What we have here is...failure to assimilate

According to planners, millions of protestors will take to the streets again Monday to support citizenship for the tens of millions of illegal immigrants in the U.S. As a show of support, one record label is distributing a Spanish-language version of the "Star Spangled Banner" and encouraging Spanish-language stations to air it as a show of solidarity. In its own show of support, the State of California passed a resolution applauding the planned walkout and protest. Hollywood, of course, is on board as well.

Meanwhile, in the ultimate case of "far too little, far too late," Homeland Security did the unthinkable... rounding up a small number of those here without permission. Don't worry, though...Secretary Chertoff assures us this is an "isolated operation." All those nervous 'undocumented workers' and their often winking employers need not fear we might finally be serious about enforcing the law.

Once, America thought of itself as a shining city on the hill...an example to the rest of the world of what a prosperous, free people could be. Now we're more like a bug light, attracting scavengers eager to feed off the dying carcass of a once-great nation. One can't really blame the latest wave of immigrants for balking at learning English or adapting to American norms. After all, if you're just here to get what you can before the system collapses, what's the point?

The American ideal--opportunity in a land ruled by law, not men--once united people regardless of race or background. "Hyphenated American-ism" negated that common bond in favor of competing groups. We lost the compass that guided us, then the convictions that strengthened us. Next, we will lose the country that sustained us. But it was a great run for two centuries. One for the history books. If you look for America in the future, that will be where to find her.