The Inheritance of Freedom

Are they dead that yet speak louder than we can speak, and a more universal language?  Are they dead that yet act?  Are they dead that yet move upon society and inspire the people with nobler motives and more heroic patriotism?  — Henry Ward Beecher

    
          On this Memorial Day weekend, I take the opportunity to pause and reflect on the supreme sacrifices of those men and women who have given their lives so that we may be free.  From the brave warriors who fought in the Revolutionary War to gain our independence and freedom to those U.S. forces currently fighting the war on terror in Afghanistan and Iraq, I pay tribute to those heroic Americans who have given all to their country.  Our armed forces and their families deserve our gratitude not just on a holiday created to honor the fallen, but every day; their willingness to fight and die to protect country and liberty is an ever-present reminder that freedom is not free.  The very privilege I have to be able to freely express my opinions on this blog site was bought with the blood of those who stormed the beaches of Normandy, charged on Cemetery Ridge at Gettysburg, and the Marines who fought Japanese artillery to raise our flag atop Mount Suribachi at Iwo Jima.  In the name of democracy, these same veterans have fought to uphold a common freedom across the globe and defended foreign nations from oppression and despotism.

          At this juncture in history in which I observe the bulwark of our liberties, the Constitution, being ignored, trampled upon, and stretched to fit political agendas, I vow that I will do all in my power to stand alongside those Americans who love and fight for this great country and the freedoms for which our proud flag stands.  Our union is never more than a generation from the brink of dissolution, nor our freedoms secure from the strong-arm of tyranny.  The inheritance of freedom will stand as a testament to our veterans' memories long after the engraved stones bearing witness to their heroism fade.  

          Though it is our Creator who endows liberty, it is our veterans and those currently serving who have preserved it here on earth.  The Bible teaches that the greatest love a man can possess is the willingness to lay down his life for his friends, and this holiday is a reminder of that love and sacrifice, the most important of which came on the cross some two-thousand years ago.

In loving memory of my grandfather Everett Gosnell, WWII veteran, who returned from the war to lead a quiet, virtuous life dedicated to his family and the land he loved

~Elf

Hypocrisy, Thy Name is Mexico

Over the course of President Obama's tenure in office, one of the prevailing criticisms of his administration has been that's he's attempting to make us more like Europe.  On the issue of immigration, however, I'd like to see him mirror Mexico.  Mexican President Felipe Calderon has been an outspoken critic of the Arizona law, impugning it as "the criminalization of migration" which "far from contribut[es] to collaboration and cooperation between Mexico and the state of Arizona."  While no one solicited his opinion, his intrusion raises an interesting contrast between Mexico and the United States.  Ironically, Mexico's laws on immigration and their enforcement thereof, stand in sharp contrast to that of the United States.  Mexico ensures that its immigrants are legal, not burdensome, have the means to sustain themselves financially, are of upstanding moral character, and can contribute to the general good of society:

·  Foreigners are admitted into Mexico “according to their possibilities of contributing to national progress.” (Article 32)

·  Immigration officials must “ensure” that “immigrants will be useful elements for the country and that they have the necessary funds for their sustenance” and for their dependents. (Article 34)

·  Foreigners may be barred from the country if their presence upsets “the equilibrium of the national demographics,” when foreigners are deemed detrimental to “economic or national interests,” when they do not behave like good citizens in their own country, when they have broken Mexican laws, and when “they are not found to be physically or mentally healthy.” (Article 37)

·  The secretary of Governance may “suspend or prohibit the admission of foreigners when he determines it to be in the national interest.” (Article 38)

·  Federal, local and municipal police must cooperate with federal immigration authorities upon request, i.e., to assist in the arrests of illegal immigrants. (Article 73)

·  A National Population Registry keeps track of “every single individual who comprises the population of the country,” and verifies each individual’s identity. (Articles 85 and 86)

·  A national Catalog of Foreigners tracks foreign tourists and immigrants (Article 87), and assigns each individual with a unique tracking number (Article 91).Foreigners with fake papers, or who enter the country under false pretenses, may be imprisoned:

·  Foreigners with fake immigration papers may be fined or imprisoned. (Article 116)

·  Foreigners who sign government documents “with a signature that is false or different from that which he normally uses” are subject to fine and imprisonment. (Article 116)

·  Foreigners who fail to obey the rules will be fined, deported, and/or imprisoned as felons:

·  Foreigners who fail to obey a deportation order are to be punished. (Article 117)

·  Foreigners who are deported from Mexico and attempt to re-enter the country without authorization can be imprisoned for up to 10 years. (Article 118)

·  Foreigners who violate the terms of their visa may be sentenced to up to six years in prison (Articles 119, 120 and 121). Foreigners who misrepresent the terms of their visa while in Mexico — such as working without a permit — can also be imprisoned.Under Mexican law, illegal immigration is a felony.

