You are missing a huge difference between the Irish, Polish (like my Dad’s dad) and other immigrants and the ILLEGAL ALIENS which are flooding across our southern border on a daily basis. You are, like most liberals, refusing to admit that, unlike the immigrants of the past, they are entering this coutry IN VIOLATION OF THE CURRENT LAW. Dad’s dad didn’t sneak across the border in the dark of night, paying someone to smuggle him in and provide him with false documentation all of which are criminal offenses. He came across the Atlantic on a ship, spent time at Ellis Island for a background and medical check and only then was he allowed to enter the country LEGALLY with LEGAL documentation. He learned to speak English (Americanized or otherwise). His kids learned to speak ENGLISH, not Polish.

Another HUGE difference is that the Illegal Aliens entering this country are also 6 times as likely to be convicted of committing felonies than the population as a whole. Don’t believe me? Then why do they represent 3-4% of the general population but roughly 25% of the prison population of this country? Look at the crime statistics for cities like Phoenix and San Diego and see how many illegals are involved in felonies who then skip across the border into Mexico. About 1/2 of every Amber Alert here in Arizona involves an over 18 yr old illegal alien grabbing some under age female against her will and trying to drag her to Mexico. You may believe the lie that they’re only here to work at jobs American’s won’t do, but that’s a lie. I’d happily work the $19/hour job that an illegal convicted of felonies who had been deported and returned illegally was working before his most recent crime spree that included drug use, multiple car jackings, armed robberies, assaults with a deadly weapon, and assaulting a police officer during an escape attempt.

I think the entire business with immigration is very complex.

But I think to attempt to regulate now is a bit like closing the barn door after the horse has been stolen.

Many among us are only third and fourth generation Americans. Go back a few and (for instance) the Irish and the Italians were widely marginalized by the existing American population upon arrival. So I think our historical memory is short.

Anyhow- Should everyone learn English? Yes. But let is be “English” not “American” which are increasingly two different languages. And further one of the good things this country of ours still has going for it is that it still welcomes “your tired and huddled masses” (or it ought to). As it stands now our international reputation is so muddied by the War in Iraq that I think we’d better be damned careful how we post “keep out” signs at our southern borders.

Most immigrants now are of Hispanic descent and I often wonder how much of the fear and regulation that many would want to apply to this current situation is fear of the unknown (language and culture) being introduced to the status quo.

Culture of corruption now lies directly in the dems court and they are batting a 1000.