Law Day 2010 Sample Op-Ed
Example 2 Migration Theme
Law in the 21st Century: Enduring Traditions, Emerging Challenges is the theme for Law
Day 2010. When he established Law Day on May 1, 1958, as “a day of national dedication to the principle of government under law,” President Dwight Eisenhower sought to highlight and honor, for all Americans, our enduring legal culture.
Every year on May 1, Americans celebrate Law Day. Law Day is an opportunity for all Americans to reflect on the rule of law and the foundations of our legal system. It’s a time to celebrate the rich history of our judicial system and a time to consider its future in this rapidly changing world.
Migration, for instance, has been a constant feature of human history. The 21st century, however, has brought new and challenging dimensions to our understanding of mobile populations and human migration. Migration has become a hotly contested issue, characterized by an enormous difference of views and objectives. In a global era, matters such as human rights and human migration become not just international issues, but shared concerns.
Today, over 130 million people live, temporarily or permanently, outside their country of origin, according to United Nations figures. Hundreds of millions more have been displaced within their countries of origin.
Migration takes on new meaning in the contemporary world. It concerns issues such as refugees, torture, extraordinary rendition; privacy and the retention of personal data; human rights’ protection and international security concerns.
In our own country, how do we solve the law enforcement and humanitarian dilemma posed by the roughly 12 million people living and working here without legal status? How do we ensure that enforcement enhances national security and community safety in a way that upholds due process protections? How do we manage future “flows” to satisfy workforce needs and address economic concerns of native workers and depressed wages? How do we ensure that immigration policy supports families, our values, and the society we wish to be?
On May 1, the ______(insert name of organization) encourages everyone to discuss these important issues and to reflect on the broader meaning of the Law Day theme, Law in the 21st Century: Enduring Traditions, Emerging Challenges. Organize or attend a Law Day event in your community, or simply discuss these important topics with your family, peers or colleagues.
[Insert a brief description about your organization with a website or phone number for readers to find out more information about your Law Day event.]
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