This whole issue at the border is horrible. I've spent a few nights down in Campo observing both sides of the show. The pritestors are putting forth ridiculous arguments. "One land, One people." "No border is legitimate."
Come on, honestly. Who believes that? First of all, the border is legitimate. The laws of both Mexico and The United States have said so. We don't overstep our bounds, neither do they. Their mpas draw the line where ours draw the line. Simple. Now, is the border around your home legitimate? Or can I climb into your home, use your t.v. set, lounge on your bed, eat your cereal, and do other things that bring me joy? No, and if I tried, you'd have the right, and probably the desire to stop me from doing it. Even if you were the most understanding of all people, the firmest believer in social good, you'd at the very least want to know who I was and what I was about. Just a microcosmic perspective.

Now, I'll give you this much. Some of the people on the ranks of the Minutemen are off the wall. Most, however, are respectable people who believe they are providing a service to their country. Some are veterans of the armed forces, and some, I admit, are looking for a cheap thrill. Most surveys say that the majority of the people in the United States support the Minutemen and projects like it. Geez, their are projects like the Minutemen popping up in every border state.

Now as far as the members of the protesting group, some of you are off the wall. You have punk rockers, faces covered as is often seen in poseur-anarchists; old fat guys (as you often refer to the minutmen); snobbish college folk, and some idiot guy who thinks he's a real paramedic, but refuses to accept that the idea that anybody can dress as a paramedica and drive a van and a suzuki rigged to look like ambulances is dangerous.

It's funny, somebody will make a comment to rebuttle my views and will immediately call me ignorant and racist. It's what your side of the argument usually does. Poke fun at people because they wear military fatigues, or because they have an American flag displayed on their truck; you tag them as racist.

A funny observation: a sign with the words "no border is legitimate." the words were written in the colors of the Mexican flag. The person was waving a Mexican flag. Do these people even know the agenda, or are they just anti-America? It's one thing to be some hippie and smoke pot and say, "I love all people," as naive as they may be. But, it seems almost racist, to wave the Mexican flag around, calling those that don't follow in that action racists, calling the minutemen a "bunch of honkies; yankees; gringos babosos; or whatever the phrase of the hour is. For god's sake, your argument is, "let whomever wants to come in in, because they're looking for a better life, and here they can have it." Isn't that the argument? what the hell does the Mexican flag have to do with it? If you think the US is corrupt, then Mexico is worse. As others have stated, Mexico could be one of the economically stronger nations in the world. They have the resources; they certainly have the people.

As far as those that come across. I work for the border patrol. My parents were Mexican born; my father legally immigrated here after two apprehensions for illegal entry. So, no, the usual government response is not to deny applications. And you are wrong. Not all that cross are law-abiding farm workers. Lots are criminals; the fact that over 80% of outstanding felony warrants issued in Los Angeles are for illegal aliens can show you that much. If you'd see the people we deal with on a daily basis, you'd understand: child molestors, child abusers; spouse abusers; rapists; murderers; junkies; drug smugglers; coyotes; notorious gang members; etc., etc.. And no, I'm not saying they are purely Mexicans. Iraqis, Kenyans, Ethipians, Russians, Mexicans, Guatemalans, Brazilians, El Salvadorans, Ecuadorians; you name it, and we've arrested it.

You must admit that at the very least, this country has a right to protect itself from a threat, foreign or domestic. We are a country, you must recognize that. If we lived in a utopian society where nobody had ill will, well then, maybe there'd be no need for countries and law. Be we don't, and we won't. We MUST know who enters this country. We must be able to have fingerprints and bio information on file for those who are here as guests. People, regardless of race and nationality, do not have a right to come and go as ghosts; come, work, commit a crime, either heinous or minute, and disappear, only to be a suspect file in some police investigator's drawer.

I'm not ingnorant. In my line of work, I have arrested and interview many good people. Some I'd trade for a US citizen any day. However, we must know who they are, and why they're here.

Domestic murders, rapists, junkies, and drug peddlers? yes, but unfortunately, our country's sotitution does not allow us to deport them; does not allow us to get rid of them. They are our problem, and we deal with them as we can. Those that are not home-born, well, adios. You f'd up your chance.

Now, you know I am of Mexican descendence. I am not a vendido, regardless of how bold and large your font may be when you type. I know my heritage; the struggle my parents have gone through. It is a culture thing for me. I love the culture I have been raised in. But that's just it. It is a culture that I have embraced; ideas, ideology, family, history, celebrations, food, language. But that doesn't change the fact that I am not Mexican born, but I am American born. Mexico has done nothing for me, nor for my parents. Would I try to reside in Mexico, similar laws as in the United States would prevent me from doing so.

One last thing. Those who wish that the Minutemen or I would be cat down for our views should watch what you wish for. The same freedom that allows the Minutemen to wave the American flag, patrol the border and speak out against illegal immigration is the same freedoms that allows the protesting bunch to wear mohawks, wave Mexican flags, and call us racists.

un migra
e-mail:: directorjirafales@yahoo.com