The news is full of outrage citing discrimination against immigrants.  There are demonstrations and businesses who are closing for a day to bring attention to the important role immigrants play not only in our culture but in our economy.  I am fully aware of the hard work that both legal and illegal immigrants contribute to us as a nation.

Perhaps I am not hearing President Trump’s position on the travel ban correctly, but I didn’t hear him suggest that immigrants aren’t welcome or important.  I heard him say that the process of allowing non-citizens into the country is broke and needs fixing.  I would agree that the execution of the travel ban was chaos, but the underlying intent didn’t appear to me to be malicious or discriminatory.  However I tend to judge intent by action and not by speculation, or by what is reported by  biased news sources, both liberal and conservative.    It is possible that some can read President Trump’s mind to conclude what his hidden intent was.  I will stand on my ‘wait and see’ fence.

Why is all of this a big deal?  What benefits do I enjoy today as a United States citizen?  I realize that my benefit came to me from my ancestors who travelled on a boat to find new opportunity.  My citizenship was easily won simply by my parents having a fourth child.  But it is a citizenship that is mine all the same.  It requires me to obey the laws of the land, pay taxes, pay for my own medical coverage, and generally be productive inside of the free system that is uniquely ours.  In exchange, I expect the government to provide for my security, spend my tax money smart,  and protect my right of ownership of my property.   Why is asking immigrants or refugees to live by the same rules make me subject to accusations and name calling.    If instead, we all used the energy that we spend complaining and name calling, to demand and support an immigration policy that is fair and efficient, I believe that we would be a better nation.