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Perspective, PNCC,

Of priestly humanity

The American Papist blog is carrying a post on Fr. Francis Mary Stone & EWTN as well as periodic updates on the “situation.”

The Young Fogey pointed to that article as well as to his comment on it, which is reasonable and balanced.

It appears that Fr. Francis, the key host of EWTN’s Life on the Rock TV program has taken a leave of absence which is quickly morphing into a permanent leave of absence.

On a recent show a letter from Fr. Francis was read:

Dear Family,

Regretfully, I have a message that does not come without significant pain to both you and me. I have to tell you in all honesty and truth, that I have been personally involved with helping a widow and her struggling family. Over the course of time, the mother and I have grown very close. As a result, I am compelled to take some time off to prayerfully and honestly discern my future.

I am truly sorry of the impact this may have on so many. I am not unaware of the gravity and magnitude of the situation, yet after much wise counsel, it is really something that I must deal with now for the good of all.

With that said, it is best that I deal with it away from EWTN. Therefore, I have asked for and graciously been granted some extended time to prayerfully discern my vocation.

To those who are part of the EWTN family locally, and others throughout the world, especially all those who have supported me so faithfully in my priestly vocation and ministry here on Life on the Rock, I sincerely apologize. I ask for your prayers and understanding during this time that is so very difficult, but yet so very necessary.

Please lift me up in your humble prayers to Jesus through Mary, our Mother, in Grace and Mercy.

Fr Francis Mary, MFVA

As my regular readers know, the clergy of the Polish National Catholic Church are allowed to marry. They would also note that I have long stated that the vow of celibacy is an imposed discipline which is unworkable from a grace or discipline perspective. You cannot demand such gifts from the Holy Spirit, only encourage and support those with that gift while not foisting it upon others.

The American Papist blog immediately gets into requesting prayers for Fr. Francis, as well as a discussion of the “grave situation.” They remind us that all men are sinful (agreed), that [Roman] Catholics should not be scandalized (do not agree), and how this is a teaching opportunity.

Now I freely admit that the Roman Church has its own discipline. I do respect that. While I respect it, that does not imply that I or my Church agree with it. We think there is a better way.

I offer the following from my perspective:

I am saddened to see the rare mention of prayers for the woman and her family at the American Papist website.

They note that the subsitute anchor at Life on the Rock went on to say in reference to Fr. Francis’ situation:

“evil and sin do not have the last word – there’s always hope”

Of course that is par for the course. She is the sinful Eve leading good Father Francis astray. Not said outwardly, but implied by words like scandal, grave, temptation, and by Fr. Francis’ apology itself.

If I were the woman involved, that sort of apologizing would lead to a long cold silence. She is relegated to second class status, and is marked as a cause for apology and shame, even evil, the cause of sin.

That said, those sorts of reactions are trained in, gut instinct for Father Francis and others. Not exactly psychologically healthy when you are in that situation.

The grace of celibacy should be self perpetuating and not a cause for internal conflict. Here you see internal conflict — painful, and cause for an expression of regret which will later lead to more regret.

In a certain way this speaks to the fall of the many, which is often a fall well out of the limelight. Is the Roman Church’s clergy imbued with the grace of celibacy or are far to many left without the gift, left harmed by a discipline imposed by men?

As I noted, [Roman] Catholics may have good reason to be scandalized. Not so much by Fr. Francis’ decisions but firstly because EWTN has expunged Fr. Francis from its website.

He, and whatever good he did in his ministry, have been relegated to non-existence. If anything was learned from other recent scandals, covering-up is to be avoided. Were all his homilies, the programs he hosted graceless blather?

Secondly, on the issue of covering-up. Fr. Francis was somehow “helping” this woman (counseling?, spiritual guidance?, I can’t imagine financial support). That sort of relationship demands a duty, and might imply that the woman and her family were vulnerable, perhaps even taken advantage of.

Love can happen in stressful situations – but care must be used to ensure that the love is real, and not driven by need. As such, the helper must be careful. This goes back to the prayer issue – perhaps she and her family are more “in need.”

If I were to offer a prayer (and I do), I would ask that the Lord keep watch over Fr. Francis, the widow, and her family. That He protect them and that He allow them to heal and discern His will.

I wish them well and hope that they can see past the immediate to the long term. There is joy in a loving relationship between a man and a woman, if that is what they are called to. They should know that it is a special grace from God that is open to all who are called to it.

Perspective, Political,

In honor

A worthy read on this day from John Guzlowski: November 11, 1918–The Day World War I Ended.

