National Hospitality and International Hypocrisy

The recent furor over the Arizona's decision to enforce federal standards for immigration reveals deep confusion and devastating subversion concerning our national identity. In the name of compassion and social justice, and amidst fears of a police state, Arizona is being boycotted, demonized and harassed for standing up for her citizens. What is often not visible is the hypocrisy of the Right who revel in the undocumented labor and exploit the needs of millions crossing the border from Mexico.

Let's stop the categorizing and the name-calling. The same federal leaders who call Arizona's law "fascist" want to control home schooling, register all medical records and launch a civilian militia force, not to mention control the economy and "de-develop" the USA.

The present system is broken, Three simple steps will repair our current chaos. The question is, do we have the courage to resist the interest groups on all sides and do what is best for the long-term health of our nation?

Step One: Enforce immigration laws among employers and make sure that all workers are here legally.

Step Two: Secure the borders and deport all illegal/undocumented prisoners.

Step Three: Create a redemptive pathway for current residents that allows them to be on the road to citizenship or have a temporary work permit.

We do not need to harass anyone - we need to make living in the USA a legal and safe experience for all. Mexicans do not have the right to come here illegally. Mexican politicians - part of a corrupt elite who trade on old accusations of colonialism - do not have a right to demand anything. Employers - from agribusiness to hospitality to factories - do not have the right to break the laws of the USA with impunity.

Scores of my friends have come to the USA legally, often waiting months or years for documents and paying thousands for the privilege of living and working here. The rest of the democracies around the world enforce their laws. Will we? The future of our republic depends on it.