As Mexican students hoist their nation’s flag over American taxpayer supported schools in Los Angeles, I’m hearing a lot of people decry the “threat to our culture”, the outright outrageousness of these “freeloaders” et al.

But most people are missing the real threat. It’s not to our culture. Maybe our culture could benefit for some of the things our Mexican friends bring across the border; pride, work ethic second to none and military heroism. And would it kill us to learn a little Spanish? Not El Machete’ de Truthundo! As you can see, I’m already learning…

The real threat illegals pose is to our electoral system. In 2000, it’s estimated that as many as half a million illegals cast ballots in California alone. (What did Gore win by again, 560,000? Sure, he won the popular vote. Just like Kerry did in 2004.) As this issue heats up, and as the 2006 elections get closer, guess which political party is working hard to figure out how to top the 2000 number? Hint- it’s not the Republicans or the Whigs.

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For anyone who hasn’t heard about the incident this week involving Rep. Cynthia McKinney, she physically struck a Capitol Hill police officer when he tried to get her to walk through the metal detectors at the entrance of the Longworth House Office Building. If you want to see more details about the situation, click here.

So a police officer tried to verify that Rep. McKinney wasn’t a threat to the building, which is his job, and she punched this man in the chest. Given these circumstances, what do you suppose McKinney thinks is to blame for her juvenile lack of restraint? Racism…there’s a shocker!

Granted, the Capitol Hill Police are expected to recognize Congressmen because the legislators will often go around the metal detectors when entering the Capitol. However, there are still over 500 members of Congress so it seems reasonable that the police might make a mistake from time to time.

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Please stop by the American Thinker and read the excellent article written by Bookworm! The article, Political Correctness and the Moral Development of Children, is a wonderfully written treatise on a measured approach to teaching morality. She contrasts this approach to the commonly practiced feelings based approach that reinforces punishment of non-politically correct behavior that must be measured by an ever changing yardstick of what is acceptable at the moment.

This is not to besmirch the goals of some well meaning political correctness. Rather Bookworm provides an insight into the real benefits provided by lessons in morality; specifically as relayed through literature and movies.

I can not verbalize the message as eloquently as Bookworm so I urge everyone to read her article by following this link.

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In a rather stumbling way, I asked why immigrants don’t love America, and said that I wished our schools would be required to teach students what’s great about America. Ironically, one day later, the Wall Street Journal published Peggy Noonan’s elegant, lyrical reflection on the same point. She begins by speaking of Medal of Freedom winners, those extraordinary men (and one woman, I think), who without thought were willing to sacrifice themselves to preserve American freedoms. From there, she transitions to the conundrum of modern American immigrants, who want what we offer but hate what we are:

There are a variety of things driving American anxiety about illegal immigration and we all know them–economic arguments, the danger of porous borders in the age of terrorism, with anyone able to come in.

But there’s another thing. And it’s not fear about “them.” It’s anxiety about us.

It’s the broad public knowledge, or intuition, in America, that we are not assimilating our immigrants patriotically. And if you don’t do that, you’ll lose it all.

We used to do it. We loved our country with full-throated love, we had no ambivalence. We had pride and appreciation. We were a free country. We communicated our pride and delight in this in a million ways–in our schools, our movies, our popular songs, our newspapers. It was just there, in the air. Immigrants breathed it in. That’s how the last great wave of immigrants, the European wave of 1880-1920, was turned into a great wave of Americans.

What’s so sad is that it’s no longer fringies dirtying our history. We’ve raised a whole generation that has internalized the fringies message and is passing it on to the next generation, both native-born and immigrant.

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It seems like the phrase “I watched X so you don’t have to” is becoming more and more common these days. Unfortunately I wasn’t throwing myself on any sword when I happened upon Nightline this evening. It was merely an unfortunate happenstance, a small slip of the thumb that landed me right onto a Martin Bashir “Sign of the Times” teaser, Loophole for the rich kids, how some teenagers may be getting an extra edge on the SAT’s for a price.

Listen Here - SAT Rich Kids

Translated, How Rich Republicans foster a culture of corruption by helping their children cheat on the SAT’s.

Is this story really a “sign of the times” as Bashir put it? It all depends on your perspective. From my informed vantage point this is hardly a sign of anything other than more evidence that the unhinged left is convulsing itself into a frenzy on every single lib talking point out there. This is the same rich kid/poor kid SAT story that gets regurgitated every couple of years.

You have to hand it to them. Most people get a clue, but not these guys. They keep bashing away at Middle America with biased polls, ill researched reporting, and ad hominem attacks on those of religious faith (yeah that was in the sign of the times segment as well).

The premise of the report is that rich kids are paying physiologists to label them as learning disabled (i.e. attention deficit) so they can take advantage of requirements that allow for extra time, breaks and alternative test formats provided those with learning disabilities.

Their proof? Nightline relies on statistics that show that a small number of upscale private schools as well as some public schools have a higher than average number of students being provided the accommodation. They even solicit the gut-wrenching testimony of a Georgetown University student who feels her friend cheated the system to get into Princeton.

