A fable, a parable – they're often virtually the same thing. A story with a moral, a lesson, a truth, disguised as an entertaining tale.
Here's a terrific example.
This national immigration situation is a very serious, complex, knotty problem, isn't it? Our laws about how to obtain citizenship in the United States are clearly spelled out, and millions of people have streamed into our country – legally – obeying these laws, learning much of our history and purpose, becoming at least marginally conversant in English, and passing the tests required of all would-be new Americans. Almost all of us can trace our lineage to ancestors born and raised in some other part of the world who came to this country looking for a different kind of life than the one they'd known.
And especially in more recent new citizens, there has seemed to be more fervent appreciation of America's liberties and opportunities than is usually evidenced by people whose families go back many generations. The obvious explanation is that people who haven't been used to the wide open, sky's-the-limit, dictate-your-own-future-and-have-a-personal-say-in-your-own-government kind of life have a much deeper reverence for the American way than do those who've never known anything else and who take it for granted.
But regardless, anybody who will take our legal system seriously and go through the required tests and preparations will be welcomed into our society. Doesn't matter where they come from, what their religion or color or cultural differences – they're welcomed as Americans.
Pretty neat, huh?
Now, while we weren't paying nearly enough attention, 12 to 14 million people, from several countries, have streamed across our porous borders and embedded themselves into our neighborhoods and business operations and even our schools, churches and hospitals – illegally.
They too came hoping for, looking for, a different kind of life, in most cases having had precious little back home. Very understandable. And they found farmers and other employers who would pay them small money for tough jobs, money that would not only provide a meager existence here, but also give them some to send back to relatives in "the old country." Several serious problems came with them, though. They not only completely ignored the legal system for living in America, they felt the need to find medical help and schooling and other requisites. So they've increasingly found ways to demand and obtain the requisites – without obeying the laws that all previous immigrants had to obey!
If this continues, what will become of our immigration – and other – laws? How will the American taxpayer manage to pay for his own – and so many countless others' – expenses? Though most of us aren't heartless, uncaring people, we're starting to learn that the cost of 14 million illegal aliens in our midst will soon eclipse even the cost of the war in Iraq.
How should we view this apparently impossible problem?
Might a good parable help us size the thing up properly?
My good friend Craig Smith provided one recently, and it seems so pertinent and lucid that I want to share it with you here. His words:
A few weeks ago, my wife and I had one of the worst experiences of our lives. In the middle of the night, five men broke into our home and made themselves at home. When I woke up in the morning they had formed a protest in my front yard, demanding to stay, suggesting I offer them a "Home Guest Worker" program.
In fact, they have now found an American Civil Liberties Union attorney and a willing, vote-hungry Congress to immediately overturn all state and federal laws against breaking and entering. The home invaders say they are willing to pay a $1,000 fine. They want to work for the next six years – as long as I allow them to stay in my home. At the end of the six years, they want me to make them permanent members of my family. Oh ... and they also want their names put on the title to the home. The home my wife and I worked and sacrificed for over the last 30 years.
I have tried to reason with them and politely ask them to leave and have attempted to make it clear we do not want them in our home unless we had invited them in. However, they keep chanting this line that all they are trying to do is make a better life for their families and children that they hope to birth while in my home uninvited.
They have been eating my food, using my medicine, and have taken over my library and television trying to get a quick education. I really hadn't figured these extra costs into my monthly budget, so I'm not sure how I'm going to pay for it all. Maybe I can get my neighbors to kick in a few bucks of their hard-earned money.
Welcome to the New America. The America where rule of law is no longer applicable. The America where illegal immigrants, who claim they want to be part of the "democratic" process of America, yet drape themselves in Mexican flags, gather in huge demonstrations disrupting the very country they claim to love. Apparently, they have mistaken mob rule for democratic process. They have elected to ignore the Constitution that thousands before them have fought, bled and died for.
Let the chaos begin. We have clearly turned the asylum over to the patients.
Oh, by the way – seeing as the fellows who broke in have refused to leave, "Hector, please pass the salsa."
Like all good parables, this one leaves some questions unanswered, but for me, it sure presents a sensible and accurate perspective. We need the wisdom of Solomon here, and there's only one place to obtain it.
From the same place, the same One, where Solomon got his.
Related special offer:
"State of Emergency: The Third World Invasion and Conquest of America"