Thread: Letters to the Editor, Birmingham News, Sunday, August 21, 2

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Letters to the Editor, Birmingham News, Sunday, August 21, 2005

ALABAMA MINUTEMEN

It is our right, duty to protect our security:

After reading the recent letter to the editor concerning the Alabama Minutemen, I wondered if the writer and I were reading the same newspaper. How dare the writer compare illegal aliens defying our immigration laws to American citizens protesting discrimination during the civil rights movement.

There are huge gaps in our border being crossed daily. All it takes is for one terrorist to slip through this Swiss-cheese border, and we'll all have different opinions about the Minutemen. I have personally walked across the border from California to Mexico and back, and there wasn't a guard in sight.

My father is a naturalized citizen from a Third World country who worked hard to become an American legally, so of course I'm not anti-immigrant. I'm against illegal crossing of our borders by foreign citizens.

This is America, and it is our right and duty to provide protection for our security, as stated in our own Declaration of Independence.

Shan Hunter Sheikh

Southside
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Minutemen aren't `vigilantes' :

A recent letter writer takes issue with the Minuteman concept, calling us "a bunch of self-righteous vigilantes." Either the writer has not been paying attention to what the Minutemen do, or he does not understand what the word means. Vigilante is defined as "one who takes or advocates the taking of law enforcement into one's own hands." The Minutemen do nothing of the kind.

We do not take the law in our own hands; we merely assist the duly constituted authorities in enforcing the law. Our standing orders forbid us from confronting smugglers.

The writer implies the Minutemen do not go through background checks. Actually, no Minuteman is allowed to engage in border vigils without passing a background check.

Finally, the writer implies the Minutemen are racist. Visit our Web site, www.minutemanhq.com, and look at our pledge. It shows we are explicitly anti-racist. We embrace men and women of all races and faiths.

I forgive the writer his ignorance. Few Americans are fully aware of the wretched state of our borders where crime flourishes. But talk to the people along the border who are forced to live with the consequences of the Bush administration's abject failure to enforce our laws or the Border Patrol officers who are charged with carrying out the law with little resources and no support from their own superiors. They will tell you, "Send us more Minutemen."

That is what we intend to do.

Mike Vanderboegh

Alabama Minutemen Support Team

Pinson
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Letter to the Editor, Birmingham News
Submitted 21 August, 2005

For the past several years the News' editorial page has been like a flock of sheep bleating "neeew constituuuution". The News editorial board and a host of columnists have pontificated upon the need to adopt a new state constitution. Those of us who have opposed such a move have been called many names including "racists." At best, you consider us ill-informed throwbacks because we don't trust our "enlightened betters" and the mandarin class of corrupt politicians to craft a new set of rules.

The truth is, you can have a new constitution the same way James Madison was forced to get his: give us an iron-clad bill of Rights up front as part of the deal.

You want a new constitution? Well we want no taxation without a vote of the people, ALL OF THE PEOPLE, affected by it. We want home rule, referendum and recall, guaranteed open meetings and true transparency of political contributions. We want an absolute reaffirmation of our Second Amendment rights, including concealed and open carry. And while you're at it, how about making all of the various forms of political corruption currently practiced in this state felonies, punishable by mandatory prison time and huge fines?

Guarantee us a new Alabama Bill of Rights UP FRONT and then we'll consider your proposals. Do you really think the political wolves in Montgomery would accept that as the price of admission? Hardly. But until then, the people of this state will continue to ignore the bleating of the News and its sagacious guest columnists.

Mike Vanderboegh
PO Box 926
Pinson, AL 35126


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http://www.news-register.net

Mexican Government Aids Illegal Emigrants

News-Register Editorial

Mexican government officials have made it clear for many years that, far from attempting to stem the flow of illegal immigrants into the United States, they encourage it actively. They do so for a very good reason - in their minds: Mexico's economy is a wreck, in comparison to that of the United States. The more Mexicans who come here illegally to make money and send it home, the less reaction Mexican officials have against bad government there.

All the while, of course, Mexican officials have claimed to share our concern about illegal immigration. But revelations this week demonstrate that any such professions of sympathy are cynical lies.

All along the border between our two countries, Mexico maintains a chain of hundreds of staging areas used by those attempting to sneak into the United States. Marked with blue flags, the areas range from stations where water is made available to more elaborate ones where buildings are used to stockpile supplies and water - and to rendezvous with those who smuggle Mexicans into this country for a price.
Mexican officials claim the stations are there for humanitarian purposes. But they can make no such claim about other aids to illegal emigrants.

The Mexican government has distributed more than a million copies of the 32-page "Guide for the Mexican Migrant," that includes tips on how to dodge U.S. border patrols. And, while the Minuteman project's volunteers were monitoring a section of the border from the United States, the Mexican government was shuttling would-be emigrants to other, less guarded areas. Clearly, the job of curbing illegal immigration is up to Americans - and us alone. Our efforts, then, must be redoubled if there is to be any chance of succcess.

The Intelligencer
Wheeling News-Register
1500 Main St. | Wheeling, WV 26003
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(The 800 number is only active for those with 740 or 304 area codes)

Yeah, most people think of hics when they think of Alabama. What they do not realize is that people in Alabama are very patriotic and will protect their country. Just look at how many Alabamians are in Iraq.

We need them back here to fight the REAL war!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The INVASION!

I was surprised that the rat bag Birmingham News even printed these! Their counterpart, the Birmingham Post Herald has a pitty pot article in almost every afternoon paper about the poor illegals! Way To Go HOOVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!It's a start!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by ohflyingone

Yeah, most people think of hics when they think of Alabama. What they do not realize is that people in Alabama are very patriotic and will protect their country. Just look at how many Alabamians are in Iraq.

We need them back here to fight the REAL war!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The INVASION!

I was surprised that the rat bag Birmingham News even printed these! Their counterpart, the Birmingham Post Herald has a pitty pot article in almost every afternoon paper about the poor illegals! Way To Go HOOVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!It's a start!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I certainly don't think that. I think that the people of Alabama are GREAT, and I have you for Exhibit 1.