Our New Jim Crow Laws - Immigrants and Health Insurance

When the congressman from my home statethe rest of the American society. Another good
shouted out "You Lie" to Obama, he wasn't doingexample were the Jim Crow laws in the South,
so to defend veterans, help out the needy in thewhich simply barred blacks from certain places
community, or protect the religious or politicaland activities. However, it seems you don't have
liberties of his constituents. No, he was yelling outto go back to history to find this intolerance, it is
in his childish rant to protest the mere thoughtamong us now. Are we really fighting so that
that a certain group of people might have aliving, breathing human beings (and that is what
chance to buy health insurance. The group he wasthey are, children of God, like you and me no
so furious about was undocumented workers,matter what their legal status) cannot obtain
who ironically help support the economy of ourhealth insurance for their families, including their
whole nation.young children? Is that we have come to as a
Many Americans like to stand proudly and saysociety? I can see the Father looking down in
that the racism and discrimination that use tosorrow as we speak of ourselves as a Christian
plague society has passed. However, this issuesociety and the importance of holding up "family"
that has recently been brought to light makes mevalues and then totally disregard the needy and
greatly doubt the tolerance and compassion ofsick among us. In the end, history will judge us by
the society. In the new health care bill to beour actions. Do we want to be represented in the
passed, there is language which simply banssame category as the Jim Crow Laws or do we
undocumented workers from obtaining healthbe known as a people that put aside our selfish
insurance (I am sure Joe Wilson is relieved).agendas and intolerance to help meet the needs
Though this is certainly done to appeal to theof those around us. Maybe as it says in the book
conservative side of the nation, it seems to meof James, we need to start practicing true religion
to be a very dark and sinister threat against ourand stop a pseudo spirituality which allows us to
supposed values and ethics.hold on to our selfish thinking and ignore the
In my U.S. History class, we are currentlyneeds of those around us and God's children of
studying in the struggle of the Irish Immigrants inevery different background. In the end, that kind
the 19th century. We are learning about theof religion is dead and is worthless towards the
discrimination, hatred, and malice they faced byhope of a restored and redeemed world.