I knew these guys too, but also my father, grandfather, uncles.

They carried the scars too, but without outward travail. They flew the flag, honored the fallen veterans by placing flags and serving funeral detail. They were Legionaries, and members of the VFW.

They suffered quietly through the indignity of being forgotten in overcrowded, understaffed Veterans hospitals. My grandfather died there, interspersed with the insane, the terminal, the others long forgotten, except by the dedicated who did more than while away the time.

All in tribute to the men and women who went into the fray and withstood the neglect and wrath of their own government. Remember the treatment of the Bonus Army.

Remember all of them, living and deceased, in your prayers today. Remember too, those who are in Iraq and Afghanistan, who will come back in pain, not whole in body, spirit, or mind. Those who will come home where the expectation will be that they slip quietly into memory.

God have mercy on us.

Perspective, Poland - Polish - Polonia

(not) sticking together

From the Albany Times-Union: Lake George workers exploited, state says

Summer employees from overseas were cheated out of rightful wages, investigators determine

LAKE GEORGE — The operators of several restaurants and hotels in this upstate tourist region exploited foreign workers and cheated them of proper wages this past summer, the state Department of Labor said Monday.

Five businesses in Lake George and two hotels in Queensbury stand accused of infractions which include breaking child labor laws, refusing to pay required overtime and deducting rent from wages, said Leo Rosales, the department’s communications director.

The agency has issued more than $120,000 in fines to the establishments for back wages and penalties.

Cited were SJ Garcia’s for $47,766; the Quality Inn and adjoining Econo Lodge in Queensbury for $46,505; Ramada Express for $14,209; and Depe Dene for $3,200.

Taste of Poland has agreed to pay $4,207 and Choice Inn & Suites (formerly Mohawk Motel) has settled for $4,442, Rosales said.

The cases involve dozens of young student workers from Poland, Ukraine, Russia and other countries, who arrived in the U.S. on J1 visas, a cultural exchange program that allows them to work here for a limited time, Rosales said.

Irena Lyahkanova from Russia said she worked like a “slave” at Taste of Poland restaurant for “nothing.” The owners did not pay any of its tipped employees, the 10 to 12 waitresses and bussers through the summer, Lyahkanova said. Many went back to Russia and Poland with no money.

“We were all afraid that we would be deported,” she said. “I am only 19 and (had) no money to go home with.”

Village Mayor Robert Blais reported the alleged violations to the Labor Department recently after several young workers visited the Foreign Student Connection Office in Lake George to complain that employers were withholding wages.

The connection locates employment and housing for hundreds of seasonal workers from overseas each year. The village set up the operation in 2004 due to complaints by visiting workers of pay issues, discrimination and abuse.

…

After Blais contacted the state, labor standards investigators visited the businesses to examine payroll records and interviewed employees about working conditions, Rosales said.

…

The businesses can dispute the citations or pay them, Rosales said. The workers who said they were defrauded will receive the settlement payments, which combine back wages or illegal deductions plus interest.

To help prevent future violations, the department will conduct education programs in Lake George and other resort areas next year and follow up with targeted enforcement sweeps during summer months.

“The department will aggressively enforce the state’s labor laws to protect all workers, particularly the most vulnerable workers,” state Labor Commissioner M. Patricia Smith said. “It is disappointing to learn that these employers took advantage of several young foreign workers who are far from home and family. They should be treated with dignity and respect and not cheated out of their hard earned money.”

I am continually amazed when I run across people who, in rather quiet discussion, carp on, complaining about this that or another group who all stick together. I’ve run across a large number of Poles who love to go on about one or another group, thinking that that group sticks together so well, so much so that they achieve unprecedented levels of control.

Of course, the reality is quite different. No one is all that loyal anymore, especially to their ethnic or even religious heritage.

Still in all, I find this news quite disturbing. If you are a successful Pole, and you can’t treat other immigrants and guest workers with common decency, well your business will suffer.

I suppose that’s why those who have eaten at Taste of Poland have found the food expensive and less than adequate. The practice of the owner pervades the business.

Hopefully this will be a wake-up call for this and the other businesses. If not, hopefully it will be their death knell. Then others who are smarter about their business practice can step in and do a much better job.

Perspective, Poland - Polish - Polonia, Political

Polish election news

From the NY Times: Opposition Heading to Victory in Poland

Polish Mountaineers (Górale) vote

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — A pro-business opposition party that wants to bring Poland’s troops home from Iraq was headed to an overwhelming victory in Sunday’s parliamentary elections, exit polls showed, setting it up to oust the prime minister’s staunchly pro-U.S. government.

