Thursday, April 29, 2010

Apple-Carts and Turnovers

From My Perspective - - -

In a bygone day in larger cities, there used to be street vendors with push carts where many things were sold. A common item was Fruit and Vegetables. Sometimes, a wheel might come off the cart and it would be upset and the product spilled on the street. A phrase that described such a moment was: “Upsetting The Apple-Cart.” The meaning is both simple and obvious, namely, “To cause upset - to create a difficulty.” The origin of the phrase has a political tone to it: This allusory (illusory) phrase is first recorded by Jeremy Belknap in The History of New Hampshire, 1788: “Adams had almost overset the apple-cart by intruding an amendment of his own fabrication on the morning of the day of ratification [of the Constitution].”

When Arizona passed an Immigration Law recently, the reaction was manifold. Not the least of which was: “Mexican President Felipe Calderon has accused Arizona of opening the door to intolerance, hate, discrimination and abuse in law enforcement." That is a fascinating statement, especially in light of Mexican Law and Approach to Immigrants trying to enter Mexico legally or illegally. Michelle Malkin has written: How Mexico Treats Illegal Aliens. These regulations and restrictions are imposed on foreigners. Some of the Legal Requirements are: (a) The Mexican government will bar foreigners if they upset "the equilibrium of the national demographics." (b) If outsiders do not enhance the country's "economic or national interests" or are "not found to be physically or mentally healthy," they are not welcome. Neither are those who show "contempt against national sovereignty or security." They must not be economic burdens on society and must have clean criminal histories. Those seeking to obtain Mexican citizenship must show a birth certificate, provide a bank statement proving economic independence, pass an exam and prove they can provide their own healthcare. (c) Illegal entry into the country is equivalent to a felony punishable by two years' imprisonment. Document fraud is subject to fine and imprisonment; so is alien marriage fraud. Evading deportation is a serious crime; illegal re-entry after deportation is punishable by ten years' imprisonment. Foreigners may be kicked out of the country without due process and the endless bites at the litigation apple that illegal aliens are afforded in our country. (d) Law enforcement officials at all levels - by national mandate - must cooperate to enforce immigration laws, including illegal alien arrests and deportations. The Mexican military is also required to assist in immigration enforcement operations. Native-born Mexicans are empowered to make citizens' arrests of illegal aliens and turn them in to authorities. (e) Mexico's National Catalog of Foreigners tracks all outside tourists and foreign nationals. A National Population Registry tracks and verifies the identity of every member of the population, who must carry a citizens' identity card. Visitors who do not possess proper documents and identification are subject to arrest as illegal aliens.” She concludes her article with these words: “Mexico is doing the job Arizona is now doing - a job the U.S. government has failed miserably to do: putting its people first. Here's the proper rejoinder to all the hysterical demagogues in Mexico (and their sympathizers here on American soil) now calling for boycotts and invoking Jim Crow laws, apartheid, and the Holocaust because Arizona has taken its sovereignty into its own hands: HipĆ³critas.”

The Bible has several implications and applications regarding aliens. Deuteronomy 24:14-17 gives a basic instruction: “Do not take advantage of a hired man who is poor and needy, whether he is a brother Israelite or an alien living in one of your towns. Pay him his wages each day before sunset…Do not deprive the alien or the fatherless of justice…Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you from there…” Deuteronomy 27 is a listing of “curses” pronounced by The Lord. In verse 19: "Cursed is the man who withholds justice from the alien, the fatherless or the widow. Then all the people shall say, Amen!” The New Testament also makes some “alien and stranger” comment. Hebrews 11:13-15, “All these people…did not receive the things promised…they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.” In I Peter 2:11-12, “I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires…Live such good lives among the pagans that…they may see your good deeds and glorify God…” Don’t let anyone or anything Upset Your Apple-Cart or cause it to Turnover. The Alien and stranger – could it be that The Lord is bringing a Mission Field to your doorstep? Consider these things with me!

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