Bloody Kansas all over again

What does "one man, one vote" mean to the average American?

For most of us, the phrase conjures up the intended meaning - that each person of legal age should have the right to have their voice heard in the public arena. To that aim, the US Constitution mandates a census, which is to count each person in the US.

Now, for me, I always assumed that the adjustment of Congressional seats would reflect legally present people, at least.

Not so.

And, because of the way the re-apportionment is currently done, someone in Congress thinks there ought to be a law:

A Republican lawmaker yesterday proposed changing the US Constitution to exclude non-citizens from the census for the purpose of drawing congressional districts, a move that effectively would deny them a voice in US politics.

Under the present system, as determined by the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, the Census Bureau counts all individuals living in the country, once every 10 years. These data are used when drawing up the 435 congressional districts and when determining each state's vote in the Electoral College that decides presidential elections.

Representative Candice Miller of Michigan wants to change that so that both legal and illegal aliens would be excluded.

Thank you, Candice.

This is one of those things that seems so obvious that it shouldn't even be an issue. But, even if the vote passes. Why should a party that encourages illegal immigration benefit from their presence?

I'm climbing back on the soapbox. This is an issue that could determine the fate of the Republic. If states ship in aliens, then qualify for more seats on that basis, it amounts to Congress-oacking.

I'm going to dedicate Wednesday as the day I'll post on the topic, because the Statue of Liberty was dedicated on that day, on October 15, 1924.



Poem by Emma Lazarus written in 1883 to help fundraising for the Pedestal:
(Bronze plaque with the poem was mounted in the base of the Statue in 1903)

The New Colossus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
with conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
a mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame,
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
with silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore,
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

This bronze plaque was presented by philanthropist Georgiana Schuyler in 1903, twenty years after Emma Lazarus wrote her sonnet. Originally displayed on the interior wall of the Statue of Liberty's pedestal, it was placed in the Liberty exhibit in the base of the monument in July, 1886.

Emma Lazarus (1849-1887)

Am I against "the huddled masses yearning to breathe free"? No. But, realistically, we can't take in everybody, all at once. There are limits. There is a well-established system of immigration, and the illegals are by-passing it. We even have a waiver for the oppressed, if they have reasonable fear of their life.

What makes America special may disappear if we just let in floods of people. Our economic system, our political system, and our culture may be swamped if the gates are opened wide. Like it or not, that's a fact.

Before anyone starts fuming about "cultural hegemony" (whatever that is?), ask yourself:

Why is it that every expression of culture is to be embraced - except ours? Why is it unacceptable to celebrate our unique culture?

Understand - American culture is NOT Anglo-Saxon - or even Euro. It's best described as a blend.

Some HATE that - they prefer to explain (in tedious detail) that cultures SHOULD be a salad - every ingredient in the same bowl, but retaining their own flavor.

That doesn't work - it would be like emptying your refrigerator, throwing it on the plate, and expecting it to taste good. Some of the leftovers SHOULD be thrown out (like hiding women under burkas or genital mutilation, to name just a few).

I've had this discussion with immigrants before. They want to come to America, but keep ALL of their culture, without any influences from us.

Lots of luck. Your kids will enthusiastically pick up the "foreign" culture, date those outside their culture, and eventually raise children who speak little of the ancestral language>

How do I know?

That's what happened in my family. And almost all the families of Americans.

Oh, sure, we still celebrate St. Patrick's Day. And attend the same church. But the old culture is more like a frosting on the Americans that we have become.

The reference to "Bloody Kansas" is to the pre-Civil War era, when the pro- and anti-slavery advocates shipped in their supporters to Kansas, in order to manipulate the vote. Their vote would then determine whether the future state would be free or slave. The battles were not figurative, but real - John Brown, later to be hanged at Harper's Ferry, had his start there.

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Whoops - almost forgot to thank Jeff Quinton, of Backcoumtry Conservative, for the source article.

Tags = News and Politics