The 'I' word

WASHINGTON— Seldom, even in this wordy city, does one word dominate political life so. Here it is fall already and THAT word hovers over everything, like a crow preparing for its winged attack on some poor, hapless songbird.

It would be far better if there were several words. Indeed, writers always strive for groups of three words -- so much more graceful. But we'll get into that later.

It all started some months ago when "The Donald" first trumpeted his outcry, "IMMIGRATION." Rapists were stalking the border with Mexico, and everything was Mexico's fault. Then, a few days later, again from El Trumpo, it was Asians who were the problem.

Trump's discordant cry was that, if things go on the way they were, "we won't have a country." The masses of Americans were shocked. Indeed, from sea to shining sea, they looked around anxiously and were happy to see that they DID still have a country -- at least, so far.

As if this were not enough for the fearful, on top of Trumpmania, Pope Francis journeyed to "el Norte." Coming from "el Sur," which never liked the gringos anyway, he nevertheless had a joyful trip, inspiring people left and right -- except for those who thought that perhaps his constant use of the word "immigration" was a bit overly critical of those who built this country, because they did not admit every immigrant who applied, crept in or only wanted a better life.

Then came the case that shocked many into never wanting to hear anything about immigration problems at all. Dr. Ben Carson, the brilliant and likable neurosurgeon who is running for president, said in an interview that he would not "advocate" for anyone to vote for a Muslim for president. "I absolutely would not do that," he said.

All hell broke loose! Indeed, I have rarely seen such outrage expressed in American media as the critiques of Dr. Carson. He was prejudiced! He hated Muslims! Did he not understand the Constitution, which said there is no religious test for the office of president of the United States?

To which the good doctor has answered patiently in many interviews that he has nothing against individual Muslims, but that Islam, the religion, has among its tenets that the state and Islam are one, that Sharia law (an eye for an eye) must be the law of the land, and that Muslims must renounce these tenets to take part in a democracy.

The problem is that Dr. Carson is right. And the first lesson that we must learn in this new age -- with its new ideas about immigration -- is that not every religion or belief system in the world is naturally attuned to people ruling themselves. This is not prejudice or racism; this is common sense and historical knowledge. It is simply to have the intellect and judgment to see which human qualities adhere to which human institutions.

Is it any accident that, in a world of massive overpopulation leading to immigration, it is the Catholic groups that are fighting contraception? Is it simply by chance that there are no Christian churches or even services permitted in almost all Muslim countries and that, under Sharia law, a woman's testimony is worth a fourth of a man's? Is it not understandable that northern Europe, with its Protestant history, has the most workable democracies?

Immigration is going to increase, and threaten and torment, in the years to come. Look only at Europe this very minute to see the first act. If they are to remain coherent nation-states, countries will have to be cautious about whom they accept, even with a philosophy of love. Above all, individual Americans will have to start studying history to make the best moral and humane decisions on this enormous question -- decisions that will be best for the builders of our country, and not only for the poor suffering wanderers.

By the way, I just found those three words I mentioned before. In that first Republican presidential jamboree, Bobby Jindal voiced them: "Immigration without assimilation is invasion." Think about that.

Previously:
• 09/09/15: Generosity has its downside
• 07/15/15: Thank you, Donald Trump
• 07/01/15: Immigrant crisis tests Europe's Union
• 05/27/15: Why Iraq will continue to fall --- no matter what the West does
• 05/06/15: For Europe, generosity to turn into nightmare?
• 04/29/15: Both sides must work to end our season of killing
• 04/01/15: Our next president should be a homebody
• 03/04/15: Japan's sun poised to rise on world stage
• 01/21/15: Rumors of a new Cold War have real roots in history
• 01/21/15: It's time to be practical about multiculturalism
• 01/07/15: Tension mounts against Muslim immigration in the West

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Georgie Anne Geyer has been a foreign correspondent and commentator on international affairs for more than 40 years.