Arkansas Blog: Got a country?

Be thankful.

Millions of others have risked passage to a separate, unauthorized life in a foreign land to provide for their families. Be thankful, too, that Arkansans are working in the interest of such people and mobilizing for immigration reform in the U.S.

Read on for details of a vigil Monday night in Little Rock as part of the movement to support Obama administration reform efforts.

On Monday, Nov. 30 at 6 p.m., religious and community leaders will host a community dialogue and potluck focused on the need for just, humane immigration reform at the First United Methodist Church in Little Rock. The event, called "Breaking Bread and Barriers," will include a candlelight vigil, prayers for all families who are separated by our broken immigration system, and communion service officiated by the Rev. Stephen Copley. Participants will also fill out postcards to send to their members of Congress, urging support for immigration reform that keeps families together rather than keeping them apart. The event is sponsored by the Arkansas Justice For Our Neighbors.

This service comes on the heels of the Obama Administration's announcement that it will move immigration reform forward early next year and is part of “Home for the Holidays,” a new nationwide mobilization of hundreds of thousands of people of faith to hold the Administration and Congress accountable to this promise and build grassroots support for reform. With Hanukkah and Christmas fast approaching, faith leaders from key states and major national faith-based organizations are pushing Congress to pass reform legislation that keeps families together instead of keeping them apart.

WHAT:          Worship service, candlelight vigil, and potluck dinner in support of comprehensive immigration reform

WHO:             People of faith from the community

WHEN:           Monday, Nov. 30, 6:00 pm

WHERE:        First United Methodist Church, 723 Center Street, Little Rock, AR

The multifaceted mobilization employs innovative tactics to show Congress that reforming our broken immigration system is an urgent priority for the faith community. Local religious communities will reach out to Congress in a variety of ways. Interfaith Immigration Coalition members and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops are sending a total of 250,000 postcards to people of faith to send to their Members of Congress, urging action on comprehensive immigration reform, and faith-based networks will conduct statewide call-in days to Congress in seven key states (OH, PA, MN, AR, MO, SC and NC). In addition to Monday’s event in Little Rock, similar large-scale events, including town halls and prayer services, are happening in TX, OH, IA, and NJ.

Comments

There are LEGAL ways to immigrate to the United States to provide for one's family. However, many have chosen to break the law as their very first act upon entering this country. That is no way to show the people of the United States that you are thankful for the bounty of this land. People who steal their way into this country do not deserve to be given a 'silver spoon' citizenship into this country when so many before them have chosen the legal way to become an American citizen. Being an American is not just a matter of having the right papers. It is a privilege that has to be earned.

Posted by: beauragard | November 26, 2009 03:21 PM

If'n I was a Rethuglican, I'd hate me some mean-spirited cusses, especially on Thanksgiving.

Posted by: Sound Policy | November 26, 2009 05:43 PM

Expecting everyone who lives in this country to abide by its laws is not 'mean spirited' unless you advocate anarchy.

Posted by: beauragard | November 26, 2009 05:50 PM

"The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy: that is the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness."
John Kenneth Galbraith (October 15, 1908- April 29, 2006)

Posted by: dottholliday | November 26, 2009 06:05 PM

It it is old fashioned to believe that a people should abide by the laws of the land then I am guilty as charged.

Posted by: beauragard | November 26, 2009 06:35 PM

"The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy: that is the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness." Ibid

Posted by: dottholliday | November 26, 2009 07:15 PM

But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers.
Author: Bible
Source: I Timothy (ch. I, v. 8-9)

Posted by: beauragard | November 26, 2009 07:27 PM

IF YOU CROSS THE NORTH KOREAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU GET 12 YEARS HARD
LABOR.

IF YOU GO INTO CHINA ILLEGALLY, YOUR CONSIDERED A SPY AND GET HARD
PRISON TIME.

IF YOU GO INTO GERMANY ILLEGALLY, YOU GET A HEFTY FINE, WORK IT OFF
OR PAY IT OFF, THEN DEPORTED.

IF YOU GO INTO ENGLAND ILLEGALLY, YOU ARE IMMEDIATELY JAILED AND
DEPORTED.

IF YOU CROSS THE IRANIAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU ARE DETAINED
INDEFINITELY.

BUT, IF YOU CROSS THE U.S. .. BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU GET:

1. A DRIVERS LICENSE
2. A SOCIAL SECURITY CARD
3. WELFARE
4. FOOD STAMPS AND
5. FREE HEALTH CARE

Just a quick summary of why this whole open borders crap is national suicide endorersed by the weepy eyed clueless. There are just certain things in life that should be looked at selfishly, especially when other entertain such notions of using robbery to give form one class to another. Being selfish to a robber when he puts a gun to you face is no vice.

Posted by: steven estrada | November 27, 2009 02:26 PM

I have always thought that it is not a good idea to start your stay in a New Country by ignoring and disrespecting there laws. This is true, but the only way to stop this dilemma, is by putting stiff penalties on the people who aide and abed these illegal acts, and hire them for cheap wages for their own gains. If it wasn't for these people who do these acts, the illegals would not be here.

Posted by: Americonio | November 28, 2009 11:54 PM

Arkansas Blog

Got a country?

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