I must, if only to avoid being wrongly labeled a bigot by the easily offended, point out at the start that I am the child of first and second generation immigrants, and I have both lived around and educated individuals from numerous cultural, religious, and language backgrounds. Although I am sadly certain that I will never convince those who are implacably supportive of open borders, automatic asylum, and unending public assistance for those who violate our immigration laws, I do not hate immigrants or non-Americans; I am simply one of the weary majority of our nation’s citizens who want reasonable and well-enforced restrictions on who, when, why, where, and how foreigners can enter America.
We have, of course, seen a stark contrast over the past few years between the immigration policies of the Biden and Trump administrations, which is, depending on your point of view, either a welcome return to sanity or a human rights disaster. Democrats are certainly disappointed that so many Americans are in favor of deporting the uncounted tens of millions here illegally and ending the (not so) Temporary Protected Status designations that have allowed another 1.3 million people (often living on government assistance) to remain here for decades.
Now that those who began blocking or assaulting ICE agents the day after President Trump’s second Inauguration are facing overdue legal consequences and jail time—not to mention broad public disapproval of their dangerous antics—we are seeing a return to the routine enforcement of immigration laws that were completely ignored during the bonkers Biden years, and many cities are now experiencing much-needed relief in terms of their municipal budgets and crime rates as deportations proceed.
Moreover, we are beginning to have a necessary conversation about the responsibilities of those whom we graciously allow into our nation for school and work, who must obey both our laws and our deeply entrenched Judeo-Christian cultural and social norms. This is particularly true when immigrants arrive in America from countries where practices we find repugnant—child marriage, rape, pedophilia, female circumcision, and the murder of those with different religious beliefs—are both permitted and officially sanctioned.
Unlike the United States over the past years, Europe has (with the notable exception of Poland) continued to welcome wave after wave of immigrants from the Middle East and Africa, which has caused political and social tumult (not to mention huge increases in crime) in counties such as Spain, Germany, Italy, Ireland, and England. The contrast between America, where crime and welfare costs are now dropping, and the European Union and surrounding nations, where costs, crime, and chaos continue to escalate, could not be more instructive—and recent events in England starkly highlight the tragic disconnect between native and immigrant cultures.
A June United Kingdom (UK) report estimates that over the past couple of decades roughly 250,000 girls were subjected to repeated rape, gang rape, trafficking, torture, pregnancy, and lifelong trauma by organized grooming gangs, which consisted primarily of Pakistani Muslim men. Shockingly, government officials and police, who were terrified of being called bigots, slow walked their investigations until the public outcry became too loud to ignore, but some of the perpetrators are now being brought to justice. However, many are still insisting these predatory men, whose religious beliefs sanction violence against “infidels” who do not follow Islam, should be given light sentences because their crimes were simply cultural misunderstandings that must be excused.
In an effort to bridge the divide between natives and immigrants in England, the government has released a guidebook—one that is both laughable and pitiful.
The advice in this publication, which the UK Home Office will henceforth hand out to asylum seekers to help them understand the rules and expectations of English society, speaks to an chasm between cultures that are not—and likely never will be—compatible.
Some tidbits from this bizarre government pamphlet illustrate the scope of the problem:
• “In the UK, both people must say ‘yes’ to sex. This is called consent. If you have sex with someone who does not want to, this is called rape. Rape is a serious crime.”
• “In the UK, men and women are equal. This means men and women are treated the same. Women can work, study, travel, and make their own choices.”
• “The legal age of consent in the UK is 16. This means that anyone under the age of 16 is considered a child and cannot legally agree to have sex. Sex with someone under the age of 16 is a serious crime in the UK. There are no exceptions to this rule. Even if they say yes, it is still illegal. You could go to prison, lose your support and accommodation, and it will affect your asylum claim. [Italics mine]”
• “It is illegal to harass people In the UK. Everyone has the right to feel safe in public. You must never make sexual comments to strangers, even as a compliment, approach someone repeatedly if they are not interested, follow someone, or block their path.”
• “Domestic abuse is illegal in the UK. It is illegal to hurt, threaten, or control your partner or family. This includes hitting, pushing, or any physical violence, threatening or verbal abuse, controlling their money or where they go, honor-based violence or abuse.”
There are simply no words to express how futile is the fantasy that any of this ink and paper will make the least bit of difference or protect anyone from future harm. The delusions of fiercely pro-immigrant factions, whether in Europe or the United States, should never be allowed to put a nation’s citizens, who are branded as bigots for insisting on safety, in harm’s way.
Adults rarely change their attitudes and behavior, particularly when these result from religious belief, political ideology, victim culture, or a combination of all three. Moreover, a Woke permissiveness toward crime that justifies violence, abuse, and theft is an invitation to societal disaster—as we have already seen throughout the “enlightened” West.