We finished “Arguing with Idiots” by Glenn Beck tonight. We now understand why we both have had problems with a principal whom I still work with. It was an “ah ha” moment. His beliefs and philosophies are ground in the progressive movement. It is the same reason we are not Obama fans. Beck’s chapter on U.S Presidents outlines the movement of progressives. Teddy Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin D Roosevelt, and picking up the movement with lightening speed; Obama. We have come to understand that progressives want full government control. They believe that government needs to monitor its people and push them to make the right decisions that are best for the whole or collective. Then if their sheep do not conform then there is a need for penalties, taxes, laws, amendments, etc. to keep the “We the People” in line with government thinking.

Hilary Clinton is quoted, “I prefer the word “progressive.”" “So I consider myself a proud modern American progressive, and I think that’s the kind of philosophy that we need to bring back to American politics.”

Wow, check out FDR’s first Inaugural Address where Beck points out seven progressive buzz words like common discipline, “a larger good”, “willing to sacrifice”, or my favorite, “submit our lives and property.”

I am pro-immigration. America is a great country, but I am angered by illegal immigration. I have to say that I see teen girls on a daily basis who are pregnant or going on their 2^nd or even 3^rd child. These are not almost 18 year old girls, but girls going into 9^th grade. What between 13-15 years old? What I see is that illegal parents coming over with their teens and once the teen gets pregnant then how can we send the family back to Mexico? Now the girl, baby, and rest of the family gets welfare, WIC, Medicaid, food stamps, education (these girls drop out to take care of their own kids along with their siblings-it happens-ask a high school counselor). And we wonder why our healthcare system needs an overhaul? Why are these girls getting pregnant in the first place? So the grandparents can stay in the country too? It angers me to see such young girls having babies with no intention of getting an education.

Ch. 6 and 11 both had us fired up because of our white female live-in who is struggling to get a small grant. She wants an education and basic healthcare as an independent student, but has been denied even though she works which means she is contributing to this country as a citizen of the United States. Illegal immigrants get treated better and are catered to while we have to fight; there is something seriously wrong with this picture.

Beck’s last chapter dealt with each amendment in its historical context and then he wrote how it fits into today’s perspective. The 14^th amendment has the “birthright citizenship” clause which was supposed to protect the children of freed slaves, but today it has been twisted to mean that every illegal person who has a child or now a grandchild born in the United States is entitled to take part in free healthcare, education, legal services, social services, special services, and now afforded all rights as a citizen of this country.

My mother and grandmother were born in Nevada. My great grandmother was born in Mexico. I am 3^rd generation American. I do not speak Spanish. My mother wanted us to be Americans, not Mexicans living in America, so she wanted us to speak English. My grandmother worked hard to learn English and she did not speak Spanish to us. It is valuable to know my heritage, but more valuable that I acknowledge my country since both my grandmother and mother did not take this country for granted. My grandmother never got past 2^nd grade. My mother graduated from high school, but could not read or write. I am the first in my family to graduate from college.

I am the American dream. I am the opportunity, pride, and hope that my great grandmother saw in this country. I am American first and then I am Mexican and that is why I am disgusted when there is an expectation that I speak Spanish. No, this is America and the native language is English. If you choose to come to America then it should be a privilege to learn English.

I have not lost my heritage. I celebrate holidays and participate in customs that our family hold dear, but the difference is that my family embraces America with the honor of contributing back to our country. People come here for a reason-America shows compassion, but when that compassion is twisted to mean America “owes” us, then I do not agree that America has to change its Constitutional values to meet your demands.

DDF