Progressives — not conservatives — tell us our strength is in our diversity. Conservatives know this is not true. We know that our strength is our shared values, and this is exactly what made us the best country the world has ever known.
The rule of law, individual freedoms guaranteed in our Constitution and free markets are what have raised more people out of poverty since the beginning of time. It is not diversity that makes us great, it is that we agree to live together by sharing a belief in those values. Indeed, any country can become a powerhouse if they adopt those values.
People quote Emma Lazarus' poem on the Statue of Liberty about how we welcome the world's tired and poor. We have never made foreign or immigration policy based on poetry (scripture like the Ten Commandments, yes) — especially without reciting the culminating verse: "I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
The huddled masses must come to our doors, our ports of entry, lift their light — make their case, and respectfully ask for asylum. If they have been truthful and are admitted, they are then obligated to show appreciation to this country.
That is our final shared value: simply to love and appreciate the freedoms America provides its citizens. We are free to work hard, keep the fruits of our labors, take care of ourselves and families, and become all that we are able. We have personal charity for our fellows in need.
No immigrant or citizen should want to remake America in the image of the culture they fled or to fundamentally transform it into what it was not founded to be. No one is entitled to rush our border, making their first act in this great land an act of illegality.
We must all strongly stand against open borders.
Things worth achieving, such as U.S. citizenship, college degrees, jobs, etc., cannot be demanded; they must be earned.
We Americans strive to be a good and moral people, and in this case we look to God's example. His heaven also has a gate, a door, and we must make our truthful petition prior to being allowed entrance.
There are rules for entrance to anything worthwhile.
Sylvia Bennion, Salt Lake City