I am not aware of any factor in the crime (sin) of driving while drunk that relates to one’s immigration status. I am unclear how the tragedy of drunk-driving fatalities is mitigated by the legal immigration status of the offender, nor do I understand how the driver’s undocumented status further contributes to the condition of the victim.
I suspect the answer from some would be, “Well, if they weren’t here, they’d be driving while blitzed in some other country.” True enough, I suppose. But when undocumented people get drunk, drive, and kill someone, the crime is the same, and we all know that drunk driving is a societal problem simply because of its nature — which depends on the impairment of the driver, not the race, immigration status, aptitude at Scrabble, or preference for Shiraz over Merlot. We don’t, for example, decry the horror of blondes driving drunk, or racists driving drunk, or contract Haliburton workers home from Iraq driving drunk. We focus our outrage at the crime committed.
There is nothing about hair color, bigotry, or participation in mercenary capitalism that increases the likelihood of downing a few drinks and driving home — something that, by the way, I suspect many of us have foolishly risked. Our character, then, determines whether we take the risk or not, and I’m at a loss at how the Immigration and Naturalization Service can confer or deny character in this or any other issue.
On the other hand, for those who hate Mexican immigrants, the fact that they even brush their teeth in this country is distasteful. So let’s file the issue of undocumented immigrants and drunk driving under “Drunk,” not “Illegal,” and look for solutions to both issues.
First, let’s reconfirm what’s meant by “the condition of the victim.” The condition of the victim — victims, actually, thousands of them each year — is not good. It is a condition known as “pushing up the daisies.” Not a good condition for elementary school age sisters to be in. We need to weigh the relative rights of a Mexican to be in this country illegally, driving drunk without a license or insurance, versus the rights of native American elementary school sisters to not be murdered. I know this is a difficult call, but we Christians are sometimes required to make difficult ethical decisions like this. Give it your best shot.
Keely claims can’t see any link between a person’s illegal status in this country and proclivity to commit other crimes. Well, if a person has no compunctions about thumbing his nose at America’s immigration laws, and doesn’t hesitate to drive illegally, without insurance, is it any surprise that he doesn’t hesitate to drive drunk?
Keely says “There is nothing about . . . participation in mercenary capitalism that increases the likelihood of [DUI].” Boy, how’s that for a euphemism! My comments above apply.
I know Keely does not have much use for mere facts, but here are some troubling facts about illegal aliens’ status as the fastest-growing segment of America’s prison population:
http://tinyurl.com/ahjkg
Keely says it all comes down to a question of character. Well, the statistics above tell us a great deal about the character of illegal aliens as a group. Those people are NOT in prison simply for being illegal immigrants.
After glossing over the real problem, Keely falls back on her typical hyperbolic character assassination, bringing up the spurious image of people who hate Mexican immigrants’ tooth-brushing activities. I, for one, do not hate Mexican immigrants per se, whether they are here legally or illegally. I do harbor a great deal of anger toward habitual criminals, and also toward people who act as enablers of, accessories to, and apologists for habitual criminals while reviling people with legitimate grievances as “hate-filled racists.”
P.S. It’s not just drunk driving:
http://www.google.com/#hl=en&q=“illegal+alien”+rape+murder
I suppose we’ve all “foolishly risked” rape and murder too?
Comment by Dontbia Nass — June 16, 2009 @ 9:08 pm