In my case, I really began studying American history in the 4th grade in the US Virgin Islands, under the tutelage of nuns at a Catholic School. Yes, I was smarter than a 5th grader when it came to American history and English. Although not an American at that time, I learned to appreciate the unique place of America in world history, and was determined that one day, I would live on the US mainland. Now we learn that the “path to citizenship” could be as cheap as paying a fine for the equivalent of a misdemeanor. This, after using the GPS provided by your home country, in what is said to be a deliberate exportation of the poor of certain countries, and taking up residence in the new country, without the benefit of informing that country of its new illegal “residents”?

The befuddlement and bewilderment kick in when trying to understand why a country now 233 years old, still finds securing its own borders, a much more difficult task than facing Germany and Japan in World War II. Maybe Germany and Japan should have “exported” half of their population instead of fighting with guns, planes and ships, in order to assure victory for themselves. Both major political parties have been blamed for not securing the borders of the country. The Democrats are said to want “ready-made voters,” lured by free stuff. Republicans have the rap of wanting cheap labor for their business buddies. In general, American citizens are said to need those here illegally to do “the jobs that Americans won’t do.”

I suppose that I should make my own confession here. I have lent a helping hand to a family made up of half born in the US and half born in another country. Mother and Father took advantage of the US “open borders” (unspoken and unofficial) policy and imported themselves and their kids. They continued to have children, while “living in the shadows,” and now have a “hybrid family.” I have given them a few dollars here and there, and given them empty bottles which they collect. My rationale is that if the Federal Government does not care about the country being invaded, why should I hold myself above the level of the Federal Government? I am but one citizen – powerless. My lone finger in that dyke of uninvited guests, would more likely result in my finger breaking. I know that I am exposing myself to persecution – not from the family, but from my own government. Yes, we American citizens find ourselves in a strange position of having to obey every minute, obscure, idiotic law, or we will be “prosecuted to the full extent of the law.” Foreigners who break US laws? Not so much.

So why are many leaders, of both major political parties, so averse to protecting the supposedly sovereign borders of the country they claim as their own? It is rather odd this persistence in maintaining a state of inaction. Why? That is probably the cry of the souls brutally murdered, with not even a pretense of justice for them. My totally unscientific thesis is that the US is made up of about three categories of citizen leaders. There are those who love money more than God, family and country, and if any one of those three normal recipients of fealty and love, gets in the way of the acquisition of that “In God we trust” currency, no brainer – the currency wins every time. Adios, God, family and country – in no particular order. There are the “useful idiots,” who can be manipulated by a 5th grader, even a 4th grader, and can be persuaded that selling out their country for the “ideology” du jour, does supersede any consideration of patriotism and sovereignty of the US. The third group consists of those who are smart enough to realize the exceptional, unique treasure that they are blessed to lead, and realize that we tend to treasure the things that we work to achieve, not just have handed to us. That could have changed since we have become such an entitlement nation, but I suspect that it still holds true for the vast majority of the American people.

Can the same be said of most of our leaders? I would not bet my life on any such assumption. I would probably lose. Those leaders who value their country and do try to do what is best to preserve it, are looked upon as freaks, are made to suffer personal denigration and demoralization, in a very public manner. They are given a full body scan of public scrutiny, while others in similar positions, can get away with murder, and may have, with nary a byline written. It takes a strong man or woman to stand up to a few hundred power-hungry fellow leaders, and their sycophants, and not be finally worn down by the constant barrage of unwarranted attacks.

We lowly citizens should know. We are daily on the receiving end. Even when we emulate the Founding Fathers, in clutching for freedom, by protesting in a peaceful way, we get called vile names by members of our own government. In the eyes of some of those leaders who make the imperial emperor of any totalitarian nation, look like a slacker, we are the enemy. The fastest route to being labeled a “right wing fanatic/potential domestic terrorist” is to work and pay your taxes, love your country, even more worthy of indictment is to obey God, and dare to speak out against government abuses. And, the naked emperors are doing all of this name calling while riding around in the expensive jets, cars, and boats that we the ATMs (American Taxpayer Machines), provide. Talk about rubbing salt in an open (financial) wound!

Well, after witnessing one more death of a fellow Arizonan, legislators acted. The recriminations have been unleashed. The president of the US weighed in, on the side of the illegals. His attorney General has promised legal action to be taken against Arizona. San Francisco, also known as Sanctuary City , promised swift retribution. A former Florida governor stated his displeasure. Out of the shadow..into the streets?...big weekend rallies are planned to protest the Arizona law. Baseball and tourism are in the mix in the ostracizing of Arizona. It would seem that California has enough on its plate with the third highest unemployment in the nation, to not be involved in the affairs of Arizona. Those California legislators who moved with such alacrity, may want move as quickly in trying to stem the tide of businesses deserting the state. What would be a an effective tongue lashing without the usual Hitler comparison? Even Arizona Iced Tea got caught up in boycott fever. It turns out that this beverage is made in NYC. Should the name be changed to New York Ice Tea? Doesn’t quite have that ring, huh? Have a cold one, boycotters.