·  “A penalty of up to two years in prison and a fine of three hundred to five thousand pesos will be imposed on the foreigner who enters the country illegally.” (Article 123)

·  Foreigners with legal immigration problems may be deported from Mexico instead of being imprisoned. (Article 125) 

·  Foreigners who “attempt against national sovereignty or security” will be deported. (Article 126)Mexicans who help illegal aliens enter the country are themselves considered criminals under the law.

·  A Mexican who marries a foreigner with the sole objective of helping the foreigner live in the country is subject to up to five years in prison. (Article 127)

·  Shipping and airline companies that bring undocumented foreigners into Mexico will be fined. (Article 132)

These principles are exactly what our immigration policies for legal immigrants are designed to do, except no one in Washington desires to enforce them, whether for far-left Utopian ideals or for fear of offending the legal Hispanic voting block.  Immigrants to Mexico who violate their visa statuses or the terms of their entries into the country do not simply face the proverbial slap on the wrist; they are fined, deported, and often imprisoned.  Given Mexico's stellar record on human rights, I know which fate I'd rather face.  How about you?  It's clear that Mexico's immigration laws are designed to protect their national interests, and it's time that the Obama administration - something on which their predecessors also failed the American people - understands that both protecting and enforcing our borders will determine the fate of our nation and the continued war on terror, d.b.a. the "overseas contingency operation."

~Elf

Illegal Immigration - Discriminating Against the Protection of U.S. Citizens

You may recall from last month that Arizona signed into law a bill now requiring immigrants to carry their registration documents at all times (and likewise requires police officers to question an individual if there is reason to suspect the person is in the country illegally).

Despite the fact that this populous-endorsed law is simply a state-level version mirroring an ignored federal law, a select few politicians and Hollywood celebrities have since then been protesting Arizona’s decision by attempting to undermine the law as racist and discriminatory.

I’d like to first and foremost respectfully remind these politicians that their only responsibility as an elected public official of the United States is to protect and serve U.S. citizens.

Illegal immigrants choose to violate our laws for a variety of reasons: convenience, unwillingness to forfeit citizenship to their native country, lack of opportunities to earn money in their home country, etc. Their violation of our laws does not just stop at failing to fill out some immigration paperwork.  They reap the benefits of our federal and state resources (roads, schools, hospitals, fire and police services, etc.), yet they do not pay into the tax system. They fraudulently obtain jobs using stolen social security numbers, drivers’ licenses and forged birth certificates. It is stealing.

Does a thief have the right to break into someone’s home and steal the homeowner’s money and property, simply because he is less fortunate? No, because the ends do not justify the means, which is why it is our elected officials’ constitutional responsibility to take action and implement measures that counter and prevent these crimes. 

Our elected officials should follow suit with Arizona by enabling police officers to get the information they need to deport illegal immigrants. We need to bury this "discriminatory" nonsense about whether or not it's humane for officers to discern the citizenship status of an individual.  Furthermore, our elected officials need to protect employers by re-instituting e-Verify and allowing employers to verify that their employees have not fraudulently used the social security number of another individual. Speaking of theft, we should deport all illegal immigrants in jails.  The U.S. taxpayers should not be burdened with jailing (housing, feeding, and caring for) criminals from other countries.

Our politicians need to further remove the entitlement argument from their vocabulary. We, the U.S. citizens, do NOT need immigrants to do our "dirty work," and the recent recession is proof of this.  With the significant job shortage, Americans have been desperate to do whatever it takes to provide for themselves and their families, whether it meant providing lawn care services, cleaning houses, waiting tables or flipping burgers at McDonalds.  The U.S. does not need to employ the rest of the world when our own citizen population unemployment rate hovers around 10%.

Given our politicians’ Constitutional obligation to protect the property and identity rights of their constituents, how is it racist to expect them to fulfill this duty?


When I travel out of the country, is it racist and discriminatory for me to be required to carry a passport with me through the other countries? No, it isn’t, because my passport is the paperwork not only allows my entry into another country but is my proof of citizenship to the U.S.A. and legal form of international identification.


When I purchase a bottle of wine at the grocery store, is it racist and discriminatory for the cashier to be required to check my driver’s license and ensure I am over the age of 21?  No, it isn’t, because my driver’s license legally proves my age and ability to purchase alcohol.

When a police officer stops a driver with slurred speech and poor hand-eye coordination, is it racist and discriminatory for the officer to give a blood-alcohol test, ensuring the driver is not placing innocent lives at risk by driving while intoxicated?  No, it isn’t, because a driver displaying common physical traits of drunkenness makes that person an obvious suspect for drunk driving.

On a different note, trust California to try and turn an issue into a boycott fit for …well, a Hollywood movie.  California, a state that ironically bears the burden of hosting nearly 3 million illegal immigrants (yet still scratches its head as to why it can’t come close to balancing a budget), is attempting to institute a financial blow to Arizona via their boycott against Arizona products.  Well, let's see if they stand behind their decision, now that Arizona is considering boycotting California by completely cutting off all economic dealings between the states – including the power supply that Arizona’s utilities companies provide to California residents.

Well, I think I speak on behalf of both Elf and myself when I say that a vacation to Arizona sounds very appealing right now.


~Gee