www.leray.us

One of my son’s serves in the military. He is still stateside, here in California. He called me yesterday to let me know how warm and welcoming people were to him, and his troops, everywhere he goes. Telling me how people shake their hands, and thank them for being willing to serve, and fight, for not only our own freedoms but so that others may have them also.

But he also told me about an incident in the grocery store he stopped at yesterday, on his way home from the base. He said that ahead of several people in front of him stood a woman dressed in a burkha. He said when she got to the cashier she loudly remarked about the US flag lapel pin the cashier wore on her smock.

The cashier reached up and touched the pin, and said yes, I always wear it.

The woman in the burkha then asked the cashier when she was going to stop bombing her countrymen, explaining that she was Iraqi.

A gentleman standing behind my son stepped forward, putting his arm around my son’s shoulders, and nodding towards my son, said in a calm and gentle voice to the Iraqi woman: "Lady, hundreds of thousands of men and women like this young man have fought and died so that you could stand here in my country and accuse a check-out cashier of bombing your Countrymen.

It is my belief that had you been this outspoken in your own country we wouldn’t need to be there today. But hey, if you have now learned how to speak out so loudly and clearly I’ll gladly pay your way back to Iraq so you can straighten out the mess you are obviously here to avoid.

---

But I guess it doesn’t matter.  You’ll never see these stories on the
news.

You’ll never hear stories about men like Brian Chontosh who proudly
wear our uniform.

You can click on the link below for more info, or to see a picture of a real
hero.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/chontosh.asp

(more…)

WTF?!?!?!?!?!?

Kansas Gov. to sign illegal immigrants tuition bill:

http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/Central/05/05/immigrant.tuition.ap/index.html

When I see things like this, it frankly makes my blood boil.

So everyone is aware, I am an immigrant.

I came to the U.S. in 1969, and became a naturalized citizen in 1986.

My parents went through A LOT of hoops to come here.  My Father had to
come first, apply for a visa, find a job and get a ‘sponsor’ ("A U.S. Citizen
willing to vouch for your character and integrity" in living in the U.S.).

This took about a year for him, after which he received a resident immigrant
status card commonly referred to as a green card (because back
then they were actually green) from the INS.

After that he applied for us to come join him in the U.S. the visa, etc. took
about another 6 months for my Mother and I.

I got tuberculosis while traveling to the U.S. to live with my Father. 
I endured a year of treatment and will have issues for the rest of my life.

Bottom line….we endured a lot of sacrifice to come here!

I think I can speak for most immigrants (illegal or otherwise) in that the
U.S. offers the best opportunities for a good life than anywhere else.  I
truly feel blessed that I was able to live here.  Even though I had more in
Jamaica, I know I am better off living in here.  None of the opportunities
I have had would have presented itself back home.

It’s the reason I (and most immigrant service members) are proud to serve in the
armed forces.

So in that sense I understand the want to come here at all costs.

What cracks my craw if you will is that now if you’re an
‘illegal alien’ you can still go to school, get medical coverage, etc.

What made my Father go through all he did for his family was the threat of
deportation, which now even if you’re a friggin terrorist you don’t have
to worry about!

Why doesn’t the government just get rid of INS, open the borders and just be done with it?!?!?
(more…)