As the Gulf oil spill disaster wreaks havoc on our Eastern shoreline, high unemployment plagues our populace, and a crippling deficit tugs on our purse strings, immigration reform advocates have grown skeptical of the potential to pass legislation this year. Yesterday, however, our hopes were revived by President Obama's speech on the country's pressing need for comprehensive immigration reform.

One of the greatest strength's of the address, President Obama's shrewd and succinct homage to America's fraught immigration history highlighted the tradition of contentiousness surrounding this issue. "Our founding," he asserted, "was rooted in the notion that America was unique as a place of refuge and freedom for, in Thomas Jefferson's words, 'oppressed humanity.' But the ink on our Constitution was barely dry when, amidst conflict, Congress passed the Alien and Sedition Acts, which placed harsh restrictions on those suspected of having foreign allegiances. A century ago, immigrants from...European countries were routinely subjected to rank discrimination and ugly stereotypes. Chinese immigrants were held in detention and deported..."  President Obama struck a strategic pedagogical tone in this speech, aiming to tackle one of the greatest pitfalls of the immigration debate - misconception.

Employing de-politicized terminology, the President referred to "undocumented workers" and "illegal immigrants" rather than pandering to the anti-immigrant community with the dehumanizing rhetoric of "aliens" and "illegals."  This speech was notable for its balanced explanation of both sides of the immigration debate as well as the basic tenets of comprehensive reform.  In a marked departure from earlier enforcement-heavy language, President Obama justified why a path to citizenship and realistic plans for future flow were inextricable elements to curbing illegal immigration.

Answering those who cite a moral imperative and call for blanket amnesty, the President stressed respect for the rule of law and the millions of people around the world "waiting in line to come here legally."  On the other side, Obama struck down the enforcement-only approach, upholding our history as a nation fueled by immigrants, the sanctity of family unity, and the logistical impossibility of deporting the eleven million people living in the country without legal status.  His point was clear - we must meet in the middle.

This was a speech about education, not politics.  There was no call to action, no drastic gesture made on either side of the issue; the President laid all the cards on the table for us, the American populace, to consider and hopefully respond.  He did challenge the Republicans, stating, "I'm ready to move forward, the majority of Democrats are ready to move forward and I believe the majority of Americans are waiting to move forward. But the fact is, without bipartisan support...we cannot solve this problem. Reform... cannot pass without Republican votes."

The "pettiness of politics" was a recurring theme throughout yesterday's speech, as the President stressed the imperative to take ownership of our most polemical issues instead of "kick[ing] the can down the road."  Speaking prudently of the anti-immigrant law passed in Arizona - against which the Department of Justice will soon file suit - Obama took responsibility, acknowledging that the government's failure to act led the state legislature to take matters into its own hands. It was this subject which inspired the most resonating statement of the entire address.

Reasoning against the anti-immigrant sentiment motivating Arizona's law, Obama reminded us that "being an American is not a matter of blood or birth. It's a matter of faith. It's a matter of fidelity to the shared values that we all hold so dear. That's what makes us unique. That's what makes us strong. Anybody can help us write the next great chapter in our history."

Yesterday, the President handed us a pen and paper; now it's time to write history.  Email your Senators urging them to support comprehensive immigration reform.  America's narrative is ours to author, when you look back, will you be proud of what's written?

+Ask the U.S. Senate to pass national immigration reform this year.

Originally posted at the Religious Action Center.

Juliana Schnur

Juliana Schnur is an Eisendrath Legislative Assistant at the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. She is a graduate of New York University.