It would be a stinging defeat for Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski, whose conservative Law and Justice party was elected two years ago and has since been criticized for its combative approach to the European Union and efforts to purge former communists from positions of influence.

Appearing before supporters late Sunday, Kaczynski said ”we didn’t manage in the face of this unprecedented broad front of attacks,” referring to the opposition’s campaign.

Donald Tusk, the leader of the opposition Civic Platform party, said the election showed that Poles want to focus on the economic opportunities presented by the country’s membership in the EU, which Poland joined in 2004.

”It is Civic Platform’s intention to make Poles feel much better in their own country than they have felt so far,” Tusk told cheering supporters. ”We are going to do huge work and we will do it well. You have the right to rejoice today.”

State TV projections showed the Civic Platform party and its preferred coalition partner, the small Polish Peasants Party, winning a majority of seats in the lower house, which would allow them to form a government together and knock Kaczynski from power.

An exit poll for TVP state television showed 43.7 percent of people voting for Civic Platform and 30.4 percent choosing Kaczynski’s Law and Justice party.

A TVN24 private television exit poll showed a 44.2 percent to 31.3 percent edge for Civic Platform, and also showed Civic Platform’s preferred coalition partner, the Polish Peasants Party, with 7.9 percent — enough to give the two parties a majority of the popular vote.

Exactly correct on bringing the troops home, exactly correct on good relations with neighboring countries, exactly correct on telling President Bush and company: ‘Thanks for nothing.’

An interesting aside, the Leader of the Civic Platform (PO – Platforma Obywatelska) is Donald Tusk – ethnically a Kashubian.

Perspective, , ,

Global South

A friend and occasional correspondent referred the following article to me and asked that I include it in my blog.

From the National Catholic Reporter: Global South underrepresented in college of cardinals

In naming 23 new cardinals on Wednesday, Pope Benedict XVI chose to acknowledge one bit of demographic reality, but largely ignored a much bigger one.

Americans have noted, and rightly so, that the nomination of Archbishop Daniel DiNardo in Houston accurately reflects a shift in Catholic population in the United States away from the East Coast, towards the South and Southwest. From a global point of view, however, the new crop of cardinals is remarkably unrepresentative of where Catholics are today.

To understand that, it’s essential to recall that Catholicism experienced a demographic revolution in the 20th century. In 1900, there were 266 million Catholics in the world, 200 million of whom lived in Europe and North America. Just a century later, there were 1.1 billion Catholics, only 380 million of whom were in Europe and North America, with 720 million in Latin America, Africa and Asia. The global South accounted for 25 percent of the Catholic population a century ago; today it’s 67 percent and climbing.

You wouldn’t know that, however, from looking at Benedict’s appointments. Focusing just on the 18 new cardinal-electors, meaning those under 80 with the right to vote for the next pope, ten are Europeans and two are from the United States. (Three of the five over-80 cardinals named by Benedict XVI are likewise Europeans. Had Bishop Ignacy Ludwik Jez of Poland lived to receive the honor, it would have been four of six.) After these new cardinals join the church’s most exclusive club in a Nov. 24 consistory, 60 of 121 electors will be European. Adding the cardinals from the United States and Canada, the total for the global North rises to 76 electors out of 121, meaning 63 percent.

To put this into a sound bite, two-thirds of the cardinals come from the global North, while two-thirds of the Catholic people live in the South.

Such disparities do not go unnoticed. The pope’s announcement was made at roughly 11:30 a.m. Rome time, and within a half-hour I had an e-mail from La Tercera, a newspaper in Santiago, Chile, asking for a reaction to the following question: “Two-thirds of the nominees are from Western Europe or the U.S. Why?”

Why indeed? At least three reasons suggest themselves…

This didn’t jump out at me, so thanks for the referral.

I think that the author covered the issues well, and that this was an interesting analysis.

This does bring up an interesting aside in relation to the current crisis in the Anglican Communion.

As we know, the global South is leading the charge for a traditional understanding of Christianity within the Anglican CommunionMy understanding is that global South Anglicans tend to be more Evangelical in their Churchmanship and that their “traditional” understanding of Christianity does not preclude women as clerics.. I would think that that fact is not lost on the Bishop of Rome. At the same time, the South presents its own set of problems, from Liberation Theology to challenges to celibacy, problems with overdone efforts at inculturation, and occasional failings in confronting and opposing evil.

