Immigration is a neglected civil right

In 1966, I was on a small ship bound for Haifa, from Bridisi. On deck were about twenty people from a dozen countries having a discussion. A young man spoke of a man he’d met who was traveling around the world without a passport. I don’t recall how he managed to do that, but everyone agreed it was strangely wonderful.

I’m not an anarchist except on the subject of immigration. George Carlin said that he loved people, but when they form groups exceeding four people, they start behaving badly. Nations are examples of people behaving badly. They establish borders as something holy, and regulate who can pass and who cannot, who can live here and who cannot. Of course they back it up with pretensions of legitimacy, and guns.

We aren’t born in original sin. We aren’t born owing anyone or our country anything. I think anyone has the right to live anywhere on the planet wherever he wants. An individual’s rights are more important than any country’s rules. Now we see the Trump administration deporting people with no due process. It’s disgusting.

The U.S. doesn’t own the Earth, and it is simply kicking people around because it has the power. We’ve been indoctrinated to believe nations should have this power. I don’t think so. It’s dead wrong.

Shelley Simon