“Those who don’t know history, are doomed to repeat it!”  Though variations of this statement have been attributed to numerous individuals, this exact wording came from the pen of Edmund Burke.  Regardless of who said it, or restated it, the truth in it is timeless!

One of the great tragedies of our time is that we no longer know (nor are most of our young people taught) the truth of the past.  Such is the case with all too soon forgotten legislation from our recent history.  Consider the “Immigration And Nationality Act of 1952.”  Passed on June 27 of that year, and for the purpose of preventing communists from entering the country, the actual text of the act is beyond applicable to today’s dangerous Islamic immigration and refugee situation!  The text of section 313 states:

(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 405(b) , no person shall hereafter be naturalized as a citizen of the United States-

— who advocates or teaches, or who is a member of or affiliated with any organization that advocates or teaches, opposition to all organized government; or 3) who, although not within any of the other provisions of this section, advocates … the establishment in the United States of a totalitarian dictatorship, or who is a member of or affiliated with any organization that advocates the economic, international, and governmental doctrines of world communism or the establishment in the United States of a totalitarian dictatorship, either through its own utterances or through any written or printed publications issued or published by or with the permission or consent of or under authority of such organizations or paid for by the funds of such organization; or

— who advocates or teaches or who is a member of or affiliated with any organization that advocates or teaches (A) the overthrow by force or violence or other unconstitutional means of the Government of the United States or of all forms of law; or (B) the duty, necessity, or propriety of the unlawful assaulting or of officers or killing of any officer or officers (either of specific individuals or of officers generally) of the Government of the United States or of any other organized government because of his or their official character; or (C) the unlawful damage, injury, or destruction of property; or (D) sabotage; or

— who writes or publishes or causes to be written or published, or who knowingly circulates, distributes, prints, or displays, or knowingly causes to be circulated, distributed, printed, published, or displayed or who knowingly has in his possession for the purpose of circulation, publication, distribution, or display, any written or printed matter, advocating or teaching opposition to all organized government, or advocating (A) the overthrow by force, violence, or other unconstitutional means of the Government of the United States or of all forms of law; or (B) the duty, necessity, or propriety of the unlawful assaulting or killing of any officer or officers (either of specific individuals or of officers generally) of the Government of the United States or of any other organized government, because of his or their official character; or (C) the unlawful damage, injury, or destruction of property; or (D) sabotage; or (E) the economic, international, and governmental doctrines of world communism or the establishment in the United States of a totalitarian dictatorship; or

— who is a member of or affiliated with any organization, that writes, circulates, distributes, prints, publishes, or displays, or causes to be written, circulated, distributed, printed, published, or displayed, or that has in its possession for the purpose of circulation, distribution, publication, issue, or display, any written or printed matter of the character described in subparagraph (5). 

I’ve highlighted in bold the most appropriate portions!  In 1952, there was, obviously, no problem with excluding dangerous persons (and jihadists posing as refugees or immigrants definitely fits this description) from entrance into the United States!  Nor, was the “Christian” community up in arms over the exclusion of said dangerous individuals from the United States!  So, what has changed in the 63 years since the passing of this bill?  America has become a more secular nation and the church has become the same.

So far removed from Biblical and constitutional truth are we, that caution is now deemed controversial and reasonableness is now called a rejection of our “values!”  No, exercising common sense and waiting to let unknown individuals into the country (until they can be legitimately and thoroughly vetted) is neither unconstitutional, un-compassionate,  nor un-Christian!!!  in 1952, we simply called it WISDOM!

Dave Kistler
President, HOPE Ministries International
President, North Carolina Pastors Network (NCPN)
Co-host, Stand In The Gap Radio