I would wonder how many of those lessons and issues played into the mix of choices.

For more on issues confronting the Roman Catholic Church in Africa check out Christianity in Africa South of the Sahara, Roman Catholic Christianity, The Church in Africa since Vatican II from African Christianity, A History of the Christian Church in Africa.

Perspective, Political,

They’re not speaking for us

…but he is:

The complex of considerations weighed heavily on Rabbi Howard L. Jaffe of Temple Isaiah, who after weeks of thought decided to back the genocide resolution. —It’s very hard for me to support a position that could be detrimental to Israel,— he said. —But for me as a Jew, I have to take seriously Jewish values, and they require us to do what is right and righteous.—

From the NY Times in Armenian Issue Presents a Dilemma for U.S. Jews

The article discusses the conflicts that have arisen between various Jewish communities in Massachusetts and a couple of national Jewish organizations that are advocating against recognition of the Armenian genocide.

The problem with organizations like the ADL, AJC, and AIPAC is that they claim to represent the interests of all people of a certain ethnic group. That’s not bad in and of itself. The fight for respect is a worthy fightHeaven knows that the Polish American Congress has long rallied against anti-Polish defamation and the mis-characterization of Poles, Polish-Americans, and Poland, especially in the MSM.

That being said, such organizations are often self-perpetuating institutions, supported by a small percentage of the community, and held to the fore by those who make a living off that support. Unfortunately, that’s a recipe for loosing sight of the people’s needs as well as their voice.

In the Massachusetts case, the people took back their voice. True freedom of expression recognized.

Current Events, Perspective, Political

What might have been

It looks like some Democratic members of Congress are backing off their support for the Armenian Genocide resolution (see: Support Wanes in House for Genocide Vote from the NY Times).

It seems odd in light of the President and Congress honoring the Dali Lama (see: Bush and Congress Honor Dalai Lama in Plain View also from the NY Times).

Bush and the Congress are willing to go toe-to-toe with the Chinese who, as of this point in history, can literally squeeze the United States until we cry (i.e., they own all our debt and can ravage our economy). See particularly: China may lead US economy to collapse dumping US dollar from Pravda.

This past August, two Chinese government officials highlighted China’s massive U.S. dollar holdings (which include treasuries) and how it supports the value of the U.S. currency. They also noted that Beijing could use those holdings as a political weapon to counter congressional calls to revalue the yuan and impose trade sanctions on Chinese goods. Chinese state media referred to the country’s stockpile of U.S. dollars as its economic —nuclear option,— capable of destroying the dollar at will.

It would seem that we have more to fear from China than from an almost third world Islamic state like Turkey who depends largely on U.S. support (upwards of $26.5 billion in economic and military aid, not counting other “special” aid programs that specifically target Turkey and IsraelU.S. Department of State: Turkey 09/07 and CRS Report for Congress, Foreign Aid: An Introductory Overview of U.S. Programs and Policy, Updated April 15, 2004).

I think a hint to the sudden change-of-heart among the few can be found in the various articles that circulated in recent days. They noted that Turkey would cut off logistical support for the U.S. war effort in Iraq. It appears something like 30% of the fuel and 70% support materials going to our troops in Iraq go through Turkey. For instance, from CNN:

“More than half of the cargo flown into Iraq and Afghanistan comes through Incirlik Air Base, and this base would be a key component of any plans for redeployment of our troops in the future,” they wrote.

Lt. Gen. Carter Ham, the director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Pentagon planners are looking at “a broad range of options” to keep food, fuel and ammunition flowing to U.S. troops in Iraq if Turkey blocks Incirlik.

“We’re confident that we’ll find ways to do that,” Ham told reporters at the Pentagon. “There’s likely to be some increased cost and some other implications for that, and obviously we’d prefer to maintain the access that we have.”

Defense Secretary Robert Gates echoed lawmakers’ concerns last week.

“About 70 percent of all air cargo going into Iraq goes through Turkey. … About a third of the fuel that they consume goes through Turkey or comes from Turkey,” Gates said.

Now if the Democrats were smart they would do all they could to anger the Turks. Let them cut off our supply chain. This might just be the thing that needs doing in order to capsize Mr. Bush’s war. We would end up like the Germans, stuck in Africa or Russia at the far end of the supply chain – only saved because we should be smart enough to get out while we can.

Time to bring ’em home.

But then again, no Democrat wants to end the war either. If they did, they would cut Mr. Bush’s supply of money and material, whatever it takes.

