Caring and Sharing - The Lost Art of Compassion
Posted: Sunday, May 01, 2011
by Patricia Johnson
Articles and Answers.com
When she saw a stray dog on the street, she would bring it home until such time as we could locate the owner [s]. When friends needed assistance she was first in line to offer a helping hand. Her favorite verse was "do unto others as you would have others do unto you" and that saying was drilled into our heads from the time we were knee high to a duck.
We were taught that kindness wasn't a choice, it was a command. It wasn't something you considered doing; it was an automatic reaction that came straight from the heart.
My grandparents came over on the boat from Italy, in fact, they met on the boat and were married in the U.S. and if success is measured in terms of dollars and cents, they became very successful in this country. Yesterday I received an e-mail regarding the status of an illegal immigrant and I started to wonder about my own grandparents. Were they in this country legally? How would I know? Who would I ask? Where would I go to find out? Even though I saw them each and every weekend for Sunday dinner when I was growing up, the subject of their legitimacy never came up.
The e-mail I received yesterday made me start thinking about a lot of things. The attachment to the e-mail was a very short video covering the testimony of a hospital administrator in the State of Florida. What legislative body she was testifying before wasn't indicated, nor was the date of the testimony. It was obvious this particular testimony was the only information anyone wanted the viewer to see/hear.
Basically, the Florida hospital had taken care of an illegal immigrant from the country of Guatemala for a period of almost three years at a cost of $1.5 million dollars. The hospital requested and received permission from the court to physically remove the patient from the hospital and send him back to the country of Guatemala. The purpose of the e-mail video is to get people riled up over illegal immigrants. It basically states our rising healthcare costs are totally due to caring for illegals, which simply isn't true but that's a subject for another day.
When I was listening to the video I wondered why this person had been hospitalized for a period of almost three consecutive years, and why the total cost was so low. I've been in the hospital a few times lately and $1,100/day barely gets you a bed, much less sheets and a pillow.
A little research into the subject brought more questions than answers.
On April 5, 2000 a drunken Donald Flewellen, age 52, driving on a revoked license, borrowed a neighbor's vehicle and was involved in a hit and run accident in Fort Pierce, Florida. This hit and run accident resulted in two deaths and left Luis Jimenez, our Guatemalan illegal, a paraplegic with brain injuries. At the time of the accident, Flewellen had only been out of jail for four months for his previous conviction of two counts of DUI manslaughter.
It appears Luis Jimenez, was approximately 28 years old at the time of the accident and in his early 30's when the Florida court approved his return to Guatemala, where it appears he is now residing in a small mountain village, in a one room house, with his mother.
I'm curious as to how Americans would feel if the situation was reversed. What would happen if one of our youngsters was in a foreign country, legally or illegally, and suffered brain damage, and became a paraplegic at the hands of a foreigner, a foreigner who should have been in prison? What would you feel like if you were a mother and had your son returned to you, in the condition Luis Jimenez is in, and were expected to care for him for the rest of his life without any assistance or funds to provide assistance?
My pet peeve is e-mails that take a stand on a subject, without providing all the facts. The bottom line on this particular subject is had the family of Luis Jimenez appealed the court decision on this case, Luis Jimenez would still be in this country, and we would be forced to provide him with medical care. Decisions regarding the status of illegals are Federal, Not State, and state courts simply do not have the authority to remove individuals from this country whether they are here legally or illegally.
Over and over again, the Supreme Court of the United States has ruled illegal immigrants have the same constitutional rights as U.S. citizens and until that is changed, federal law prevails. See Plyler v. Doe, Wong Wing v. United States and Yick Wo v. Hopkins.
Aside from the legal aspect is the moral aspect and morally, this country caused the injuries to this young man and it is our obligation to care for his needs.
"Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities." ~ François-Marie Arouet. A condensed translation of the 1765 quote by French writer [pen name] Voltaire
© 2011 Patricia L Johnson
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)There's a lot going on in your story. And I'm not sure how this will sound when I'm done. It evokes different feelings in me as I write. First, I just want to say that I am outraged by illegals in this country. End of story, period. If you are going to be in this country, you do not get special favors, free tuition, etc. all the nonsense that's been going on. You don't stand out by flying our stars and stripes upside down. You do not belittle or otherwise go against long-standing traditions and laws and you learn to speak English, get a job, pay your taxes and overall participate in this country as if you wanted to be here. You do not force us to put different languages on everything. This whole bit is outrageous and I don't mind saying so. To go further, just to come here and have babies and automatically claim citizenship is another ruse that happens all the time. And no, ifyou're not a citizen, you do not vote, no no no! And if you do not want to become a citizen, that is your right. But why come here then in the first place. If we were to go to war, and you were living here, Mr. Illegal where would you come down and help? America? Having said all this, I am absolutely positive that your lovely grandparents who came from Italy were legal immigrants. As was my family. It used to be you went through a lengthy application process to enter the country, had to have an American sponsor who would guarantee that you would not become a drag on the welfare system if permitted to enter the country, etc. None of this go on the dole business. Move the the best state with the most benefits just did not happen. Only in the Clinton years did that all change.
You were raised as I was. Be good to others and treat them as you would want to be treated. It's how we still live our lives today. One small step -- If each person takes just than one step, it is amazing how great things would be.
As far as the unfortunate young man in the accident is concerned, we are responsible for his injuries because our own citizen, albeit a miserable human being, did irreparable harm - In this case it is most unfortunate that he was turned away. My feeling is, though, that his ultimate injuries had been stabilized and he required routine care (mind you I'm sort of adlibbing - don't really know the details). In that regard, someone probably expected family to take over to handle the routine care. Is it right, I'd say not really. But then I pose another question. Did this young man have any other people here with him? What happened to the others? And then I keep coming up with more questions. The whole thing is sad.
I'm not sure I wrote what I wanted to say too clearly. I'm not dead set on too much, only what is fair is fair. I'm never on anyone's side that doesn't earn their own keep, and obeys the laws. I'm thinking that a great majority of the illegals are not law abiding and that's why I'm so ticked.Thank you for your comment Old Gray Mare, I appreciate your honesty. When I first looked at your comment I had to smile. Yesterday I attempted to write a comment on an article, which could have ended up as an article on its own because I had such mixed feelings on the subject. After two pages, I scrapped the comment.
The entire subject of illegal immigrants has been intentionally overblown. I don’t know how many e-mails I’ve received on the subject within the past couple years containing erroneous information that is just passed on from one person to the next because the majority of people do not want to take time to research the data.
I received one that probably had 20 different statements with numbers and links and without a doubt 99% of the population receiving this particular e-mail would have passed it on because it looked real.
The problem is there was not one truthful statement in the whole entire mess.
Your comment is indicating a lot of emotion over illegals and I’m wondering where all the anger stems from? If your anger stems from either newspaper or television reports, I’m wondering how much time you actually spent researching the data reported?
The reason I’m asking that question is due to the following statement you made “I am absolutely positive that your lovely grandparents who came from Italy were legal immigrants". My grandparents, may they rest in peace, were lovely and more than likely were legal and they would probably would turn over in their graves had they read what I wrote. But that’s not the point; the point is there is no basis for your conclusion which makes me wonder what the basis is for your conclusion about illegals.
You also make another statement that is troublesome “My feeling is, though, that his ultimate injuries had been stabilized and he required routine care", but you went on to say you don’t really know the details.
What kind of “routine care" does a person need that has brain damage and is a quadriplegic? He doesn’t need ‘routine care, he will need care 24/7 for the rest of his entire life to meet his basic needs.
As far as the US showing two different languages on something, my personal opinion is that’s great. It’s probably the only way the children in our schools are ever going to learn a second language. Think about something – how many countries in the world teach English as their second language? I don’t know the statistics on that, but I’m assuming it’s quite a few.
You wrote two other things that I question – First, “only in the Clinton years did that all change". Could you be a little more specific and could you provide some backup data on your statement?
Second and final, “I’m thinking that a great majority of the illegals are not law abiding and that’s why I’m so ticked".
That is simply not a true statement so I’m also wondering about the source for that statement?
