A Day Without Respect
by Marc H. Rudov
As millions of illegal aliens flood our streets today, flouting the laws that legal immigrants followed, they emphasize an important rule of life: if you don’t respect yourself, no one else will, either. The USA doesn’t respect itself, and it shows.
The protesting illegals have the audacity to call themselves immigrants. Their supporters have the audacity to call them immigrants. Illegal aliens are not immigrants; they’re criminals. They violated laws to enter and remain in this country. But, in this land of relativism, one man’s illegal alien is another man’s hardworking gardener.
When I look at these protesting lawbreakers, I see more than an angry mob. I see a country that has no self-respect, and the illegals are the proof. They are making demands for rights while singing their own anthem, in Spanish. They are walking the streets without being jailed and deported. In essence, they are treating Uncle Sam with total disrespect, like a doormat—the way Uncle Sam deserves to be treated. Why? Because Uncle Sam doesn’t respect himself enough to enforce his own immigration laws—as if his borders are meaningless, as if legal immigrants and citizens are meaningless. Â
Legal immigrants are justifiably incensed because they entered the USA correctly, for nothing. Most of us citizens are outraged (predictably, the editors of the New York Times support the illegals) because we have been taught to—and do—obey laws. We respect the USA. We love the USA. Our ancestors came to this country legally, learned English, and strived to become Americans.
So, if, on this day without respect, lawns don’t get mowed, houses don’t get cleaned, and nails don’t get hammered, so be it. There are bigger issues at stake. On this day, we must contemplate the meaning of the United States of America. We must think about living in a country without strictly defended borders and immigration laws. We must consider whether we respect our country enough to demand respect from outsiders, let alone from insiders.Â
If we Americans don’t have self-respect, we cannot demand respect from others. If we don’t demand respect, we’ll never get it. We aren’t getting it. Just look out on the streets today to see how much self-respect we have and how much respect we demand.
About the Author
Marc H. Rudov is an investment banker and business consultant residing in Silicon Valley, CA. He is the author of the book, The Man’s No-Nonsense Guide to Women: How to Succeed in Romance on Planet EarthTM (ISBN 0974501719), and 18 articles.
Rudov’s book, articles, blog, and podcasts are available at http://www.thenononsenseman.com/.
Copyright © 2006 by Marc H. Rudov. All rights reserved.
| More from Marc H. Rudov
Stumble It!
May 1st, 2006 at 11:01 am
Uncle Sam is now just a mascot, a puppet, of a once-great idea.
That idea has been extinguished by laws.
Laws that serve those who own you and me.
You have no right to complain too loudly without threat of being arrested.
Though you can still grieve.
That will also soon be treason, under Patriot Act IV.