All in all the statistics do point to an increase in scores of those who have been afforded extra time but there is nothing statistically provided to indicate that those of privilege are being given preferential treatment. The reason being that the College Board does not release these statistics except on a state wide basis. The exception is Washington DC where the board did release the statistics as a microcosm of the nation. Other than that you have to go back to the year 2000 to see something similar for the California privileged.

The nightline article fails to mention one important factor that is mentioned in every other article I found on the subject. (although most of those articles take a rich versus poor perspective that seems to blame the rich) Private schools often have a disproportionate amount of LD children and middle to upper class children tend to have parents who are more active in their child’s education; including seeking help in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders such as ADD. It is no surprise that these parents utilize all the resources available to ensure that their kids succeed; they are often disproportionately more involved. In fact many school counselors guide students to take advantage of programs that will help them out. This is especially the case in schools that have parents who demand more from their administrators and teachers.

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SECURITY [It means 'the state of being secure'...seriously, we looked it up!]

The Democratic Plan to Protect and Restore Our Leadership in the World [After Undermining These Things For Years]

The first responsibility of our government is the security of every American [or so we've become aware]. In this era of unprecedented and unpredictable challenge, we must be prepared for any [Republican] threat. The men and women of America’s armed forces and those on the front lines here at home have met every challenge with skill, bravery, and selfless dedication [despite our opposition and insistance that they have failed]. They, along with veterans, military retirees and the families of those who have given their lives or have been wounded in defense of our country, deserve the gratitude and support of the American people [except for our far-left base who are too busy being true patriotic Americans]. We will always honor their service and fulfill our promises to them [far-left base that is].

We believe America is best protected, and freedom best advanced, by national security policies — including homeland, energy, and diplomatic strategies — that are both tough and smart [like Jimmy Carter’s].

Democrats offer a plan for Real [...what!? We said “REAL"!] Security to rebuild our military [without the hassles of encouraging people to enlist]; equip and train our first responders and others on the front lines here at home [details to come]; provide needed benefits to our troops and veterans [because no-one can say no to that!]; fully man and equip our National Guard [because we really do respect Guard service, Mr. President]; promote alternative fuels and reduce dependence on foreign oil [we might actually be able to sell this one]; and restore Americans’ confidence in their government’s ability to respond in the face of a terrorist attack or natural disaster [they're coming for your children...hurricanes that is].

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Pandering is the name of the game and right now Washington is treating the American Public like a bunch of children who should be seen but not heard.

But it is Washington who should stand in the corner and we should all yell “TIMEOUT” because they are about to pass the biggest fiasco commonly know as an immigration bill or should I use the “A” word, Amnesty.

Poll after poll shows that Washington is ignoring the will of the American People, I know we do not govern by polls but to totally ignore the public on a issue like this is unforgivable.

The only thing that a civilized society has is order and a respect for the laws of the land and without that you have nothing. If Washington demonstrates that it that easy to circumvent the law to placate demonstrating mobs then we are reduced to mob rule.

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We are pleased to announce a new member to the Webloggin Community of Blogging Excellence.

Pastor Jack brings decades of wisdom and experience to the discussions in the blogosphere. He has been fighting the good fight for over 50 years as a Christian Conservative. His is a voice that is needed now more than ever as religious people everywhere are under attack by a less than tolerant left; not to mention Islamic radicals in America and throughout the world.

Please stop by Pastor Jack’s site and give him a warm welcome to the Webloggin Community.

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Friends, you may have read posts about the serious nature of the Islamic threat — not only to Israel, Europe and the United States, but to the entire world. I just recently received my copy of the publication Israel My Glory. Editor Elwood McQuaid writes an article which is the most condensed, yet comprehensive and frightening compilation of events and aims of the Radical Islamic world movement I have ever read.

I suggest you read this post and then sign up for a free trial subscription to the magazine Israel My Glory on this page of their web site: http://sites.silaspartners.com/foi/

The following sentences and paragraphs are excerpted by permission from the article Islamic Imperialism in the Real World appearing in Friends of Israel publication, Israel My Glory, March-April, 2006, Elwood McQuaid, Editor. He can be reached through the FOI web site above.

My comments that follow are italicized and in brackets. Quoting from the article:

When the majority of the secular news media laughs at the idea of Islamic imperialism, it clos­es its eyes to the bully that is moving in next door. Unfortunately, too many people today have a wrong view of what is happening in the world. The evidence is in, and it should prompt any thinking person to say, “Wait a minute. This is a problem.”

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In a recent Weekly Standard article, Wesley Smith takes on the infant euthanasia that is gaining traction in Holland. His opening paragraphs are models of clear writing:

At last a high government official in Europe got up the nerve to chastise the Dutch government for preparing to legalize infant euthanasia. Italy’s Parliamentary Affairs minister, Carlo Giovanardi, said during a radio debate: “Nazi legislation and Hitler’s ideas are reemerging in Europe via Dutch euthanasia laws and the debate on how to kill ill children.”

Unsurprisingly, the Dutch, ever prickly about international criticism of their peculiar institution, were outraged. Giovanardi’s critique cut so deeply that even Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende felt the need to respond, sniffing, “This [Giovanardi's assertion] is scandalous and unacceptable. This is not the way to get along in Europe.”

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