Please understand something, my comments are not intended to criticize anything you’ve said, the beauty of our country is we are all free to express our own opinions and everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
My comments are simply intended as a nudge to make you wonder if you’re feeling the way you are about illegals because what you think is true, or if you feel the way you do about illegals due to being inundated with erroneous information on the subject.
Thank you again for your comment!
Pat JohnsonWell Pat, we've got a great set of comments going and we have some differing opinions. Lucky for us in this great country that we are able to do so.
You are right - I am very passionate about this subject. I tend to come down hard on most any subject where people blatently ignore, disobey or blow off established laws. To me, if people wish to come to this country, then go through channels and come legally. That should apply to everyone. When I say legally, then they will have to go through proper channels, fill out the paperwork, get their passage arranged, well - the whole enchalada. I do not condone by any stretch of the imagination marching illegally across the border. Further, if they are going to hire someone to swindle them in, we should ask why? Why not go through channels. Why sneak. This country generously welcomes people. Coming in with armed guards. I don't think so! Come in on a work visa and then leave. Or, if they've "fallen in love with this country and want to stay, then apply for an extension or go the way to citizenship.
I know much about immigration. I also know much about naturalization. I know about it from several different language backgrounds and also a different ethnicity. My comments in that regard are strictly for the legal immigrants.
And, yes, your grandparents most undoubtedly were legal! When they immigrated to this country, it was tough to get in. I have already stated some of the requirements. They probably even had to be cleared through Ellis Island which was stopped in 1954. You didn't just wave a passport and some nice person said OK, you're in. You were interviewed before and after you got here. You had to be healthy and disease free. Back then, you had to be small pox innoculated. There was so much more. Fact is, unless you were a stowaway, or managed somehow to become invisible until you were through customs, you were legal.
The whole idea of immigration is to allow people a better life. Here they can practice religion and freedom of speech, whatever. They can get rich and they don't even have to become citizens. However, it is generally expected that people comply with established rules, regulations and, in case of war, defend this country. It is not expected that they run around with upside down flags, protest having to pay college tuitions, etc. They don't steel Social Security numbers and they do hold down jobs and then, like some of us, pay federal and state income taxes. They are not expected to come into this country to go on welfare or shop around for the best welfare states. Nope, I dare say that is not what immigration is all about. So here's the rub. I take personal issue with anyone, legal - illegal - any race - any sex - that does not pull his weight. Anyone able bodied and part of this society has the duty to the rest of society to support himself as best he can. We are perhaps the most generous country in the world and we will help, but hello, that gets old. Get a job! We should not have to support you indefinitely.
You fanned my soapbox flames and gave me all too many points to defend so I'll take my stand this way - and yes it's repetitive - you come here legally. You pull your weight as best you can. If you need help we will help but it is not an entitlement. A license to drive is required. Laws of society are to be obeyed. Respect is to be given to our country, our people, and our flag. We are required to pay taxes. We pay tuition to attend higher education facilities. You are not entitled to Social Security (and for that matter and another soapbox of mine - congress is not entitled either). Health care is a serious problem but don't abuse the free care given at hospital. You are in this country, and our schools are taught in english. Encourage your children to speak english and tech it to you - You may just want to become a citizen. For that you will need to speak english to some extent. You should not expect this country to turn itself upside down because you and others like you have decided to live here. You can always leave.
I know much of what annoys me about illegal immigration is true. It is a subject I follow. Mostly, I started to follow it because if it's this easy to get across into this country, why make such a fuss about terrorists coming on planes. All they have to do is march across the borders.
The media does not say enough about the immigration problem here. It should be more, nor less. It should be accurately reported. You have to read a lot to form some kind of an opinion since everything is so jaded these days.
To finish this, I do my homework, I am intelligent, and I do form strong opinions but they are always on the right side of the law. I am not a fan of pushing emails around the country that are hateful or are otherwise untrue. But fact is fact. Seeing streams of illegals coming across is frightening to me. It's a scale of lawlessness that boggles my mind. Those caught are not just coming from Mexico, by the way. Want to guess where some are coming from?
