Walkng a fine (border) line

Last week the state of Arizona passed a law that, among other things, would require police to check the immigration status of anyone they believe is in the country illegally. Obviously, this has created a huge uproar; as pretty much everything does these days. Not much gets done anymore for the simple reason that our politicians are terrified that some lunatic is going to be on a street corner with a sign condemning the decision.


President Obama, who made a campaign pledge to tackle immigration issues early in his presidency, has come out against the law, calling it “misguided” and asking members of his administration to monitor the actions of the state for potential “civil rights” violations. The main thing he got right on this subject was his suggestion that it is the federal government’s “failure to act” which has caused Arizona to pass the new legislation.


Illegal immigration is a serious problem in our country and growing more serious with each passing year. Despite the creation of the Department of Homeland Security and talks of a more secure border, the floodgates continue broadening and our cities and towns are drowning under the surge. Arizona has an estimated 460,000 illegal immigrants, with 700 miles of border available for crossing.


Despite the fact that entering the United States without proper documentation is itself a crime, there are additional crimes associated with this problem. Unable to legally purchase a car or car insurance, many use cash to buy their transportation and then drive the same roads as law abiding citizens, without insurance or understanding of specific laws.


Salaries are paid in cash, with no taxes paid, yet public services are shared like any other citizen, including education and hospital services. There are currently approximately five million children of illegal aliens in our nation’s schools, yet budgets are being cut and teachers are being let go because we don’t have the money to fund them. Meanwhile, an estimated 29 billion dollars has been wired back to Mexico in the last five years.


Not all who cross our border are looking for work or a better life for their family. Some are escaping prosecution in their native land and bring their criminal behavior with them to the U.S. Federal investigators believe that in 2005 alone, as much as 2.2 million kilograms of cocaine and 11.6 kilograms of marijuana were smuggled into the United States. Drug Cartels in Mexico and South America use gangs in our country to distribute their product and siphon the money back to them.


In response to Arizona’s new law, protesters are arguing that “profiling” will take place and “civil rights” will be abused. I hate to say it, but they are probably right about the profiling. It’s something that’s done every day by everyone, even the most liberal minded. We make snap judgments about people based on the way the look. It’s not one of our more attractive human traits.


We see a homeless person and we assume that they are either dangerous or lazy. We see a blond cheerleader and we assume that she is not very intelligent. We see someone of Middle Eastern appearance get on a plane and we keep our eye on them. We find ourselves in a “bad” section of town and assume that every person is a criminal and out to get us. We “profile.”


So, is it right that anyone who looks Mexican or a Latin American will be profiled as a potential illegal immigrant? Absolutely not. It’s not in the least bit fair that legal American citizens will be asked to produce a Drivers License or other documentation to prove that they are supposed to be here. But, there’s a lot in life that’s not fair. My question is, “does it really infringe upon the quality of their life or their rights as a U.S. citizen to be asked to provide identification?”   I am not so sure it does. 


There is no way to know who is legal and who is not without asking for documentation. Does that mean it should not be done? I am sure a lot of very intelligent people have debated ways to solve this problem and it really comes down to somebody having the authority to ask the question and view the proof.


I know it’s easy for me to say, “Deal with it.” I am a white male who has only had to deal with discrimination or profiling by people who think I eat too many donuts. I keep asking myself how I would feel if I was a Latino citizen of the United States who is expected to produce documentation at the whim of any police officer who sees me walk or drive by. Would I be happy about it? No, I’m sure I would not. But would I accept it as part of a solution to a much bigger problem? I hope so.


Of course, the biggest protests revolve around the notion of Civil Rights.   Boycotts of Arizona are being organized and petitions are being signed.   I've heard the evil phrase "Nazi state" mentioned.   The grandstands are full of people furious and disgusted at the horror surely to come.

Honestly though, I think it's fairly offensive to compare the "asking for identification" to some of atrocities that have occured in our nation and planet's past.   This is not racial or ethnic segregation or discrimination.  There are no “back of the bus” motives. American citizens will not be taken off to camps or forced into separate schools. Show your Identification and move on.  Only those who are breaking the law will be affected beyond that request.

I know it could easily get out of control.  There needs to be strong governence to make sure that the identification requests are handled delicately and with respect.  Anyone found abusing this law should be dealt with quickly and firmly.

But while we wait for a flashing sign to magically appear over the head of those in this country illegally, can anyone think of a better way?   Let's not lose sight of that essential truth:  If you are in our country without legal documentation, you are breaking the law.  

I have been stopped numerous times at road blocks, where I am asked for my license and if I’ve been drinking. The officers always lean in close enough to smell if I am lying, no matter how trustworthy and innocent I look. I am profiled for being in a car, because some people don't know that it's not only illegal but dangerous and stupid to drink and drive, but it’s the price I pay for safety on the road. I don’t mind.


Every time I go to the airport, I am required to remove my shoes, take off my jacket, place my laptop in a bin by itself, and stand patiently while a transportation security officer examines my driver’s license to see if I look the same as my picture. Most days I do, but I still have a second or two of worry that they will pull me aside and say, “You don’t really weigh that!”


