Whose Country is It?

Illegal immigrant activists are all in a tither over the changes proposed to the exam offered to those seeking to become naturalized citizens.

"We want to focus more on the building blocks of democracy, rather than the colors of the flag" or questions about the name of the form used to apply for naturalized citizenship, which are on the current test for citizenship, said Chris Bentley, a spokesman for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, which is making the change. USCIS is part of the Department of Homeland Security.

Mr. Bentley said USCIS officials want a new test that can ensure that those seeking to become American citizens know about "freedoms guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, such as freedom of speech and freedom of religion."

It seems reasonable to me. Without having read either of the tests to make an informed comparison I see merit in Mr. Bentley's description. The illegal immigration lobby is just appalled by these changes because it "will make it harder for 'poorer legal immigrants with less English and less education' to win U.S. Citizenship." Well, yes it would but who's country is it and aren't we entitled to choose what kind of immigrants we wish to welcome? If we were to make it easy from the ignorant and unskilled to waltz in here unfettered why bother with a naturalization process?

Now that the Democrats control the Federal government we can hardly expect that the issue of illegal immigration will be addressed in a manner favorable toward the interests of American citizens. This does not however preclude those same citizens from taking up the matter in their local jurisdictions. Recently two have done so.

FARMERS BRANCH, Texas -- City Council members Monday night unanimously passed ordinances they hope will curtail illegal aliens, but said they expected the new laws to be fought in court...

... Specifically, the 6-0 votes authorized fines for property owners who rent to illegal aliens and designated English as the official language -- a move designed to end printing and the conduct of city business in both English and Spanish.

Also passed was an ordinance authorizing city police to enter into an agreement with federal immigration officials to target criminal aliens. Opponents, including the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF), vowed to file a lawsuit.

Obviously the courts will be the battleground for this effort. Politicians in Washington who have given up on, or embraced the flow of illegals are too afraid that they will lose any political advantage they could gain from pandering to them to offer any support to locals being overrun by the invaders.

TANEYTOWN, Md. (AP) -- English is now the official language of this central Maryland town of 5,000.

The Taneytown City Council has approved a nonbinding resolution, deciding against a charter change that drew complaints from civil rights groups and residents.

"This issue is not, I repeat, not about giving up your native tongue," said council member Paul Chamberlain Jr., the resolution's sponsor, after today's vote. "All we're asking is if you become a U.S. citizen, please speak English. There are two reasons: One, you can have greater opportunities to realize the American dream, and two, so that we can communicate."

Here we have simple logic expressed by a town that is taking proactive steps toward stemming a problem that should not exist if our more "experienced" leaders in congress would spend even a little time away from fighting over who gets the big office and pork barrel perks to actually address the interests of the citizens they "serve." Local politicians who aspire to be useless members of Congress must first impress the locals that they are willing to solve the problems they face. Once they reach the halls of power the citizens become less important as the currying of favor of large contributors replaces the service of constituents. So take advantage of them while they are still listening until the big guys in Washington can't ignore the direction of the voters and run out in front of the parade to claim they are leading the way.

A Phil Geffen at What a World says Farmers Branch was tired of Spanish signs







immigration, Mexico, Politics, Democrats