"Posters need to get away from the board." I agree. As a newbie and someone who doesn't have alot of time to post, I try to be civil. I think that some people are so emotional about a subject they lose self-control. I know I can be that way about abortion for example. When you know you can't convince them it's time to take a break.
I'm first generation American, my parents came here to escape Communism. They were so proud of being Americans, my father wouldn't let us speak anything but English. He was against any government assistance and often worked two jobs. But they would be shocked at all the illegal immigration today. They never questioned the fact that they had to prove themselves and earn their citizenship. I imagine that many people like me, whose families earned the right to be citizens, oppose illegal immigration and the rights these people are given, not earned.
And yes it is about earning rights, isn't it.
And picking battles, and who to battle with, when, and why.
In re getting away from the board. That's the nifty thing about this board -- you can go away, come back and pick up the debate again, but now refreshed and maybe in a better mood, more self-control.
That's a part, I think, of President Bush's personnae. He exhibits self-control. And his administration picks their fights.
The open borders ideology came out of the welfarian mentality which evolved from the gross manipulation of Social Security funds and how they could be "used", especially on a broadsheet.
The "illegal immigration" rhetoric has moved forward; and some folks haven't grown with that yet. They are stuck in the early 90s mindset of "what part of "illegal" don't you get". Democrats thwarted every single effort to address the problem when it was more "barely" containable.
So, as I see President Bush grappling with this issue, -- I see him looking at this problem in light of HOW it has evolved over the past 15 years, and is working to root out the flaws which evolved along the way, and correct those on the way up towards a real, substantive, remedy.