"Justice Is Never Easy"

Now that the dust is settling on the valiant efforts and outcome of the peaceful protests in Egypt, one cannot help but marvel at the restraint and discipline exhibited by the millions of people in their quest for liberation from tyranny. They are an example for the world to emulate, and an inspiration to all who witnessed their determination to stand steadfast on peaceful protest as the means for achieving their goals.

The posturing of the military appears to be a significant contributing factor to the successful outcome. However, let us not be too quick to embrace their motives in all this. We must not forget their decades of absolute loyalty to the brutality of the regime that was toppled. Let us not be complacent in the belief that there is not a hidden agenda upon which to build yet another totalitarian empire. Brutality has been a part of their modus operandi in their service to a dictatorship that is not known for its benevolence. Mubarak is still in Egypt. He and his henchmen have profited handsomely from their allegiance to the United States and the rendition of prisoners to the brutality of the military establishment and the police of that country. Does a tiger change its stripes? I am inclined to err on the side of “wait and see” before I draw any conclusions. The United States would do well to make it abundantly clear that we are firmly on the side of the people seeking freedom and a democratic system of government.

Violence is never the answer. Had violence erupted in the midst of their protest, blood would have run in the streets and any success they would have realized would have come at a terrible price. To their eternal credit, they achieved a miracle, and I take my hat off to each and every one of them.


“We must fact the fact that the United States is neither omnipotent
nor omniscient - that we are only 6% of the world’s population -
that we cannot impose our will upon the other 94% of mankind -
that we cannot right every wrong or reverse each adversity - and
that therefore there cannot be an American solution to every world
problem.”

--- President John F. Kennedy


I am a great believer in the respect for a system of laws, conceived by and enacted on behalf of the people served by government. I do not countenance people who, when they disagree with the law, simply dismiss it and embark on their own path to what they perceive to be justice. If the system does not serve the people, then the system should be changed in an orderly manner and in accordance with the will of the people. Some people are inclined to be somewhat myopic in their insistence that laws are cast in stone and remain inviolate. That rules out any dynamism to keep laws current and in keeping with the times. On the other hand, I see others unilaterally deciding that the rule of law is, at times, unjust and they simply decide that the only way to combat that perceived sense of injustice is by flaunting it. That is most apparent today in regard to the whole issue of illegal immigration.

Any reasonably caring person cannot help but be touched by the long-standing disparity in the way immigrant workers have been treated in this country, particularly those crossing our southern borders. However, that does not excuse the fact that those who come here illegally cannot simply be given blanket citizenship if we are to maintain the fabric of our society. The burden seems to have been placed squarely on the shoulders of the average citizens of this country, rather than those who have been instrumental in creating and sustaining the deplorable conditions under which they live and work. Why should those who had no hand in creating the problem be targeted to bear the cost of redress? It is no secret that big business and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce sought and sanctioned the entrance of “illegals” for the avowed purpose of establishing a cheap pool of labor that would benefit business and commercial interests. Aided and abetted by a compliant government, they would be free from the constraints of labor laws and the protection of labor unions. Our culpability has been in our readiness to accept their plight in exchange for the cheap goods and services that were the product of their labor. Call it what you will, but that is patently wrong. Those who created the problem should properly be made to bear the cost of redressing those wrongs. A surtax on those industries that have benefited handsomely from this brand of indentured servitude does not seem at all unreasonable as a means of defraying the cost to government and, eventually, the taxpayers attempting to cope with the problem.

I do not believe in special considerations for immigrants. We have a long history of laws governing immigration. Those who entered legally, abided by the laws and worked to obtain citizenship are an integral part of our history, and they and their descendants have served this country well. To the extent those laws are still effective, they should be honored. To the extent they are not, they should be changed by lawful and democratic means.

I don’t share the view of those who have declared their cities and churches “safe havens” for those who are here illegally. I do not subscribe to the notion that any special consideration should be extended to them that are not enjoyed by the population at large. On the other hand, those who are here legally should be guaranteed equal access to all the rights and privileges accorded other citizens of this country. For those who view themselves as more “enlightened” than the rest of us, and flaunt the laws based on their perceived sense of superiority, then there should be consequences for that attitude. So-called “safe havens” ought to be stripped of all federal funding and lose their “non-profit” status until such time as they come into full compliance with the law.

It can safely be said that politicians can always be counted on to buy votes and establish a power base for re-election at the expense of the taxpayers of the country; not those who profit from the labors of those they exploit at will. That offends my basic sense of fairness.

It seems to me the merits of honesty and fairness should be the order of the day, with the rule of law our guiding principle.

Cowboy Bob
February 13, 2011