It is now called 'the list' in the newsroom and everyone knows what it means. By now, you have heard that someone sent out a list of more than one thousand people who may or may not be illegal immigrants. The list was a surprise, but did we really need it? No.
It would be extremely difficult to go to every address on the list and ask about the legal status of everyone on it. We did go by a few places and yes, the people we spoke to are here illegally. But did we need a list to tell us this? No.
Did we really need a list to tell us that this is an issue that has a dozen points of views as well as moral issues? No.
Did we need a list to tell us that illegal immigration benefits and burdens our society? No.
Did we need the list to tell us there is no "one size fits all" solution? No.
Did we need a list to demonstrate the level of frustration some people feel about the issue? No.
Did we need the list to understand the term illegal alien refers to thousands, but often deals with a real person and a real family? No.
I certainly don't have the answers - that's why I am waiting for list that doesn't contain names, but contains solutions.