Do I complain that I am treated like a terrorist every single time I fly just because some idiot tried to set his shoe on fire? No, I don’t, because it’s price I pay to be a citizen and fly safely. I don’t mind.


My suggestion to those who are upset that they might be required to present their driver’s license or proof of citizenship just because a policeman thinks they are illegal? Grin and bear it. If you have nothing to hide, you’ll be fine. Don’t be defensive, be legal.


Of course, Arizona shouldn’t have had to pass this law. And most likely it will be either overturned or watered down to the point that it is not going to be an issue anyway.   The best thing about it's passage is it might well force our federal government to act on Immigration Reform.  

Congress and politicians have fought over details and tiptoed around the question of civil rights for so long, I think they started thinking that the problem would simply go away.  It has not, and without action it will only continue to get worse.  Hard decisions must be made and action must be taken. It is time that the President and Congress do something:


• Develop a realistic “amnesty” program for illegal immigrants who are in this country and trying to work and provide for their families. (This amnesty should come with probation and a tax system so they pay like the rest of us).


• Make it easier to become a citizen (many are here illegally because of the bureaucracy involved in achieving citizen status).


• Crack down on the borders (spend some stimulus dollars there; build walls, increase patrols, ask smart people outside of the government what can be done)


• Support the states, don’t hinder them. Border States are the first line of defense, yet they pay the highest price in crime and economics.


• Hold Mexico and other nations accountable for their part of the problem.


• Hit the street gangs hard. Consider them internal terrorists and treat them as such. Stop the flow of drugs into our country and the flow of money out.


• Crack down on employers of illegals and those who sell them cars, guns or alcohol without proper documentation.


• Develop strict laws on enforcement behavior to ensure the rights of legal citizens are not abused. Further, make sure illegal immigrants that are apprehended are treated with respect and courtesy until a course of action is identified.


None of this should be considered a slap in the face to our many fine LEGAL immigrants. Let’s face it, with the exception of the Native Americans, all of us are immigrants. Our nation was founded on the basis of growth and new beginnings. We should never hinder that. But there has to be a legal process to follow, and we can’t continue to ignore the fact that our laws are being broken daily by the very presence of illegal immigrants.

Blame Game

I was in Wal-Mart the other day, stocking up on travel supplies, when I encountered a young man on the aisle where shaving and hair products were located. While I checked prices on various shampoos and paid him little mind, his wife or significant other arrived with a cart.


“Look at this,” he said, and held out some kind of razor kit to her. The anger in his voice was obvious, and I thought for a minute that he was upset with her for some reason. He shook the package in her face, “Thirteen dollars!”

She nodded her head in agreement, something I believe she has to do a lot and said, “That’s pretty high.”

“I used to could get these for six or seven dollars,” he said, in disgust. Then he added, “Thank you, Mr. Obama!”

I almost laughed. If not for the fact that he looked and acted like the kind of guy who liked to kick puppies for fun, I would have. It was almost like watching a Saturday Night Live skit about stupid people, but then I realized that this really shouldn’t have been funny. When I had time to think about it, what he said was both a little bit scary and pathetically sad because this man actually walks among us, breathing our air and taking up space in the checkout line. He and his anger are on the road when I and my family are. He also has the ability to procreate.

Now, don’t get me wrong, if you want to get upset with the current President over the jobless rate, Health Care Reform, taxes or his stance on foreign affairs, then by all means, you have a right to your opinion. I might not agree with you on all your points, but that’s okay. Let’s have a reasonable, respectful discussion and then go get some coffee.

But when someone blames the President for the price of a razor, I think he has some serious issues. First and foremost, he’s an idiot. He might not be able to do anything about that, because he was probably born that way. Unfortunately, there is no cure, and no amount of logic can persuade him otherwise. He is probably a miserably unhappy person who goes through life looking for someone to blame. In the case of the razor, he would have been wiser to be upset with Mr. Gillette, but I got the impression that everything wrong in this man’s life was now being blamed on Barack Hussein Obama (accent on the “Hussein”).

Second, and more bothersome, he’s likely not alone in this train of thought. There are a lot of unhappy people in this world who don’t want to accept responsibility for any of their failings and look for a big target to pin all their troubles on. We end up seeing some of these people in news stories, being described by the neighbors as “quiet” and “kept to themselves.”

This kind of “blame game” goes on with every president. There were idiots on the left who blamed every single problem in the world on George W. Bush. They were just as wrong as this Wal-Mart half-wit. I didn’t agree with a lot of what Bush did, but he had neither the power nor capability to either improve or destroy every component of my life. Same goes for Barack Obama.

Do I think that $13 is high for a package of razors? You bet (that’s another reason why I started growing a beard). But anyone with any common sense knows that pretty much all the “stuff” we buy has been going up in price for a long, long time. I hate to say it, but that’s what “capitalism” is all about: making more money. It doesn’t mean that we ALL make more money, but someone does. While we don’t have to be happy about it, we at least have to be realistic.

Unless we’re an idiot.