It seems to be such common sense. If someone breaks the law, they should expect punishment if they get caught and there should be no expectation of benefit to any lawbreaker for doing so. In the abstract it is hard to argue against that logic. But what if it is an ill conceived law? For example, what if the rule of law says one must pay the English throne a punitive tax for tea? According to the above stated logic, those under British authority, if they wanted to be law abiding citizens, should have paid the tax so long as it was the law. Yet, when I was taught American history, I was taught that those who carried out the civil disobedience and vandalism that came to be known as the "Boston Tea Party" were considered American Revolution heroes. Their act of sneaking onto a British ship and throwing its cargo into Boston Harbor helped fuel the passion for the ultimate revolt against England by our nation's founders.
It was once against the law to assist a runaway slave. Harsh penalties were called for by the courts for anyone caught doing so. Yet, today, most people regard the activists who operated the "Underground Railroad" which gave sanctuary and assistance to slaves escaping from the cruelties of slavery to be humanitarian role models.
And who can forget that Jesus was executed for the charge of being a lawbreaker?
Some laws are not good laws, especially laws that are intended to preserve the status quo of the "already haves" while prolonging the suffering of those circumstantially ensnared in poverty and struggle. Laws and attitudes that arise from a self-focused withholding of opportunity and resources from the disadvantaged are not good laws. In fact, in my view, they are evil laws that need to be changed.
What is very troubling to me is that some of those arguing for harsh "law and order" treatment of immigrants who have made their way across our borders in search of work and a better life without waiting years and years to maybe get legal permission, also claim to be followers of Jesus. Since I can't for the life of me find anything in the teachings of Jesus, or the overall biblical ethos that justifies treating people this way, I have to conclude that this insensitive and inflexible attitude arises from another source. Some apparently have confused their Americanism with their Christian discipleship.
Sadly, this confusion has become a breeding ground for angry sterotyping and scapegoating in these times of economic downturn and rising unemployment. Otherwise decent and well meaning people are being swept up in what can only be described as ugliness and hostility toward whole neighborhoods and ethnicities. Some media commentators are enriching themselves by working their listeners into a bigoted froth.
Come on, my fellow Americans, we're better than this, aren't we? Everyone knows we have been hanging a help wanted sign over the no tresspassing signs at our borders for years, as Jim Wallis of Sojourners has pointed out. Rounding up people who only seek to work and make a better life for their family, putting them in chains and handcuffs, jailing them and forcing them to leave the country and very often their immediate family members because they do not have the right piece of paper is not the answer. Changing existing laws to remove the roadblocks and delays so that America will once again be a welcoming land of opportunity for hard working individuals who want to contribute to the strength and growth of our economy and our communities is the answer.
