The Fence

The proposal before the United States Congress, spearheaded by Republican Senator Sensenbrenner, amongst others, with the purpose of obtaining the votes and financing for a double fence along the Mexican-American border (Some 2000 miles) intended to keep out illegal aliens, has caused a heck of a ruckus on both sides of the line. Its gotten to the point that many of the participants seem to be enjoying the momentary notoriety this scrap gives them instead of trying to resolve it. I personally believe the contenders have lost sight of the key word “illegal”. I think all of us agree that no country in the world is obligated to accept a person non grata in its territory. Likewise, no country can force another to accept unwanted people to cross their borders. But this is not the case at hand.

The United States signed a treaty with Mexico to import foreign labor during World War II when its young men had gone off to defend their country and not enough hands were left to sow and reap the food so essential to the war effort. When the war was over the treaty ceased to exist but many of our countrymen had discovered a way of life that contrasted sharply with the one they knew so they just stayed. As time went on they invited their friends and relatives to join them. As long as they did chores that American workers refused there was no problem and little was done to foresee the inevitable. When the flow became a flood everyone jumped and, of course, they went to extremes. Americans should be aware that every man and woman that leaves our country for foreign territories is in the productive stage of their lives. We are exporting athletes, artists, professionals and essential labor. The drain on our country is a heavy on us.

I have a very good friendship with Mrs. Sandra Jacobs, ex mayor of El Segundo CA, and a prominent citizen of her community. Last month we sat down to discuss this particular topic. We were able to express our points of view, give our opinions and offer our suggestions for a possible solution in a courteous and intelligent manner. Why shouldn’t two neighboring countries, with more than 50 years of experience each in this particular problem, be able to do the same? What ever happened to the Good Neighbor Policy? Was President Eisenhower wrong when he established the Sister Cities Program? Let’s fall back on this type of neighborliness. We, south of the border, could correspond by making our politicians stop beating their chests and tearing their clothes in recrimination and return to legislating new and adequate laws that favor and provoke the creation of new jobs to help stem the flow northward.

If this does not happen, the idea of the double fence is not going to work anyway. I have great respect for human nature. When the masses are told something is prohibited they rise to the challenge and, more often than not, they’ll find a way around. Americans have experience in matters of prohibition. It’s in our genes. First they’ll tackle the fence between the U. S. and our country. Next comes the fence at the Canada-U.S. Border. I would next consider the fence on the Atlantic coast, including the Gulf of Mexico. Finally, the Pacific Wall. Don’t forget Alaska, let’s be thorough. By the way, be cautious of those guys playing the terrorist card. They are more dangerous than illegal aliens.

If all this comes to pass I still have a hopeful vision. I see a world-renowned politician standing before a worldwide audience addressing the president of the U.S. thus: MR. PRESIDENT, TEAR DOWN THIS WALL!

Tweet This Post