Immigration - Legal and Illegal

The situation with respect to immigration - both legal and illegal - across the USA-Mexican border could, perhaps be described in these terms:

"A slow motion, generally non-violent, re-run of the war of 1846 - 1848. This time, however, Mexico is winning."

While the nativists are appalled, we may well not lose. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the flood of poor and uneducated immigrants - few of whom spoke English - generated many of the same sentiments and prejudices. Our country benefited greatly then from this influx and, even though politically incorrect multi-culturism will slow down the process, I believe that this new group of immigrants will become the great Americans of tomorrow.

For those with doubts, please re-read these words, written by Emma Lazarus and engraved on the Statue of Liberty:

"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"