Perspective, , ,

+Albany (NY) seeks unity, others not so much

The Episcopal Bishop of Albany, NY issued a statement calling for unity amid the discord in the Episcopal Church.

Bishop Love is trying to hold together a diocese commonly known as a conservative. Today’s story from the Albany Times Union explains his thinking.

I found two things “interesting” in the article.

You can read the full thing at Bishop wants unity amid discord: Leader of Albany Episcopalians affirms opposition to same-sex unions and ordaining gay clergy

The interesting bits:

[Bishop William Love] also criticized the Episcopal Church for “creating a new class of victims — the traditional orthodox believers.

“If there is to be a turnaround in the Church, there must be a viable place for the conservative orthodox voice,” he wrote.

One of the keys to reasonableness is having something that everyone can agree on – like a creedal statement. Unfortunately, and sadly, the response to Bishop Love’s statement shows that key elements that are foundational for that sort of oneness do not exist.

Locally, one lay leader in the Albany diocese has a much different worry: that there is no place for the substantial progressive voice.

Marya Dodd describes herself as probably the only progressive on the Diocesan Council, an oversight panel. She says many people won’t donate money to the Albany diocese because they feel disenfranchised. She praised Love for “making a real effort to communicate with us” in the new letter but said that wasn’t enough.

“He’s not publicly recognizing the fact that there are a lot of different segments of the Episcopal Church represented in Albany,” she said. “This is not a diocese that has one vision, or one approach to the faith.Emphasis added.”

I think that it would be hard to find a parish, much less a Church, that did not have a variety of voices and opinions in it. It is funny what people believe, as made up in their own minds. However, in a Church, there are touchstones, markers as it were of unity. The Creed, sacraments, the definition and understanding of God, adherence to the totality of the faith, that is Scripture and Tradition. The folks who run the faith side of the house tend to preach that common understanding.

All of those are the check points. If the membership cannot agree on those key elements, or if they have to redefine them to suit their own purposes, they are not Church, just a bunch of folks who like to get together. But whyI recall the Monty Python bit about going to an argument clinic just to argue.?

Even certain social clubs have a more defined set of beliefs or norms upon which their members agree.

Visions are fine, but if disconnected from the things which have defined the Church (of which you are a member) at least be honest enough to define your own “faith community.” Then again, isn’t that what seems to be happening.

Perspective, Poland - Polish - Polonia, Political, , ,

One honest statement

As the Young Fogey might point out, politics is about playing a game for influence and votes. It is rare to find politicos doing things for right and proper reason. He might also rightly point out that we should be careful so that we “don’t get played” in their political process.

Today’s vote by Congress on the Armenian Genocide was one of those rare moments when politicians (and yes I understand that some come from districts with large Armenian immigrant populations) did the right thing in the face of pressure.

They basically said to heck with lobbyists (paid for by the Turkish government), President Bush (it will hurt the “war on terror”), and tons of other politicos who pander to Turkey because they act as an errand boy between the Arabs and Israelis/Arabs and NATO.

Of course everyone realizes that Turkish “democracy” is a carefully contrived facade at best. Free speech – eh, no. Freedom of religion – eh, no. But for Mr. Bush at least, a half friend and untruth are more important than the truth – the ends justify the means.

From the NY Times: House Panel Raises Furor on Armenian Genocide

WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 —” A House committee voted on Wednesday to condemn the mass killings of Armenians in Turkey in World War I as an act of genocide, rebuffing an intense campaign by the White House and warnings from Turkey’s government that the vote would gravely strain its relations with the United States.

The vote by the House Foreign Relations Committee was nonbinding and so largely symbolic, but its consequences could reach far beyond bilateral relations and spill into the war in Iraq.

Turkish officials and lawmakers warned that if the resolution was approved by the full House, they would reconsider supporting the American war effort, which includes permission to ship essential supplies through Turkey and northern Iraq.

President Bush appeared on the South Lawn of the White House before the vote and implored the House not to take up the issue, only to have a majority of the committee disregard his warning at the end of the day, by a vote of 27 to 21.

—We all deeply regret the tragic suffering of the Armenian people that began in 1915,— Mr. Bush said in remarks that, reflecting official American policy, carefully avoided the use of the word genocide. —This resolution is not the right response to these historic mass killings, and its passage would do great harm to our relations with a key ally in NATO and in the global war on terror.—

The resolution, which was introduced early in the current session of Congress and which has quietly moved forward over the last few weeks, provoked a fierce lobbying fight that pitted the politically influential Armenian-American population against the Turkish government, which hired equally influential former lawmakers like Robert L. Livingston, Republican of Louisiana, and Richard A. Gephardt, the former Democratic House majority leader who backed a similar resolution when he was in Congress.

