During the past few weeks, Latinos across America have held protests against proposed legislation in the Senate that includes issues such as border security, amnesty and a guest worker program.
Yet, poll after poll consistently show that Americans overwhelmingly do not want amnesty or a guest worker program. We want secure borders. And both political parties have failed us.
Democrats, like Ted Kennedy, sponsored the 1965 Immigration Bill that changed the landscape forever. They want to bring Latinos because they know they are more likely to vote for them, because (Democrats) can offer more goodies
such as free college and free health care for illegals. Also, many have the altruistic, yet false, view that America is a nation of immigrants.
We are not a nation of immigrants; we are a nation of citizens bound by the rule of law. To say that America is a nation of immigrants is to assume no sense of American-ness. We have common traditions and culture and share a unique history that immigrants are a part of, but to assume that America is an inassimilable mass of foreigners is wrong.
The Republicans are truly the shameful ones in this debate. One would think if any party were to stand up for the security of America no matter the political fallout, you'd think it'd be them.
But sadly, conservatives such as Arlen Specter, Sam Brownback and John McCain are on the forefront of the pro-immigration push. Greedy big business leaders in companies like Tyson Chicken and Wal-Mart have become addicted to cheap labor, mostly from Mexico. Also, with a rapidly increasing Hispanic population, the Karl Roves of the world throw safety and history aside in hopes of increasing GOP turnout by pandering to them.
This issue will be the most critical issue in the 2006 elections; it may also be the defining issue of our time. Will we as a nation stand up for our borders and respect of law? Or do we allow those who have openly broken the laws to flaunt it in the streets of our cities? Will we stop letting illegal foreigners dictate what laws we should enforce or not enforce?
Only a few courageous politicians, such as Tom Tancredo from Colorado, are willing to take up this issue. I encourage all of you to write your representatives and tell them that you want to stop the flow of illegal aliens into our country. 'Nick Gatz is a sophomore history major. 17
Archives
Letter to the Editor
