Commentary: Doing the right thing a moral, not political judgement

It doesn’t take an act by the Oklahoma State Legislature to know it’s wrong to steal. Nor do we need a gubernatorial proclamation that lying, cheating on your spouse or killing someone are not the best of ideas.

Because, long before members of the Oklahoma House and Senate convened in their marble chambers at 23rd and Lincoln there were rules of conduct.

The Bible’s 10 commandments were a pretty good start.

From there, society was given the “Golden Rule” — based on Matthew 7:12. “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”

That simple idea has been the basis for our modern concept of human rights since the time of Christ.

But right now it’s taking it on the chin.

Especially here in Oklahoma.

With state Representative Randy Terrill’s anti-immigrant bill now law, Oklahoma has set aside its moral principals and, in the process, lost its humanity.

Terrill’s recent blast at the Oklahoma Health Care Authority is the perfect example: Terrill criticized the OHCA for allowing women who may or may not be in the country illegally — but who will be giving birth to a United States citizen — to offer treatment to the mother and the child.

In story after story, Terrill called the move “an attempt, by tugging at the heart strings, to backdoor an expansion of government-run health care.”

Terrill went on to say that we “cannot allow Oklahoma to subsidize illegal activity” and the OCHA’s action “would encourage other women to illegally cross the U.S. border.”

He added that the proposal creates a “slippery slope” and called on the OHCA board members to withdraw the proposal.
Thankfully the OCHA passed the rule 6-1 and Gov. Henry signed it.

But what seems lost over this ongoing, almost vitriolic debate over illegal immigration is our collective humanity. An attitude that — for decades — would inspire one Oklahoman to help a neighbor — no questions asked.

We have survived Dust Bowls, tornadoes and terrorists. We have suffered and seen thousands of strangers ride to our defense. And we have done the same for others. Those simple facts has always made me smile.

But now, we’ve embraced the god of Mean.

Now, we have taken the Golden Rule and, in one legislative act, thrown it away.

Today, thousands of our fellow humans, living here now, live in fear.

Today, we have declared war on a race of people simply because of language as “legal status.”

We’ve forgotten the fact that these people — whatever that status, skin color or country of origin — are our brethren.
Like us, they too bleed red.

And like us, they, too, are human.

When Rep. Terrill first offered his immigration proposal, I questioned the idea. I said it was mean spirited.

I still believe that, today.

And since that first column ran, more and more people have done the same. Several state lawmakers had the courage to ask Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson whether the idea was sound.

Others are planning legal challenges.

Many have protested.

Good.

Because when you finally get through all the politics, the rhetoric and the blizzard of press releases, what you have in this legislation is simply, a lack of compassion and humanity.

There has been no “come let us reason together” and regretfully, few members of the faith community have stood in opposition.

That, too, is a sad statement about our current social climate.

Oklahomans don’t need advice from members of the legislature on how to do the right thing.
We simply need to act.