Immigration and the National Anthem

When I got into work this morning, I saw the headline in the Freep about a Spanish version of the National Anthem, which actually got the blood going a bit.

Now, I am as liberal as anyone, but this crap has to stop. Where do we draw the line here? Do we need a Spanish, French, Hindi, and Portugese version of our national anthem? How about Swahili(sp?), Russian, and German too? For goodness sakes, this is America dammit, and our national language is English. Why in the world do we have to have our anthem in another language? To me that is just ludicrous. As my wife pointed out, there is an exception up in Canada with their anthem being in French and English, but they have two official languages, we have one, case closed.

Now on to immigration. Why can't we have the same policies as other countries when it comes to immigration? If I was to move to Canada, I would have to find a job, establish residence, and THEN wait for two years in order to become a citizen. If I was to move to Canada, and found to be there illegally, I wouldn't be given some golden key like Bush wants to do, I would be tossed out of the country. There is the argument that we accept illegals from Mexico because they will do the menial labor Americans won't do. Hogwash, they would do it if they had to, and if the welfare system in this country actually changed. The reality of it is Americans are too damn lazy to work in a field, or do what it takes to make ends meet. Most would rather sit in a welfare line, collect from the government, and make more babies so they can collect more welfare and mooch off the government. If the US actually forced the unemployed to work, or volunteer, we wouldn't have some of the problems we have with immigration. There wouldn't be jobs for these immigrants!! Yowzers, American's would actually be working!!

What I want to see is for this country to do a couple of things. First of all, if one is to move here, learn the language. I have run into so many people who have been here for years, and have no clue how to speak, or read the language. How is one supposed to survive if you don't know how to speak English? (Charity, am I turning into a conservative?) Secondly, tighten the borders. How we do this is simply beyond me, but I am just a guy who sits in front of a microphone by day and writes by night.

Off to New Hampshire for a board meeting tomorrow. Go Sox!!!

Fells

The sports rant.......

The AAA International League has indefinitly suspended Devil Rays prospect Delon Young for throwing a bat at an umpire in Durham's game against Pawtucket. Young says it was an accident....Yeah right, and Bush is a democrat. Some think he should be suspended for 20 games, others have said 50, but I say suspend him for the rest of the season. What that kid did was just plain wrong. You don't throw a bat at an umpire!! If called out, a 20 year old kid shouldn't even look back at an ump, much less throw a bat at him. Anything less than a full season suspension would send the message that professional athletes are not accountable for their own actions. Does Young realize how many kids saw the video and think it is funny? How many Little League kids may see his behavior and do the same? The kids I coach over in Center City know that if they question an umpire, they are pulled from the game. I have zero tolerance for poor sportsmanship, and my kids know it.

The lesson was learned from Jack Gordon when I was in Little League back in my hometown of Lafayette, California. Jack was an old marine who ran his teams like he was a drill sargeant. If you were on one of Jack's teams, you hustled, you played hard, and you didn't even breathe in the direction of an ump. I did it ONCE, and only ONCE. Man, I asked an ump where a pitch was and good old Jack tore me to shreds, then pulled me from the game. This lesson was very well learned, as later he told me why he did what he did, and the importance of being a good sport. The lesson has always stayed in my mind, and is something I teach to the kids I coach.

On another note, Barry Bonds is set to pass Babe Ruth on the all-time home run list. I don't think there should be an asterisk next to his name, there should be a syringe. Bonds is juiced, he knows it and the world knows it. Even though I am a life long Giants fan, I don't want him touching the Babe's or Hank Aaron's record. I want to see Bonds get 600 intentional walks, and I want him to sulk all the way to the guy who juices him up.

Tis all, writer's block is over, now I can get back to work.

From Plattsburgh......

Thanks to everyone who showed up today for Democracy for America's rally over at Plattsburgh State. I was honored to speak on the downward spiral that President Georgie has been spinning this country into. It was also great to meet and speak with Plattsburgh City Councilor Bill Provost, and congressional candidate Dr. Bill Johnson.

There was a great turnout, great messages, and it is good to see the number of people who are sick and tired of the Bush administration, and the war as a whole. By the way, if my buddy Amy the VAA nut is reading this....It was GREAT to finally meet you. It was nice to put a face behind the voice, and talk some politics with you. It was also nice to put faces to our listeners as well.

The war......

Tomorrow in Plattsburgh, Democracy for America is holding a rally and march that will start over at the Angell Center at Plattsburgh State. I will be over there speaking, and encourage people to come to the event and speak out against the war, and the injustices by the Bush administration. The war has now killed well over 30,000 civillians, along with 2,500 soldiers.

I am sick and tired of hearing about this war since I don't think we have any business in being there. Did Saddam have WMD's? Of course he didn't. Did we have an exit plan going into this conflict? Lord, no. Do we have any plans to get out of Iraq? Well, considering that Bush has said we will be there for many more years, I don't think so. When will this administration realize that with our actions, we have actually opened ourselves up even more to terrorist attacks? Other countries despise us right now because of our actions, and the fact we are trying to push our ideals on another country. Could it be possible that Iraqis don't want democracy? Could it also be possible that as always, we as a country seem to be pushing the massive superiority complex onto the rest of the world?

We need to pay attention to our own problems such as the health care crisis and rebuilding New Orleans and the southeast. For once, we need to put ourselves first.

On this Easter Sunday.....

I will not be going into religion. My views on religion would really piss everyone off, and for some odd reason, I don't feel like doing that......today.

Man alive, the Sox are looking good. I think Pappalbon has ended the closer debate by going 6-6 in save opportunities and making Foulke seem like trade bait. Also, try this one on for size, and make your predictions. The Sox have made just TWO errors in the first 11 games of the year. Could the entire infield win Gold Gloves? Considering that all but Youk have won one, I don't think it is out of the realm of possibility. By the way, Youklis continues to impress me down at first. He is making the tough plays, and is digging balls out of the dirt like he has been there for years.

Call it a year for the Bruins, and take advantage of the extra day to get the taxes in. I am still sick as a dog, so again this will be short.