Part 3:

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Thoughts?

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Not much different than what you may have been reading and/or hearing by someone in favor of Arizona’s Boarder Laws (in fact, less aggressive than the US Federal Law), but I thought it would be interesting to see who you think wrote this, so far, two part article.

When answering question #2, answer it as if you reside on Arizona’s boarder to Mexico.  (as for those that don’t live there and use that as an excuse to not ‘imagine‘, try.  Put yourself, your children, husband, parents, grandchildren living on the board).  It’s real easy to voice opinions until you actually find yourself in the thick of things.

Question #1: Who do you think wrote this two part article?

Question #2: What do you agree and disagree with  

Here’s the two-part article:

With his thick Austrian accent, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger quipped in his commencement address at Emory University this past week: "I was also going to give a graduation speech in Arizona this weekend. But with my accent, I was afraid they would try to deport me."

It seems that the whole country is taking sides in the battle over the border in Arizona. Yet it truly remains the tip of the iceberg of our immigration troubles. Spurred on by the national debate, at least 10 other states are seeking to enact tougher immigration laws.

Now more than ever, we must protect our borders and sovereignty, by providing genuine solutions to the dangers of American boundary fluidity. With estimates showing that by 2060 America will add 167 million people (37 million immigrants today will multiply into 105 million then), it is imperative for us to do more to solve this crisis. Now is the time to beat the doors of change and save the boundaries and future of America.

But the federal government has failed miserably to produce a viable solution to the illegal immigration crisis. Amnesty is not the answer. And immigration laws aren't effective if we continue to dodge or ignore them. Furthermore, globalization efforts have only confused security matters, further endangering our borders and national identity -- our sovereignty. And the question that keeps coming to my mind is: How is it that we can secure borders in the Middle East but can't secure our own?

From America's birth, our Founders struggled, too, with international enemies and border troubles, from the sea of Tripoli to the western frontier. While welcoming the poor, downtrodden and persecuted from every country, they also had to protect the sacred soil they called home from unwanted intruders.

America's Founders also were concerned with properly assimilating immigrants so that their presence would be positive upon the culture. George Washington wrote, "By an intermixture with our people, they, or their descendants, get assimilated to our customs, measures, laws: in a word soon become one people." Thomas Jefferson, hailed as one of the most inclusive among the Founders, worried that some immigrants would leave more restrictive governments and not be able to handle American freedoms, leading to cultural corruption and "an unbounded licentiousness, passing, as is usual, from one extreme to another. It would be a miracle were they to stop precisely at the point of temperate liberty. These principles, with their language, they will transmit to their children. In proportion to their number, they will share with us the legislation. They will infuse into it their spirit, warp and bias its direction, and render it a heterogeneous, incoherent, distracted mass." And Alexander Hamilton insisted that "the safety of a republic depends essentially on the energy of a common national sentiment; on a uniformity of principles and habits; on the exemption of citizens from foreign bias and prejudice; and on the love of country, which will almost invariably be found to be closely connected with birth, education, and family."

According to the Declaration of Independence, "obstructing the Laws for the Naturalization of Foreigners" was one of the objections leveled against Britain that warranted the American colonists' seceding. Yet even the Founders themselves believed that a total open-door policy for immigrants would only lead to complete community and cultural chaos.

We are discussing and debating new ways to resolve the social crisis we call illegal immigration, but our Founders pointed the way more than 200 years ago. Like enrolling in an Ivy League school, American citizenship was considered and promoted by them as a high honor. James Madison shared the collective sentiment back then when he stated, "I do not wish that any man should acquire the privilege, but such as would be a real addition to the wealth or strength of the United States." Hence, they processed applicants and selected only the ones who would contribute to the building up and advancement of their grand experiment called America.

Therefore, our Founders enforced four basic requirements for "enrollment and acceptance" into American citizenry. We still utilize them (at least in policy) to this day, but we desperately need to enforce them. The Heritage Foundation summarizes: "Key criteria for citizenship of the Naturalization Act of 1795 remain part of American law. These include (1) five years of (lawful) residence within the United States; (2) a 'good moral character, attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States, and well disposed to the good order and happiness of the United States'; (3) the taking of a formal oath to support the Constitution and to renounce any foreign allegiance; and (4) the renunciation of any hereditary titles."

Just think if such immigration tenets were taught in schools such as Live Oak High School, in Northern California, where kids are confused about allegiances to flags and countries. And just think if the federal government actually enforced such tenets! Arizona and the 10 other states following suit wouldn't even need to go out on a limb and create their own immigration laws as states did prior to our Constitution. If we held citizenship in the same high esteem as our Founders and simply enforced the laws we already have, we wouldn't be in this illegal immigration pickle today. Next week, (Name Withheld - for now) will lay out their plan, drawing inspiration from our Founders, for dealing with the 12 million-plus illegal immigrants in our country today.

