Whether or not to provide medical services to illegal immigrants has become a contentious political issue. But underneath isn’t it more than politics? Some may say it’s one of social justice, and it is that. But couldn’t it be an issue even more fundamental? Could it be a matter of compassion, or as some might prefer to call it love or even charity? If so, what would compassion/love/charity direct us to do if a pregnant mother from Mexico here without papers was in labor and had a problem delivery? Would it direct us to let her or the baby die? Would it guide us to give care to a young worker who looked he might have swine flu? How about an elderly person here for years whose illegal status managed to be undetected and who suddenly shows signs of a heart attack, how would compassion suggest we act, what course would it map out for us?