I have never blogged before and most likely will not do so very often.  When I do it will be with historic reference and irony with todays news or situations.

Immigration Fence” marks changes in freedom

I have taken a a few months to gather my thoughts, review my quote sources and evaluate what I know to be true and right. I am a fan of the late President Ronald Reagan and I make no apologies for this. He is the last United States President who had the innate ability to make me feel good and proud to be an “American”. He was cherished by many for his belief in people and not systems or schemes. With the signing of the Immigration Bill, there must be a collective groan from the Memorial in which he lies to rest.

I remember President Reagan standing at the Brandenburg Gate located at the Berlin Wall who with statesman-like flare shared the immortal words “Mr. Gorbachov, tear down this wall”. These words will forever be remembered as the beginning of the end of the Cold War. These words set the stage for freedoms in Ukraine, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Belarus and a unified Germany. Today we have a current President and Congressional leadership who utter the words “build a fence” in unified fashion. These words change the meaning of freedom and hurt those who in the words of Reagan “dare to dream.” I am deeply saddened by such an act to build a fence at our southern boarders.

When announcing his run for Presidency, then candidate Reagan spoke of three countries Mexico, Canada and the United States having free movement working together to create an economy which allows people to stay in their native land while enjoying prosperity and a higher quality of life. The United States would be a partner in development and economic expansion in Mexico and abroad. This was the expansion of freedom and democracy that made belief in Reagan’s vision for America and hope for what could be. The “immigration fence” effectively restricts the dream and vision for both the United States and Mexico. This drastically changes the relationship in what should have been America’s greatest ally and domestic partner.

The cost of such action cannot be measured in dollars alone. It will be measured by the tyrannical leaders of those nations we are trying to make a better place, including those of the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Latin America. The “immigration fence” undermines the integrity of the very message we send to countries abroad and weakens our credibility as those leaders look to the “fence” as the benchmark of our political sincerity. In 1987 President Reagan pledged the resources of the United States to assist the Soviet Union. In 2006 we have vastly limited our resources to a neighboring country.

In 1991 President Reagan stated “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free” I am forever mindful that since 1991, a generation has passed.