don’t about Christianity.
I am what many refer to as a “Bible believing Christian.” Essentially, that means I take the Bible as truth, even though there are parts of it I cannot understand in full measure.
I can tell you that the New Testament of the Bible is absolutely replete with examples of Jesus telling His disciples to do good for their fellow man as well as doing so Himself.
It is my (very strongly held) belief that Christians should make it their business to help others, regardless even apparently hopeless situations. As such, I would be the very last to advise against helping anyone.
The New Testament literally cites the Old Testament when it tells believers that they should help their enemy pull his ox out of the ditch if he sees him trying to do so. I have no enemies, that makes it even easier.
I’ll “issue” one caveat, then leave this be for now. More often than not, the thing you think will help another is anything but what they actually need.
There’s an old story I heard some time ago. Whether it is true or false, I cannot say, but the message is important enough that I’ll share it regardless. It goes something like this:
I don’t know about you, but this certainly does not seem like a helpful thing to do to the fellow in question. If the story is true though, the fellow probably lived to see another day as a result of that punch.
I can certainly give you more examples. For example, a toddler pulling on a tablecloth when there’s a knife pointed at his or her head, sitting on the table above him may not appreciate his or her parent staying his or her hand at the time, but the parent will immediately recognize that the child was probably saved what may have been a quite serious injury.
Okay, I must get back to work now.
If you go this far, thanks for reading. If you didn’t, oh well, I tried!