When I was growing up, moving from one country to another was not a very difficult thing. Yes, you needed to get a visa, and a residency permit, but these were not impossible to come by. We lived in Mexico, in France, in Australia, New Zealand, and Canada before returning to the United States in 1991. It was no big deal. I had a student visa or a work permit in every country, and while in Canada became a dual citizen.
Things are no longer like this. We can describe and explain global migration patterns in the 21st century, connecting these patterns with war, conflict, and ecological degradation. What most people do not understand is that the desertification of the Middle East was not inevitable and is not irreversible. Ecological degradation is the source of much conflict, as populations are driven out of regions through lack of resources.
So what should humane and intelligent immigration policies ideally look like? Continue reading “What Should an Intelligent and Humane Immigration Policy Actually Look Like?”
It should go without saying that our moral responsibility as citizens is to oppose tyranny in all its forms. Whether tyranny comes cloaked in nationalism, religious extremism, authoritarian populism, or corporate power, it corrodes the foundations of a free and just society. Standing against it is not just a matter of political opinion—it is an ethical obligation. But how we stand up matters. Our response must be measured, effective, and directed toward positive outcomes, even when the path forward is uncertain or fraught with risk.