Who Is An American?
August 5, 2008

"Who is an American?” I asked myself that question the other day, when I heard on my car radio, that former Border Agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean had the appeals of their lengthy prison sentences (11 and 12 years, respectively), rejected. They were convicted of shooting an "alleged” illegal alien drug smuggler, Osvaldo Aldrete Davila, in the buttocks, as he was fleeing to the Mexican border with nearly a million dollar's worth of marijuana, that he had tried to smuggle into the U.S.

In spite of nationwide protests, Ramos and Compean were imprisoned and Davila was let go! Go and smuggle some more? With the rejection of the appeals, it occurred to me that, these days it appears that the full force of the law, is directed against "Americans.” People who have no legal right to be here, and who already broke American law to enter and remain in this country, appear to be receiving preferential treatment. The message to Americans, from many of our so called "leaders,” appears to be: "Shut up. Keep working. Pay your taxes. We will take it from there.”

So who is an American? An American is the border agent who is performing a difficult task patrolling America’s cheesecloth borders, walking a fine line between enforcing politically correct rules that could mean the loss of his life. On the one hand, he has to do a Paso Doble (two-step) with vicious gangs, traffickers in people and drugs, and possible terrorists, and, on the other hand with ambitious district attorneys. One wrong step in that danse macabre and he could end up doing more time than some murderers, if not dead. Ask Ramos and Compean.

Again, who is an American? The Marines of Haditha are Americans, to whom "political correctness and prosecutorial zeal,” made a post-engagement visit, and lined them up against the bars of a military cell, for doing the jobs for which they were hired. Luckily, these are not the days of the wild, wild West, or a firing squad could have dispensed "justice” and maybe sorted out the facts after the funerals of these Marines.

To their dismay, these Marines found out that they had graduated from cannon fodder to "political-expediency” fodder, when a member of the legislative branch, who is supposed to represent them and not vilify them, pronounced them guilty before their trial! Lose your limbs and/or lives in battle, or your reputation in the courtroom? Which is the deeper cut?

There was no corresponding rush to a mea culpa on the part of the accuser after the Marines were cleared. They and their families are still waiting for the press conference by Democrat Congressman John Murtha, a former Marine, to apologize for his intemperate remarks and rush to judgment. Maybe that is why there have been no reports that hell has frozen over.

Is Joe Ordinary an American? He is only a taxpayer extraordinaire, offspring, sibling, husband, and father. Poor Joe O thought that by working hard and saving a few bucks here and there, he could lead a placid life. But the pool of tranquility he envisioned keeps being invaded by huge boulders called "taxation,” as well as higher and higher food and gas prices. Throw in a little renegade wave of increasingly high mortgage payments and Joe is almost literally swimming with the sharks!

Joe O is not of sufficient stature to command one of the sweetheart real-estate deals that recently made headlines. But he was recently tossed a "verbal life line” by presidential candidate Barack Obama, who suggested that Joe not eat as much; lower his thermostat to below 72 degrees; and get rid of his SUV. Candidate Obama also advised Joe and his fellow Americans to "inflate their tires” in order to counteract high gas prices. Somehow, "tire inflation” was not the economic remedy Joe was expecting. Poor old Joe was probably thinking along the lines of drilling for domestic oil, building new nuclear facilities, or exploring viable alternative avenues of energy.

Last week, Joe got his answer. His legislators took off for their month-long recess while poor Joe was still in "school” – the school of hard knocks. Here is a piece of advice, Joe: You would be better off swimming with real sharks.

Then there are the Needlessly-Wronged Americans. "Needlessly wronged,” because they have had family members slaughtered on the streets of their hometowns, crimes that could have been prevented. These family members were gunned down, or murdered by other means, by illegal aliens, many of whom are gang members. Too often it appears that these gang members, or to use the politically correct term, "bands of men,” are the defacto rulers of the neighborhoods they illegally inhabit. Now and again, they have the "misfortune” to be caught, sometimes only after the commission of multiple crimes. By that time, it is too late for the parent or spouse who is left to mourn the senseless murder of a loved one.

Two recent slaughters made headlines that finally began to get our attention. Sgt. Anita Shaw was recalled from Iraq to bury her older son, Jamiel, who was destined to be The One. Unlike some political fakers, Jamiel had the credentials to make that claim, particularly in regard to his athletic prowess. Prestigious schools like Stanford were recruiting him. But the illegal-alien gangbanger who shot him dead – who probably couldn’t even spell "Stanford” – was able to live large in America, the land of the free, without the requisite documents, and robbed Jamiel of his life. We are left to wonder what contributions Jamiel would have made to America and his fellow Americans.

The Shaws, to their credit, "moved on” by seeking justice for the loss of their son. They have been displaying a doggedness that should be emulated by our elected officials, who have – but refuse to use – the authority to end the conditions that allow illegal alien criminals to snuff out the lives of the young and old of America.

In another case, I saw Mrs. Bologna on television describing her ordeal in dealing with the cold-blooded murder of her husband and two sons. They too had gotten on the wrong end of an illegal alien’s gun. He shot them for unintentionally blocking his way in traffic. I was near tears as I heard Mrs. Bologna’s tale. She and the Shaw family share the same experience of living in a "sanctuary city.” Sanctuary cities that are sanctuaries for illegal aliens – just not for Americans.

Are These True Americans?

What about those I term "Faustian-Americans?” While I am dead set against hyphenated Americans, I’ll make an exception this time. Remember the legendary Faust, who reportedly sold his soul to Mephistopheles (the devil) for youth and power? The souls of our modern day Faustians are available for cold hard cash. Sometimes that cash is even stored in refrigerators, replacing the usual poultry and peas. Faustian-Americans come in all skin colors and ethnic backgrounds. They pursue those green greed backs with unrelenting zeal, even if it means throwing Momma from the train, or Grandma under the bus!

Deep down in the recesses of what is left of their souls, they have a vague awareness that pillaging, looting and financially raping their fellow citizens is wrong, but they have made a bargain – obscene wealth in exchange for their souls. While they’re fleecing their clients or constituents, they rationalize that sheep are made to be fleeced and better that fleecing be done by an experienced shearer!

Among the "fleecers” are businessmen who charge Joe Ordinary an exorbitant mortgage rate, but set aside special deals – in one case, FOA (friends of Angelo) – that are reserved for members of the legislative branch of the U.S. government. Presumably this is all perfectly legal because there is no provable quid-pro-quo. The lesson for Joe Ordinary taxpayer, is to quit his backbreaking, soul-numbing job and seek a really, really lucrative gig, something like becoming a congressperson or senator. Yeah! That’s the ticket!

Other "fleecers” include the species known as "politicians.” They are the folks who begin many speeches with "My fellow Americans,” just before they outline the various ways in which they plan to screw their fellow Americans! In addition to the other perks they accumulate (just as a kleptomaniac "shops” for items at a store), they are allowed to spend one term in office and collect thousands in pension benefits over their lifetimes, or be convicted of a crime, but collect those same pensions in prison! They can verbally mutilate a soldier or Marine with unfounded charges of crimes against suspected terrorists, but continue to "serve” and collect their pensions! And they can shuffle we lowly taxpayers into an oft-raided national pension plan (the aptly misnamed "Social Security”) while they enjoy an exclusive deal that is more secure than Fort Knox.