Respect the dignify of every human being?

Today I attended a press conference calling for the investigation of the November 19th Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). I listened as the panel members described really excessive force being used by the officers on unarmed folks.

Now, I'll grant you that the folks who were arrested had violated immigration laws. But does that mean they should be beat up? Before you answer, consider this, are there laws that you violate? Do you think that beating is an appropriate response even as you are being arrested, asked to sign documents that you don't understand, and then shipped off to another part of the country while you await processing?

You see, I'm not really all that law abiding when it comes to obeying speed limits. It's true. I'm good through school zones, on residential streets, and parking lots. So, if you're walking, I'll probably not scare you with my speed. However, on the Turnpike, I'm usually cruising along a few miles an hour too fast.

So, if I'm caught, what do I expect? Well, I expect a member of the Florida State Troopers to pull me over and politely ask me for my license. Then he or she will probably ask me if I know how fast I was driving. I might lie; maybe I won't. Then, he'll write me a ticket.

What I don't expect is to be handcuffed, forced to the floor, have a gun aimed at my head, and kicked in the back and face. Really, I do not expect that treatment for anyone. I expect it for absolutely No One at all under any circumstances by anyone being paid to enforce the laws of the United States of America or any of our fifty states or our possessions.

As I sat in the room and listened to the stories, I realized why I was there. It wasn't just because I'm a member of South Florida Interfaith Worker Justice. I was there because I believe what I promise at every baptism I perform or attend. These are the two last questions before the prayers for the candidates:

"Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?"

"Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?"

Every time I answer, "I will, with God's help."

To arrest, or give a citation to someone breaking a duly enacted law is respectful, so long as it is equally enforced across all of the population. But to beat up farm workers is something quite different. It is not respectful. I believe it is illegal and I hope that the perpetrators are respectfully investigated, tried if the investigation warrants, and punished as required by law.