More on immigration

So you all know that I generally have some pretty pro-immigration views. After all, my current household has benefited greatly from immigrant labor. But I also think nations do have the right to control their own borders. My father-in-law, a first generation immigrant to the U.S., once told me he thinks there should only be one factor in considering U.S. immigration policy - whether each and every immigrant seeking entry would help make the U.S. a better place.

I'm a little more liberal than that. On the other hand, some proposals seem a little bit out there. This story in The Washington Times would fit that mold:

"Congress will approve an immigration bill that will grant citizenship rights to most of the 12 million to 20 million illegal aliens in the U.S. after Democrats take control next month, predict both sides on Capitol Hill. While Republicans have been largely splintered on the issue of immigration reform, Democrats have been fairly unified behind the principle that the illegals currently in the country should get citizenship rights without having to first leave the country...

With President Bush as an ally in the White House [] Democrats will proceed next year with legislation to ultimately make citizens out of most of the illegals now in the country. And Republicans, still reeling from deep losses in the November elections, will give up the fight. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, California Republican, said he expects an immigration-reform bill that doesn't deport illegal aliens to be the only significant legislation to come out of the new Democratic Congress and win Mr. Bush's approval.

'The only real legislation that can be expected from Congress is amnesty,' he said. 'If they come up with a plan and the president is behind it, it will pick up a lot of our own members.'"

Diversity, open-mindedness and violent assaults

Another tale of students at a Michigan University displaying unbelievable hypocrisy, this time at Michigan State. On Thursday, anti-immigration Congressman Tom Tancredo was scheduled to give at speech at Michigan State's law school when protestors twice emptied the building by pulling a fire alarm and violently assaulted those who supported the Congressman.

Here's the story from the Denver Post. The State News, MSU's student newspaper, has an account here.

From the Post:

"Violence erupted at a Michigan law school Thursday when protestors tried to block a speech by Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo. Police were called after protestors pulled a fire alarm prior to the speech on immigration policies. There were at least three violent incidents with protestors targeting student backers of the event, Tancredo, R-Littleton, said today.

'One was spit on, one was kicked, and one was punched,' Tancredo said in an e-mail. 'Tires were also slashed'... Protestors interrupted the speech with loud shouting... Tancredo said in the email that protestors organized on the Internet social networking site Facebook.

'They declared ahead of time on facebook that they would not allow me to speak,' Tancredo said in the e-mail."

I'm no fan of Tom Tancredo. I strongly disagree with his overly narrow views on immigration and his animosity toward immigrants generally. But this type of behavior by college students is unbelievable. When you react violently to a person giving a speech and presenting their views simply because you disagree with what they are saying, to me that demonstrates a profound lack of confidence in your own views and the ability to convince people of the truth.

It makes you wonder what these "students" are being taught in the classroom if they are so quick to resort to violence when presented with views they disagree with.

The most wonderful time of the year

Well, today's December 1st, so I guess I can no longer avoid getting in "The Holiday Spirit." Not that I'm a Scrooge, but I think it is so lame to be shopping for Christmas before Halloween and listening to Christmas music at Thanksgiving dinner. So I've been kind of ignoring it; like if I don't acknowledge it then it doesn't exist.

Today I guess I'm ready. Especially considering that we have four parties to go to this weekend, three of which are explicitely Christmas related. Tonight we have the Ave student party, which has become quite a tradition here and promises to be pretty fun.

Tomorrow night we have Naj's residency "holiday" party. (The University of Michigan apparently has an official policy against acknowledging there is any such thing as Christmas, though I've noticed their holiday party is always at the same time every year. I'm sure it's a coincidence).

On Sunday I may stop in at the Law Review Christmas party, though I'm not yet sure. But the party I'm looking forward to most is tomorrow afternoon at the Vansciver's. So far I think it's just going to be me, Luke, Kurt, Megan and the baby. No tie, no mingling, no Christmas music. Just three old, good, friends and one new friend chilling out and talking about the mysteries of life. Now that's a party.

Starbuck's Trivia

What is the most venemous animal in the world?

Answer