Health Care Reform and Immigration: A Human Rights Issue

Health Care reform is a complex issue with many tangled webs; add immigration into the mix and it can be an explosive issue in some political circles. Both issues have competing "factual data" and mis-informed truths and, well, call it for what it is, propaganda. Bluntly, the bottom line is money; some are going to loose under reform, others will gain and they are both fighting mad to protect their interests.

While it has been difficult to make an informed and intelligent decision, health care reform should include all persons within our borders because it is an American value and dream. Health care is an evolving human rights issue; protecting and enhancing human rights are an American value. Health care is a right similar to others such: Civil Rights, Equal Opportunity, Disabled Rights, Voting Rights.

Americans have a long tradition of protecting the rights others; our cemeteries and hospitals are filled with those honorable members of our Armed Forces serve as adequate proof.

America is a diverse land of many religious expressions. Many expressions are anchored in a Christian viewpoint of existence. Health care reform is a religious issue within Christian belief, as well as, an issue found in other faith expressions. The Gospel commandment for Christians is to love another, not just some, but all, even enemies.

Politics and religion need to live side by side without one or the other becoming the dominant lifestyle. Religious issue take on a political perspective, much the same as political issues take on a religious perspective; it is a healthy debate and tension. Religious values are not the realm of religious leadership and organized institutions in great cathedrals and Sunday mass media shows; in reality, religious values are far more personal, between an individual and his or her God as well as the inseparable communal aspects.

Health care for all persons within the borders is also a common sense issue. While the path of H1N1 is still unknown, it serves as something of a wake-up call. People who are sick need to seek good medical care before a disease becomes rampant and out of control. In some ways, this common sense issue could also be viewed as a national security one.

National defense is a subject often not discussed in the health care reform debate. There are non-citizens in our Armed Forces serving the nation; there are some serving whose parents are undocumented immigrants or illegals, or whatever buzz phrase. Under an exclusionary and unnecessary heath care policy, they would be unjustly denied affordable health care.

Certainly, many political and religious leaders have worked hard to bring about health care reform, others have not. With more hard work, the questions about national security, our Armed Forces and immigration and humane procedures for illegal immigrants can be justly resolved within deep rooted American values..

We need to move forward and create the best health care system possible, one based on human rights, American principles and moral values. It's also plain common sense.