25% of the world wealth and 4.5% of its population

Silent Greed

Today, as I was listening to the radio, I heard a talk radio host talking about limiting the number of immigrants we could let into this country. I laughed to myself and thought it a silly idea. Can you imagine? Who would put a limit on how many people we would allow into this wonderful country of ours? To my astonishment, I discovered that this had become an issue of serious debate.

The law recently passed in Arizona was the spark that ignited the flame of this discussion. I won't go into details about the nature of the bill that was past, first because my opinion of it is irrelevant due to my lack of knowledge of its contents. But as I listened to the arguments on the radio today because of the bill that had been past, I had a revelation.

Why are we so concerned about letting others into our country? Is it language? Is it because of the expenses it may incur? Is it because of the effect it may have on our education? We have an eternity to transcend the bounds of language, and an eternity to learn everything we must know.

I think the real reason we don't want others here is because we know that a higher population means wider distribution of wealth. There is not a reason that's not self-centered for preventing others from having the same opportunities we have as Americans. Not one. If you loved your neighbor, you would do everything in your power to ensure the best for him - financially, physically, and spiritually - regardless of the effects on yourself.

We need to think of others before ourselves. The greed that has taken America's hearts may not be obvious - and it may be easy for many of us to call those more wealthy than us greedy. But look at the big picture. We, as Americans, consume much more than the rest of the world.

Let's stop debating about how many people we should allow to have an american experience. Let's stop arguing over whether or not we should even let people in. Stop and think, before you speak, not about language gaps or cultural differences, but about a hungry child, a father struggling to make ends meet, or an old man unable to rest from the labors of his hard-earned life because of low wages. Think of human beings.