Who Shifted The Focus?

"The character inherent in the American people has done all that has been accomplished; and it would have done somewhat more, if the government had not sometimes got in its way." ~ Henry David Thoreau

It has been said, "when you are up to your ass in alligators, it's hard to remember that your original objective was to drain the swamp" I think this applies perfectly to the current news of the day about illegal immigration. Or immigration rights, depending on which side you are listening to.

Does anyone remember what created this big flap in the first place? The attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. Seems to be quite a leap to go from defending America to arguing over whether Mexicans who have entered the country illegally have the right to be treated as American citizens.

This is how it happened:

After years of jumping up and down screaming that something must be done about the numbers of people sneaking across the border between Mexico and the United States, someone finally got the attention of Congress. And the Media.

It suddenly occurred to some pretty astute individuals that if the Mexicans can get across the border undetected, others from other countries and cultures could, too. We had been attacked by terrorists, some of whom were in the country illegally. Someone somewhere made the connection.

If Mexicans can get across the borders so effortlessly, it is entirely possible that a terrorist or two could, also.

So, the campaign to seal the porous border began. Not to keep hard working people from entering our country to find gainful employment and make a better life for themselves and their families, but to avoid another heinous attack against our country by terrorists.

So why has Congress allowed themselves to be distracted from the original purpose? There are many reasons, I believe, but the bottom line is money.

As yesterdays rallies and boycotts across the country have demonstrated, Mexicans contribute a lot to America, and yes, they cost America a lot, also. They supply and consume mass quantities of goods and services in this country, and that definitely helps to keep our economy strong. I don't think anyone can argue with that.

They also are a tremendous drain on our economy. Many of them get social services, and other benefits. Not to mention the growing numbers of illegal immigrants that commit crimes in America.

I don't have any problem at all with Mexicans coming to America, and getting jobs, and raising their families in prosperity. They certainly can't get that in Mexico, where there is virtually no hope of working their way out of poverty.

I do have a problem with criminals. Sugar coat it all you like but when they cross the border without going through the proper procedures, they are breaking the law. When one breaks the law, one becomes a criminal. Anyone that crosses into another country illegally is a criminal. Criminality is not supposed to be rewarded. It is supposed to be punished. Criminals certainly shouldn't be given all the rights that non-criminals work so hard for years to achieve legally.

It is a tremendous problem for America and one that definitely needs to be addressed. But it is not the problem that was originally intended to be addressed.

There are several possible solutions to this problem,none of which are adequate, and none seemingly address the original objective. Stopping terrorists from entering our country and mounting another attack which could conceivably be worse than 9/11.

Somebody shifted the focus. I fear that while we are engaged in arguing over whether illegal aliens should be permitted to enjoy the rights of legal immigrants, the real threat to America will march right in and set up a series of terrorist cells, and the next thing we know, we are up to our asses in terrorists.

And then, we will have real problems.