As a concerned parent who wants to keep her kids aware, how can I explain immigration without being racist?!?!
Answer:
Just tell the truth and don't worry about how it sounds.
Simple. Just tell the child that anyone who enters the United States illegally is breaking the law therefore a criminal. Some come via land some come via sea. They are all the same-criminals.
As simple as telling your kids the truth that we all have to obey the law, and so the immigrants that come here. We are not against legal immigrants, we are against "illegal" immigrants. We have the right to ask the immigrants to come here "legally".
Use facts. The vast, vast majorities of illegals enter through the US/Mexican border. It's only logical to focus our attention there. Anyone who calls that racist is just stupid and/or ignorant.
Putting up a wall... hmmmm, doesn't it bring back memories of the "Berlin Wall"?
Simply tell your children the truth - immigration is about those who come here for a better life, to earn a living, or political asylum.
support your strong opinions by educating yourself on immigration. Educate yourself and children to how this country was created. It wasn't all that long ago that we opened up our borders and told everyone to come. Now that people perceive that illegals get "away" with everything, i.e. welfare etc. In NY only citizens can get welfare. Remember the government makes it against the law for illegal aliens to get welfare, yet their children, if born in the USA can get it. Are there illegal aliens that get fake id's and scam the system? Of course there is. There are legal citizens that scam the system also. Education is the key.
Just make it as simple as possible,,you have criminals and you have honest people,,and the illegals (no matter the race) are criminals and need to be punished... The come here with no permission, and take things without permission, request tihings they are not entitled to, so in other words they are thiefs, burglars, stealers,,,,simple enough...
you may be successful in your eyes and that of your families but if you are trying to please the pro-immigration crowd you have all ready failed.
Don't worry about seeming racist. Tell them what is in your heart and go forth.
I agree with the first 3 answers, as far as they went. First, tell your kids that all countries have laws controlling who comes in. The U.S. is no different. It is not only Mexicans who can cross our southern border, but criminals, terrorists, etc. That is reason enough to demand a secure border. Also, illegals are generally poorly educated which dilutes the quality of our culture, they pay no taxes but absorb a lot of free services, which saddles us with an increased tax burden, and commit crimes in greater proportion than our general population. It is not racist to acknowledge facts that are detrimental to our way of life. It would be racist to say you don't want Hispanic people admitted to this country simply because they are Hispanic. That is a different issue entirely, and has nothing to do with a secure border. Remember that the problem is ILLEGAL immigration, not just "immigration". If you tried to cross into Mexico at its southern border, you would stand a good chance of being shot. How's that for hypocrisy? Mexico has an abundance of natural resources which should serve to make it a wonderful country to live in for even those on the low end of its economic spectrum - like the U.S. But a corrupt govt. and an elitist upper class preclude much upward mobility for them. They are not so much invading our country as escaping from prison. We can't blame them for doing this, but we can't permit it either. Hope this gives you some more perspective. Have a nice day.
Just be simple and straight to the point. If you try to sugar coat it,kids see through that and will seek their opinions elsewhere. I told my son the facts just as I would anyone else minus the big words. You are mom and what you say carries the most weight. You sound very sensible in your approach and I think you'll do great in your explanation.
The Immigration information post by website user , MyTend.com not guarantee correctness.
More Immigration Questions and Answers ...