P.C. Insanity at the Pentagon

TownHall.com ^ | Wednesday, October 8, 2003 | by Michelle Malkin

[Klickitat]

From what I've read Pvt. Escalante joined because he wanted to serve his country. I'm against illegal immigration as much as anyone, but if I had lived in a country from the age of 4, I know I would consider that my home. I think he wanted to do something to show his support, and made the same mistake a lot of other young patriotic kids have done, who've lied about their age and identity to get into the army. The army itself says he has been an asset and a good soldier and that is why they are going to bat for him.

I think he deserves citizenship.

[Ajnin]

I definitely know where you're coming from. Before I joined the Border Patrol I would have agreed that this individual should have been allowed legal status. However, you see one individual which reasonably wouldn't concern anybody. I don't see it that way. I see thousands of illegal aliens and they all have compelling stories. If every illegal alien was coming here to defend America I doubt the issue would be such a controversy. The fact that Escalante is an exception to the rule doesn't absolve him of his crime of violating our immigration laws and committing fraud. The government's willful disreguard for our laws in Escalante's encourages more illegal immigration.

[Ajnin]

laws in Escalante's case.....

[JustPiper]

Ping! As usual JH, great find!

[Havoc]

Personally I say anyone who fights in the military for this country deserves citzenship.

I agree. It's no different than the WWII nightflyers. Convicts serving stiff prison sentences were dropped in behind enemy lines with a promise of a pardon if they survived their wartime service. They served admirably. If you're willing to lay down your life, or risk it in defense of this country, then you deserve consideration.

[Nea Wood]

Excellent points. I completely agree.

[Havoc]

Now more then ever- close the borders!!!

I've never thought the boarders shouldn't be closed and gaurded properly. I even think illegals should be rounded up and booted out. Let the legal immigrants have their jobs and expedite the process for the legals. The only thing we should expedite for illegals is their exit. As far as those who serve in the military, I would restrict it to those who are currently in. Maybe I just assumed that would be the common sense shared among conservatives. But if you've got guys that shed blood for this country and aren't even citizens, then citizenship should be considered. We've got a country full of liberals that would neither shed blood nor aid one of our soldiers before doing it for an enemy. Maybe we should make a trade deal with Vincenze Fox. Since liberals like socialism so much. Bring all the mexicans to the US and Naturalize them, then give the liberals Mexico - forcibly. We might come out way ahead of the game in the end LOL.

[webber]

Do you happen to be an illegal alien?
Just curious.

[webber]

How do you know that he isn't doing this so that he can earn the trust of the military so that he can get into a position where he'll have access to top military secrets and then give them to the enemy? You can't. So should we take that chance? What if those secrets that he gave to the enemy enabled the enemy to bomb your city and kill 10's of thousands of your fellow citizens and relatives? Do you still think he should be allowed in the military after lying about his status to the military? Can we trust him? Will he also risk being caught to be a spy for our enemies?

[webber]

No. He doesn't have to be deported, just not eligible to serve in our Armed Forces.

[webber]

"WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH RECRUITS NOW, thanks to our "friends" in the media and in the "public-education-complex".

I see, so if we can't get American citizens to volunteer for military duty, then lets get illegals to join, is that it? HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF THE "DRAFT"? OR DOES THAT HIT TO CLOSE TO HOME FOR YOU?

[webber]

Your handle name is "prodigal son". Could be a code name for "son of an illegal alien" maybe? {;>)}

[webber]

"And yet here on FR, in the midst of a war, we have armchair quarterbacks seriously proposing we reduce the ability to maintain our effective fighting force?"

That's why we have such a thing as the "Draft". This way, we can have Americans fighting for America, not illegal aliens or French volunteers. (God forbid)!!

[Prodigal Son]

Could be. But I have a perfectly valid visa. The EU has to let me live here as long as my wife lives here. I was technically illegal for about a month once though in Northern Ireland- working and everything- taking some poor Irishman's job.

[Prodigal Son]

Do you happen to be an illegal alien?

No. I was technically illegal once for about a month but just technically. I didn't enter the EU illegally or with the intent to stay illegally. By their laws, I have a right to live here as long as my wife lives here- I have only to go through the proper steps to do so- like sending my passport off to the Home Office (here in the UK) and getting a visa. I think technically, I could apply for citizenship in the UK next year if I wanted to- I've been here that long- 5 years. I don't know what the requirements are in the other countries. In Australia, it is very difficult to get permission to stay but you can apply for citizenship after as few as two years of residence.

At any rate- why do you ask?

[Salgak]

Yes, I've heard of the draft, I was even required to register for it. I found it amusing that an active-duty USAF Officer had to register for the draft, since I was already in.

The problem, however, with a draft, is the most qualified recruits will tend to get exemptions, by hook or by crook. The children of the rich will wangle exemptions.

If **I** was running things, we'd have a no-exemption draft to skim the cream of the crop. . .

[JohnSmithee]

"Undeserving? Yeah, he's here illegally. However, he joined up to defend THIS country. He's put himself in harm's way for THIS country. That's more than 75 percent of your fellow Freepers have ever done. Who deserves THIS country's freedom more? The fellow who's willing to die to secure it, or the folks who sit around and gripe and grow fat knowing there are people like this "undeserving" person willing to die to secure that freedom."

So let's make it a law through our elected representatives. The Romans did something like that with their military. If you serve for let's say 7 years you receive citizenship.

[Junior]

The U.S. already has rules in place for this. Foreign nationals can achieve citizenship through military service. I've known several Filipinos and at least one Brit that went this route.