Backers of the resolution said Congressional action was overdue.

—Despite President George Bush twisting arms and making deals, justice prevailed,— said Representative Brad Sherman, a Democrat of California and a sponsor of the resolution. —For if we hope to stop future genocides we need to admit to those horrific acts of the past…—

In a similar vein, Polish-Americans and Poles recall that in 1951-52 a Congressional investigation (the Madden Committee) into the Katyn Massacre (also here), documented much of the truth surrounding the enormity of the Katyn crimes committed by the Russians after the coordinated Nazi German – Soviet invasion of Poland in 1939I realize that this was at the start of the Cold War, and served a purpose in rallying Polish-Americans to the Cold War cause, after they had been kicked around by Truman and company at Yalta. Still, it did recognize the fact that the massacres occurred and laid the blame on the perpetrators..

Sometimes Congress finds the wherewithal to shed some light on historic events.

Oh, and let the Turks react. What will they do? Kill more Christians, close more churches, invade Iraq, stop pretending to be a democracy…? They will bow because we can choke off those huge foreign aid payments that keep them quiet.

Current Events, Perspective, Political, ,

For the glass house crowd

As you may have read, New York’s governor, Eliot Spitzer, has revoked an Executive Order formerly put in place by George Pataki. By revoking the order, he will be providing an opportunity for illegal immigrants to obtain NY drivers licenses.

Of course, 58% of New Yorkers are opposed to this, with the strongest dissension among upstate New Yorkers (the Downstaters know better, they live in closer proximity to the illegals they rely on each day – are are less hypocritical about it).

Yesterday, New York’s Association of Country Clerks stated that they would not obey the governor and would not issue licenses as required.

Legal wrangling will certainly ensue.

Here’s a few quotes from the Albany Times Union: 13 clerks against Spitzer

County officials to defy driver’s license change, citing security concerns, pressure from constituents

ALBANY — Citing security concerns as well as pressure from constituents, 13 county clerks on Thursday said they would defy Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s order to issue driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants.

“This is an issue of safety and security for New Yorkers,” said Saratoga County Clerk Kathy Marchione, who added that people have been walking into her Ballston Spa office to speak out against the plan since it was announced late last month…

The not so funny thing about all of this is the hypocrisy of those who are fighting the governor. They fall into a two broad categories:

  • The broad brush crowd: Immigrants are potential terrorists. We must be protected from their wily ways.
  • The out-and-out hypocrites: They are illegal, they shouldn’t be here, they deserve nothing.

Now the errors of the broad brush crowd are pretty obvious. They are bigots. Basically neo-nativists.

The other folks, the hypocrites, well they live in tony suburbs, eat at restaurants, buy groceries, get their car repaired, their lawns manicured, their manure, mulch, and lawn chemicals applied, their houses painted, their driveways sealed, their children cared for, their clothes sewn…

They save money, avoiding legitimate businesses and stores that charge more, and do everything in their power to save that last dime (because they are overspent and living on credit anyway), all on the backs of these very same illegal workers they would so readily deport.

Their 2,500 sq. ft. home was built with non-union labor, mostly illegal workers, saving them tons of do-re-mi.

Hey, how did Jose get to your house to mow the lawn? The truck brought him. How did he get to the employer’s jumping-off point? I don’t know (nor do I much care).

Did you know that Consuela and Yuan are out back chopping vegetables for your dinner tonight? Huh?

If these County Clerks and their constituents are so bent on ‘enforcing the law,’ perhaps they should card check everyone they do business with. Card check those restaurant workers out back, the lawn guy, the carpenter at your new house. But, if they had to think about that, they would quickly fall in with the bigot crowd.

‘I couldn’t do that, those brown people might hurt me.’

Frankly, I am ok with letting these folks have licenses. I am also all for protecting them from the myriad of bad employers out there who treat them like unprotected slave laborers. Of course others disagree.

While I agree with your right to disagree, I would then urge you to be very careful about those you do business with. You can’t have it both ways. If you’re all focused on being legal, be prepared, and pay that premium. Otherwise, you’re just throwing stones, and soon all your windows will be broken, and nobody will be around to clean up the broken glass, or put the new windows in.

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