This is part two of a multi-part series ~

Watching U.S. members of the House and Senate, and the president's Cabinet in a joint session of Congress stand and applaud Mexican President Felipe Calderon's slam of Arizona's new immigration enforcement law, I thought, "What a despicable act of disloyalty to one of their own states and a ludicrous leadership move to boot, especially when 71 percent of Arizonians agree with its new immigration law. "

President Calderon, how can you possibly criticize the state of Arizona about its newly passed immigration law, when Mexico's immigration law states:

-- Immigrants can't be an economic burden.

-- Immigrants must be healthy.

-- Immigrants must have no criminal record.

-- Immigrants must show a birth certificate.

-- Immigrants must provide their own health care.

-- Government can ban foreigners due to race.

-- Illegal entry is a felony (resulting in jail time).

-- Illegal immigrants can receive no government assistance of any kind.

-- Illegal immigrants' children may not attend public schools.

-- Document fraud is subject to fine/jail.

-- Incarceration and deportation of illegals occurs without due process or a trial.

-- A Mexican who marries a foreigner with the goal of helping the foreigner live in the country is subject to up to five years in prison.

-- Federal, local and municipal police must enforce immigration laws, including checking "papers" of suspected illegals

Mexican law actually shares similar strictness with how America's founders dealt responsibly and forcefully with immigration law. In Part 1, I concluded by outlining key criteria for citizenship from the Naturalization Act of 1795, which remain part of American law. These include: "1) five years of (lawful) residence within the United States; 2) a 'good moral character, attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States, and well disposed to the good order and happiness of the United States'; 3) the taking of a formal oath to support the Constitution and to renounce any foreign allegiance; and 4) the renunciation of any hereditary titles."

In order for us to regain control of the chaotic mess and national disunity posed by illegals and press on to achieve the success our forefathers had in immigration, I believe we must apply those four criteria to our naturalization process in a more practical way.

First, Congress must stop the flow of illegal immigration by putting up a viable border fence and reinforcing it by whatever means necessary. Then it must refocus the streams of immigration.

In order for the sheer force of Niagara Falls to be harnessed into usable energy, it must be intentionally funneled through proper and restrictive channels. I believe the same must be done with immigration or ultimately we will hand our sovereignty over to other nations on a populous platter.

Our forefathers increased and decreased the influx of certain peoples because America was not only building a melting pot of ethnicities but securities and degrees of productivity. Today, with America having achieved that great diversity, of course we shouldn't regulate the flows of immigration based upon ethnicity. Rather, we should regulate them based upon societal needs for balance, stability and growth, just as our founders did.

James Madison spoke for most founders as he gave the purpose for immigration: "Not merely to swell the catalogue of people. No, sir, it is to increase the wealth and strength of the community; and those who acquire the rights of citizenship, without adding to the strength or wealth of the community, are not the people we are in want of."

As I mentioned, we can't properly deal with the illegals within our borders until we've stopped the flow of any more at our borders. Then, and only then, can we turn our attention to the millions already residing in our country. What I then propose for them is not amnesty in any package, but a onetime solution based upon the 1790-1795 immigration law that would separate the wheat from the chaff, straining out potentially productive and law-abiding citizens who will pay their fair share of taxes as residents.

I would give illegal immigrants already here a three-month grace period to apply for a temporary worker's visa. If they failed to apply within that time frame, they would be considered fugitives, and would be found and deported. Once they applied and qualified for a temporary worker's visa, these immigrants would be placed on a two-year probationary period (the original 1790 requirement of residency). At the completion of that time, and if they remained in good standing, they would be issued a permanent worker's visa. And, after an additional three years (completing the five-year residency requirement from the Naturalization Act of 1795), they would qualify to apply for U.S. citizenship.

During their two-year probationary period, it would be their responsibility to check in to assigned governing officials and prove their productivity and progress as a part of the American landscape. Criteria would of course be established by Congress (as the Constitution requires), but enforced by local probationary personnel from the departments of naturalization, in a similar way that probation officers monitor people on probation. If immigrants don't "check in," and do not have a good reason for not doing so, they will be deported. If they are law-breakers, they will be deported. If they don't demonstrate a good moral standing and aren't productive members of their community, they will be deported.

This is how America was built, and it is how it can be rebuilt again today -- if we finally secure our borders, better regulate the influx of immigrants to meet and build up societal needs, and offer a responsible path to citizenship for immigrants who are already working here and want to become productive American citizens.  

Question #1: Who do you think wrote this two part article?

Question #2: What do you agree and disagree with

Made this this other day from being tired of smoothies.

I only have large muffin pans and this made 12 large muffins perfectly.  I wrap each one individually and freeze them.

