Big Think

Andy Miser on January 20, 2008, 9:46 AM

I think Bill makes a good point at the end that the immigration question is about the social fabric of your country. Aside from the "legality" of immigration, it is important that a country controls its immigration so that it does not let into the country a growing group of people who actually do not believe in the ethical principles that binds the citizens of the country together. For example, a christian nation can not afford to let in a large muslim population that disagrees with the basic individual rights and freedoms that the country provides to its citizens (e.g. free speach, freedom from religion, equal rights for women, etc.) and expect that the country will stay the same. Letting in people who think differently changes the country and every country should have immigration controls to protect its identity avoid conflict that threatens the countries very existence.

Andy Miser on January 20, 2008, 2:46 PM

I think Bill makes a good point at the end that the immigration question is about the social fabric of your country. Aside from the “legality” of immigration, it is important that a country controls its immigration so that it does not let into the country a growing group of people who actually do not believe in the ethical principles that binds the citizens of the country together. For example, a christian nation can not afford to let in a large muslim population that disagrees with the basic individual rights and freedoms that the country provides to its citizens (e.g. free speach, freedom from religion, equal rights for women, etc.) and expect that the country will stay the same. Letting in people who think differently changes the country and every country should have immigration controls to protect its identity avoid conflict that threatens the countries very existence.

Juan Gomez on January 26, 2008, 10:30 PM

Mister Richardson, Spain is part of Europe, geographically and politically. The issue about immigration is to solve the reasons why these people have to abandon their families, and villages, and cities, in many cases risking their lives. Once installed, the debate is about how to incorporate them in a climate of inclusion and not the opposite.

Juan Gomez on January 27, 2008, 3:30 AM

Mister Richardson, Spain is part of Europe, geographically and politically. The issue about immigration is to solve the reasons why these people have to abandon their families, and villages, and cities, in many cases risking their lives. Once installed, the debate is about how to incorporate them in a climate of inclusion and not the opposite.

Nicole Trissell on January 27, 2008, 9:26 AM

First, in response to TwoCents, in general, you will not have people immigrating to a country when it is not a place they want to live. If you have a fundamentally islamist person, they will have no desire to come and live in a country that has different beliefs and morals from their own. Some one who would be deeply offended by an uncovered woman on the street, is not going to move to England, or France, or the USA, where they would see that all the time. People who immigrate to another country are doing so because they believe they will have a better chance at the life they want in that country as it is. Not to turn a richer country into one they want morally.
Also, while it is admirable to try and fix the problems that cause people to immigrate in the first place, that involves interfering with other sovereign countries, which is generally frowned upon. To be honest, immigration into first world countries benefits that country in the long run. Immigrants take low level blue collar jobs, which puts some people out of work in the short term, but in the long term it forces the citizens of the first world country into more intellectual, white collar work. This elevates the country as a whole and allows the country to become an exporter of ideas rather than goods, for which there will always be a stable market.

Nicole Trissell on January 27, 2008, 2:26 PM

First, in response to TwoCents, in general, you will not have people immigrating to a country when it is not a place they want to live. If you have a fundamentally islamist person, they will have no desire to come and live in a country that has different beliefs and morals from their own. Some one who would be deeply offended by an uncovered woman on the street, is not going to move to England, or France, or the USA, where they would see that all the time. People who immigrate to another country are doing so because they believe they will have a better chance at the life they want in that country as it is. Not to turn a richer country into one they want morally.
Also, while it is admirable to try and fix the problems that cause people to immigrate in the first place, that involves interfering with other sovereign countries, which is generally frowned upon. To be honest, immigration into first world countries benefits that country in the long run. Immigrants take low level blue collar jobs, which puts some people out of work in the short term, but in the long term it forces the citizens of the first world country into more intellectual, white collar work. This elevates the country as a whole and allows the country to become an exporter of ideas rather than goods, for which there will always be a stable market.