I want to talk about another subject that's incredibly important for not only the border states, but all of America. And that's relations with our neighbors to the south, Mexico. Mexico is a friend of America. Mexico is our neighbor. And we want our neighbors to succeed. We want our neighbors to do well. We want our neighbors to be successful.
We understand that a poor neighbor is somebody that's going to be harder to deal with than a neighbor that's prospering. And that's why it's so important for us to tear down barriers and walls that might separate Mexico from the United States. And that's why it's so important for us to stand strong when it comes to free trade with our neighbors to the south.
NAFTA has been good for New Mexico, and it's been good for Mexico. And that's an important relationship that I pledge to continue on. I ask -- I ask for the Congress -- I ask for the Congress to give me trade promotion authority, so that we can not only have free trade with our neighbor to the south, so that we can have free trade throughout the hemisphere.
Oh, I know there's some voices who want to wall us off from Mexico. They want to build a wall. I say to them, they want to condemn our neighbors to the south in poverty, and I refuse to accept that type of isolationist and protectionist attitude. (Applause.)
And let me say one other thing, one other issue that's important. It speaks to the spirit of our nation. It speaks to whether or not we're going to be true friends with the neighbors to the south. And that's the issue of trucking. There are some people who say we shouldn't allow our friends to the south to send their trucks into the United States. I say that's discrimination against Mexico.
I say that if we're going to have NAFTA, we ought to enforce all of NAFTA. I believe strongly we can have safety on our highways without discriminating against our neighbors to the south. To the protectionists and isolationists, I say if Mexican trucks, if United States trucks, and Canadian trucks are allowed to move freely on our highways, we can not only enforce the laws, it will help prosperity spread its roots throughout our neighborhood. And that's important for the future. (Applause.)
To lock down the borders would be interesting and have some benifit as far as allowing time to absorb these illegals or deport them but it does not solve the continuing problem.
What Bush believes and I support, is to work toward better parity between mexico and the U.S. I realize that NAFTA has caused great convulsions in our mfg. base and has resulted in loss of many jobs but the situation is leveling off. We have actually lost more to China than Mexico and that is a fact.
The changes that the world economy is going through are going to occur. You cannot stop them. Integration of mfg. and consumption is a given. Consumers, you and I, drive it! WE want low cost quality goods and don't care where it comes from. I would rather it came from Mexico than China. That is the reality of it! I see nothing we could do to revert to the old status quo. Japan tried it. Did it work?
When the winds of change blow strong, you have a choice. You can stand in the way and get blown about by forces much stronger than you, or you can watch which way it is blowing and guide your trip so that you benifit to the maximum level possible. My 2 cents.
Flame away! I am used to it.
"Freedom" and "Liberty": Dirty Words
By April Shenandoah
April 25, 2002
Please indulge me by carefully reading the words of the Star Spangled Banner: Oh, - say! Can you see - by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming, Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watch'd were so gallantly streaming? And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. Oh - say, does the Star-Spangled Banner - yet - wave - O'ver the land - of the free and the home of the brave.
(Third Stanza) Oh - thus be it ever, when - free men shall stand, Between their lov'd homes and war's desolation! Blest with victory and peace, may the Heav'n rescued land, Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserv'd us a nation! And conquer we must, when our cause it is just, And this be our motto: "In God is our trust." Oh - say, does the Star-Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave O'ver the land - of the free and the home of the brave.
Francis Scott Key, who fought in the War of 1812 and penned the three stanzas of the Star-Spangled Banner understood the fight for America's "freedom." Can you imagine if after he wrote our national anthem (officially designated by Congress in 1931) he was told he could not refer to "freedom" or use the word free? Unthinkable! Well -- it's now 2002 and the unthinkable has happened!
According to the Rutherford Institute's Insider, an inner-city music teacher, in Michigan, was informed that she could not use any songs in class that contains the words "freedom" or "liberty." School administrators proclaim they do not want to offend any children that may not be U.S. citizens.
Excuse me! The last time I looked we were still flying the American flag. Yes, America is a melting pot; however, "freedom is exactly the reason that millions of people risk their lives, escaping their dictators, to come here. The truth of the matter is that our educational system has been infiltrated by persuasions that have disdain for "freedom." Sadly, these Michigan children are practically being taught that "freedom" and "liberty" are dirty words. They will have no concept of what "freedom" means. We as a society can be as vulgar as we want, including protecting virtual-child-pornography. But don't mention God or sing about freedom, because that is a No-No!
Remember the Red Cross event, held in California March, 10, 2002, where children were banned from singing the "Heroes Trilogy" consisting of America the Beautiful, Prayer of the Children and God Bless the USA? The Red Cross (Red Crescent in some countries) also said the Declaration of Independence, that was to be part of the program, was also inappropriate as it had the potential of offending as well. The Red Cross and the United Nations are two of the culprits distributing their own textbooks to our schools. They have prepared a study guide on "global topics" and "International Humanitarian Law and the Geneva Conventions." It is designed for teachers of grades 7 to 12. The 28-page study guide contains background materials, classroom activities, research projects and a glossary of terms. It serves as a primer on International Humanitarian Law (Indoctrination in to Humanism). No American patriotism here! They believe they have a duty to remain all-inclusive at all times -- raising little Communist robots.
Let's refresh our memory... The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States: We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
Declaration of Independence: We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal (in God's eyes - not in the Communistic sense of distributing the wealth), that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. America -- the wool has been successfully pulled over our eyes and the Socialist Shepherd will soon come to round up his Sheep!
May God have mercy!
...liberty and justice for all (hope that doesn't offend anyone)! Let Freedom Ring! (Hannity, keep playing that theme song)
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This is probably the best example I can think of that shows everyone how the fences are closing in on America and the freedom fighters in the American school system. "Freedom" and "Liberty" have become forbidden words in our school system! Imagine what the classes discussing the Founders statements are like, is it permitted to carry a textbook with a full written text of the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independance or the Constitution in any public funded educational building? Is there any discussion of the World Wars in our classrooms today. This could only teach the children that it is permissible to defend your country so I presume those are forbidden subjects also. Our freedom and liberty in the past fifty years has continually shrunk as we sat on behinds and didn't protest because we had no idea what would be effective in correcting the situation.
My opinion is that we should stop protesting every 'little' thing and narrow our vision to the cause of all of these 'little' restrictions, the United Nations. If we as protestors attacked the cause by hand mailing letters to our local officals, county officials, state officials and federal representatives demanding that any and all programs that originate from the United Nations be immediately stopped and unfunded we would effectively disrupt the New World Order program. Then demand a complete unfunding of all Bills to the United Nations. To the elected officials just a short note saying that your vote will go to whomever supports your letter. This would cause the office lights to burn late at night.
Remember that without liberty the individual has no inherent rights.