They were super easy, moist and a great grab & go to get something in your stomach in the morning ~ besides coffee

Ingredients:  

4 medium bananas, very ripe
6 tablespoons butter, melted
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup buttermilk
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
1 3/4 cup flour
1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Directions:  

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Prepare muffin tins paper cups (or spray with cooking oil).

In a large mixing bowl, mash the bananas with a fork until fairly smooth.

Add the melted butter and stir completely with the fork.

Add the sugar, egg and vanilla, peanut butter ...mix completely.

Sprinkle the baking powder and baking soda over the batter, mix completely.

Add the flour and mix until the flour is completely mixed into the batter.

Fill the muffin cups in a prepared muffin tin. Fill each about 3/4 full.

Bake 20-25 minutes (or until a pick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean).

This should make approximately 20 muffins.

___________________

Nutrition Facts

Banana Peanut Butter Muffins

12 Servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 285.5
Total Fat 12.6 g
Saturated Fat 5.2 g
Polyunsaturated Fat1.9 g
Monounsaturated Fat 4.7 g
Cholesterol51.6 mg
Sodium201.9 mg
Potassium283.2 mg
Total Carbohydrate38.8 g
Dietary Fiber2.1 g
Sugars18.2 g
Protein6.6 g
Vitamin A6.1
Vitamin B-122.1
Vitamin B-615.1
Vitamin C6.2
Vitamin D1.1
Vitamin E7.0
Calcium7.2
Copper4.3
Folate13.4
Iron7.7
Magnesium8.9
Manganese11.8
Niacin13.7
Pantothenic Acid4.2
Phosphorus11.2
Riboflavin12.5
Selenium14.9
Thiamin12.0
Zinc4.5 %

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Fifteen minutes of meditation for any beginner can seem like a lifetime!  Luckily, I knew this so when I started yesterday, I was willing to calmly accept whatever time I was able to do was okay.

To my surprise, I actually did do 15 minutes!  Didn’t get 8 hours sleep!  A hamburger that I had for dinner, just didn’t agree with me and had me up a few times... hate when that happens!

So many things came back to me while practicing:

_{Focus on my breathe} Breathe in calm; Breathe out stress, tension, chatter & negativity
~ Lightly place the tip of my tongue on the roof of my mouth (keeps the mind focused)
~ Sit up straight!
~ Allow my mind to wander but every time I catch myself wandering, immediately refocus on my chosen word(s) - Calm & Relax - or whatever
~  Block out as much outside noise

As I focused on all those things, I did make a mental note of the chatter that did try to slip in.  That chatter gave me a message of things in my life I needed to look at and take care of.

Some of my chatter said:

~  Call Pat
~ Call Vicky
~ Call Karen
~ Fill out your papers for school
~ Pictured Mike meditating next to me
~ Get wash started before you leave
~ Eat something before you leave
~ Clean the bathroom
~ Clean the dining room
~  .....

All these things needed to be put down on paper and taken care of so I could address them.  In doing so, possibly  tomorrow, my mind would be freer to focus on me and not my to-do list and whether or not Mike would join me at some point.

Just as Suzann questioned about dreams a few days ago, I believe meditation also dips into our subconscious to challenge us to look at things we may be ‘slacking’ on  I truly mean that in a way!

That’s about all I can remember right now.  But, SUCCESS!  

Meditation is centering and like myself, sometimes there’s some debris that needs to be swept away or sort of organized before centering comes.  It IS just part of the process not a roadblock.

This is in no way about doing it perfect.  There is no perfect!   Only patient improvement in going toward a goal.

It’s all good!

Going with my 1st day of meditation...

Perfection ~ The Language of Letting Go, May 11

Many of us picked on ourselves unmercifully.  We my also have a tendency to pick on ourselves after we begin making changes for ourselves.

~  If I was really serious, I wouldn’t be doing that again...
~  I should be further along than I am...

These are statements that we indulge in when we‘re felling shame.  We don’t need to treat ourselves that way.  There is no benefit.

Remember, shame blocks us.  But self-love and acceptance enable us to grow and change.  If we truly have done something we feel guilty about, we can correct it with an amend and an attitude of self-acceptance and love.

Even if we slip back to our old, codependent ways of thinking, feeling and behaving, we do not need to be ashamed.  We all regress from time to time.  That’s how we learn and grow.  Relapse or recycling, is an important and necessary part of change.  And the way out of recycling is not by shaming ourselves.  That leads us deeper into codependency.

Much pain comes from trying to be perfect.  Perfection is impossible unless we think of it in a new way:  Perfection is being who and where we are today;  it’s accepting and loving ourselves just as we are.  We are each right where we need to be.

Today, I will love and accept myself for who I am and where I am in my process. I am right where I need to be to get where I am going tomorrow.