Those who are condemning the leaders of Arizona for taking steps to protect that state, have never walked a border mile in the shoes of Arizonans, especially those who live close to the border. Ask the family of the latest victim, Mr. Robert Krentz, about the price he paid. It can safely be assumed that the vast majority of illegals, although lawbreakers by virtue of coming across the border uninvited, are non-violent and are escaping from the class system of their countries of origin, in order to make a living. But, a sizeable number are lawbreakers, committing crimes including murder, rape, and robbery. Ask the family of Jameel Shaw here in California.

In a way, we of the non-ruling class, including many of the illegals, are victims of amoral and immoral leaders of both this country and the countries that have made exportation of their citizens, a deliberate financial strategy to enhance their national budgets, with the monies sent from the US to the home countries. If the goal is to downgrade the US to the economic level of these third world countries, it is working spectacularly. The US has sold itself to China, while nationals of just one country, annually ship home anywhere from $18 to $23 billion gleaned from the US.

It is sad to see Americans pitted against Americans, in a situation that should be pretty clear cut. The majority of Americans want to know who is in their country. The situation with illegals supposedly “hiding in the shadows,” while openly marching in the streets, for their “rights,” should end. Many of them who hit the streets of the US in protest, do not have the “right” to even protest in their own countries, where indeed they should have rights. People who are here illegally should not have access to government services, as they apparently do now. Many of the foreign nationals get free food, housing, schooling for their kids, and health care, among other benefits from their “host” country, while many Americans sleep on sidewalks. Some of the illegals are more versed in working the “system” than folks who have the legal right to be here. The path to legal residence should be made much less onerous. It is as if the again unspoken message is, “we prefer this process to continue to be mired in illegality, so we will make it very difficult for you to dare to do this legally.”

Legal scholar that I am not, I am going to rely on this article by attorney Walter Moore, who made it pretty clear that Arizona’s new law is not going outside the boundary of “reasonable suspicion” in determining if a person should be stopped for questioning. Of course, such reasoning is not going to stop those who love to blame Americans for everything under the sun, and who love to pull out the “racist” tag, from shouting from the hilltops that people of Hispanic ethnicity will be hauled out of their cars and questioned. Aren’t illegals from just about every nation under the sun? A family that traveled from Mexico to buy ice cream in Phoenix, will be hauled from the local Baskin Robbins for questioning? Sure that is a surreal excuse for being caught on the streets of Phoenix, but it is just as rational as the immigration “policy,” currently in force, or more accurately, not being enforced. One of the drafters of Arizona S.B. 1070 , Kris Kobach, lays out his case. I rest my case.

Those who want to punish Arizonans for taking a stand, may find that those of us who want to see the sovereignty of the US preserved, who do not like to be labeled “United States of Suckers,” (for picking up the tab for all and sundry), who admire folks with guts, even if no glory is the reward – will pick up the slack. A friend suggested that we should all visit Arizona to show our support. Speaking from the perspective of an immigrant, it is the fact that at least one state government is willing to risk doing the right thing by trying to enforce the laws that the Federal government should be enforcing – that is what is commendable. It is validation that I chose the correct path to citizenship. What was this state government to do? Continue watching its citizens mowed down on their own properties, pull a Nero and fiddle while Arizona burns? The murder of rancher Mr. Krentz did it for me, as did the murder of Jameel Shaw.

There is a certain synergy in the confluence of stars aligned against Arizona. Many of the protestors do not even bother to pretend that their first allegiance is to this country, the US, from which they take and take. Their foremost allegiance is to their country of ancestry. It is the same old “comprehensive” crowd. When they say “comprehensive,” my brain translates it to mean “you citizen suckers, we are going to pass a law that will adversely affect you, and for which you will pay, whether you like it or want to – or not.” I especially like to hear when they say that “this is a nation of laws.” It sure is – if you are an American citizen.

Let the lovers of illegality keep financially raping American citizens, and maybe American citizens will invade those countries who are exporting their citizens to the US. No, this will not be invasion with Military forces. It will be “invasion” by one family, one beach condo at a time. Once there is strength in numbers, then the demand will be made that things are done the “American way,” in, (insert name of whatever country). Don’t send any remittances to America though. Have remittances sent to you, in your new home, which replaced your usual home. Try inflicting some of the bleeding of that nation’s resources, yourself. It feels nice to be on the receiving end, doesn’t it?