February is Black History month so, again, Martin Luther King’s legacy moves to the forefront. If this year is consistent with those past, the focus will be on remembrance. This is fitting. But should not the martyred life of this great moral leader also cause us to examine our society today? So, I’ve wondered, if Dr. King had never been martyred where would he be today? What current social injustices would draw his attention and activity?
Somewhat lost in romanticized history is the comprehensive breadth of M.L. King’s compassion and quest for a just society. For him, justice was not simply a provincial “black struggle”. Dr. King often reminded us, “An injustice anywhere is an injustice everywhere.”
There are many causes and issues that lay claim to King’s moral legacy. Among them is an issue that has recently (and belatedly) bothered my conscience. It seems to me that if Dr. King were alive today he would be spending time down on our southwestern national border bringing attention to the tragedies of our failed immigration system. Would he not point out that the wall we are building to keep out our neighbor is funneling desperate souls toward desperate acts with tragic consequences? The hundreds of miles of physical walls now being constructed between the US and Mexico intentionally leave open the most inhospitable, life threatening obstacles of mountains and deserts. These are meant to be a natural wall of deterrent. Yet tens of thousands of desolate souls see no other hope than to make the journey and take their chances. Thousands have quietly perished of thirst or exposure attempting to cross miles and miles of desert in a vain attempt to reach the Promised Land.
Recently, in the border town of Nogales, Mexico, I stood before a wall where simple crosses hang, bearing witness to this avoidable tragedy. We stood at that wall listening to the harrowing personal story from a 28 year old young lady who had just been returned by border guards and dumped unceremoniously on the street. Her journey included enduring nights of 30 degree temperatures with torrential rains (5 inches) and near drowning (in the desert!) I thought how she had nearly become another name on a cross on the wall standing not twenty yards away.
I have to think that Martin Luther King would have traveled to the Nogales wall long before me – as I also believe Jesus is there now. He is there in the personage (www.nomoredeaths.org/) of those who bring water and medical aid to the ones abandoned by heartless mercenaries who sell transport and often abandon the weak. These volunteers of conscience and faith also find remains, seek identification and proper burial. Crosses on the border wall memorialize the ongoing human tragedy. But more often than not the only name is desconocido, “unknown”.
Immigration is a thorny and complex issue just as Jim Crow was several generations ago. Perhaps like me, you have been influenced by the polarized political fringe of either extreme. It came as a surprise to me to learn that proposed legal solutions do exist that would greatly improve our current broken system (even the extremists on both sides agree the system is broken.) Quality of life would improve for thousands and the economy would be stimulated, more taxes would be paid and national security would improve. Comprehensive Immigration Reform is not wholly unlike the civil rights laws of the 1960’s that brought legal resolve and opportunity. Just like today, back then extremists screamed the loudest, but eventually reasoned voices like that of Dr. M. L. King’s prevailed. The result created better laws that nearly everyone now agrees to be just.
As Christians we often describe ourselves as having family values with Godly respect for the sanctity of life. Our current broken immigration system tears families apart and threatens many lives every day. This day someone died in the desert wastelands of Texas, Arizona, New Mexico or California. Mothers and fathers were caught up in an I.C.E. raid and separated from their U.S. citizen children without word or notice.
Dr. King cared back then. I think Dr. King would care about this injustice today. Do we? Do I? Up until recently I paid scant attention because I did not have a dog in the fight – immigration is too complicated to understand, too remote from my inner city community of African-American concerns. But the truth be told, I did not make it my concern. Yet genuine Godly justice cannot be motivated by self interest, “look not to your own interests but the interests of others,” Paul challenged us in Philippians.
So, perhaps a living memorial to a great man’s memory would be to engage this great social justice issue of our day and press toward reasonable legal solutions like those of generations past. Perhaps you will be motivated to educate yourself to have an informed position. It is the responsible, Christian thing to do.
Suggested places to start:
www.aspira.org/blog/economic-benefits-immigration-reform-factsheet
www.immigrationpolicy.org/just-facts/comprehensive-immigration-reform-primer
http://reason.org/files/a87d1550853898a9b306ef458f116079.pdf |