I'm pretty sure I missed some points - I said that a great many are not law abiding and I stick with that statement. See who is sitting in jail and why. I also said that during Clinton years, immigration changed. I'm not exactly certain of the year (you can be darned sure I will be looking it up after all this) but the nationality and ethnicity requirements of eligible immigrants was changed.
Anyway, I spent way more time than I intended. I will not reread this - it's going exactly as it came out. In this way, it will be exactly as I feel. I'm more than happy to elaborate on anything. For tonight though, I've had quite enough of this subject.Good Morning OGM and Happy Memorial Day,
Thank you for your comments, but it seems as if we’re not making much headway.
You’re all fired up on the subject of illegals, which is great; it’s wonderful to be passionate about an issue and when it comes down to the nitty gritty everyone should follow the law, I agree with you 100%, they should.
My point on the subject of illegal immigration is it has been totally blown out of proportion by the media and I think it’s important for people to be able to sort out what’s true v. what’s false when it comes to a major problem facing this country. For various reasons I’ve spent a lot of time researching what’s been written/reported on illegal immigration and for the most part there’s little if any truth in the majority of information out there.
I’ll use Lou Dobbs as an example, he was on an illegal immigration kick for months, yet all too much of what he was reporting was taken out of context or incorrectly reported, but that didn’t seem to matter as everyone jumped on the illegal immigrant bandwagon.
I’ll use his comment on the crime rate of illegal aliens as an example (since crime is a subject you brought up in your initial reply). From Lou Dobbs - “The illegal aliens in the United States have a crime rate that’s two and a half times that of white non-illegal aliens." His statement was based on a 2006 interview he had with Robert Rector of the Heritage Foundation, but the statement Robert Rector made to Lou Dobbs was “Hispanics in the United States have a crime rate that’s two and a half times that of white non-Hispanics." Rector’s data was based on a 2003 Justice Department report.
Major difference – Rector was citing “Hispanics", not illegal aliens and that's basically the entire problem with 99% of the reporting on the subject. If it's not 'intentionally' misleading, it's just plain incorrect.
It's very difficult for me to discuss your "feelings" on the subject of illegal immigrants. I can't even begin to try to change how you feel, but I can attempt to provide you with a different perspective providing there is data to analyze. To that end, perhaps you could answer the two questions I posed in my reply to your initial comment as follows:
You wrote – “only in the Clinton years did that all change". Could you be a little more specific and could you provide some backup data on your statement?
Next, you ended your original comment with the following statement, “I’m thinking that a great majority of the illegals are not law abiding and that’s why I’m so ticked". That is simply not a true statement so I’m also wondering the source for that statement?
If you could provide anything on either of those questions it would provide us with a starting point.
The following statement you made in your most recent reply, and it too, needs clarification as to the source of your information.
“You are not entitled to Social Security (and for that matter and another soapbox of mine - congress is not entitled either)."
Illegal aliens do not receive Social Security benefits. Some time back there was a piece of legislation that was incorrectly reported. The legislation was requesting Social Security benefits for former illegals who had become citizens and had paid into the system both while they were 'illegal' and after becoming U.S. citizens. The media reported this bill as legislation to provide illegals with Social Security benefits, which wasn't true, and the bill took a nosedive.
There was some confusion on the subject of Social Security for members of Congress because prior to 1984 Member of Congress did not participate in SS, but Public Law 98-21 changed the rules. Please refer to CRS [Congressional Research Service] report RL 30631 for any questions regarding congressional pensions and Social Security.
The following is quoted directly from the CRS report.
"Prior to 1984, neither federal civil service workers nor Members of Congress
paid taxes to Social Security, nor were they eligible for Social Security benefits.
Members of Congress and other federal employees were instead covered by a
separate pension plan called the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). The 1983
amendments to the Social Security Act (P.L. 98-21) required federal employees first
hired after 1983 to participate in Social Security. These amendments also required
all Members of Congress to participate in Social Security as of January 1, 1984,
regardless of when they first entered Congress. Because the CSRS was not designed
to coordinate with Social Security, Congress directed the development of a new
retirement plan for federal workers. The result was the Federal Employees’
Retirement System Act of 1986 (P.L. 99-335)."
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