Analogy

Things are heating up. Last month two men called 911 reporting that they were being shot at near the border. They were found dead. Last March a Douglas, AZ, resident and his dog were killed by a suspected illegal alien. Ironically, the victim was known to aid illegal border crossers. Reports are coming out that snipers for drug cartels are sitting on the border targeting Border Patrol officers.

In late June, Mexico filed suit against Arizona to prevent us from carrying out the immigration enforcement law signed in April (ignoring the fact that they have the very same law on their books). On Tuesday, the Obama administration filed suit against Arizona to prevent us from carrying out the immigration enforcement law signed in April. The suit from the Justice Department says that it's unconstitutional for states to enforce federal law ... at least in terms of immigration. It's a "foreign affairs" issue, you see.

Every weekday I walk by a protest sign against Arizona and her stand against illegal immigration. "It's anti-family," they assure me. When the suggestion is made that illegal immigrants have violated the law, they respond, "It's not a crime!" The logic here is hard to follow. It would seem that any violation of the law that results in separation of families is "anti-family". A bank robber with kids at home shouldn't be arrested, I suppose, because "It's anti-family." Wouldn't CPS be anti-family because they separate families? Seems like nonsense to me. In this atmosphere (as in so many others), emotions run high, so when I sought to come up with an analogy to illustrate the problem, I had to be careful. This one will not be in reference to a crime ...

Meet Mr. Jones. He has a young son that he adores. Little Bobby desperately wants to see the latest animated feature, and Mr. Jones really wants to give his son all he can. But money is tight. So he comes up with a plan. He uses what little money he has to buy a child's ticket for Bobby. His son is instructed to go inside and open the side door for Mr. Jones. They go and take the last two seats to the movie.

An observant assistant manager saw Bobby come in and thought it odd that he was alone. He saw Bobby later with an adult and thought that was odd as well. But when an irate customer complains, "I bought a ticket and there are no seats," he goes to investigate. He calls Mr. Jones out of the theater and asks to see his ticket.

Mr. Jones is outraged. "My ticket? What's the matter with you? Are you a fashist?"

"Fascist?"

"Yeah, you're opposed to anyone who is not fashionably dressed. Just because I'm wearing clothes that aren't up to your standards, you want to get rid of me!"

"No, sir. I just asked to see your ticket."

"What's the matter with you? Why don't you want people in your theater to see your movies?"

"Sir, we thrive on people in our theater. I'm just asking to see your ticket."

"Why are you picking on me??!! When did it become a crime to be poorly dressed?"

"Sir, this has nothing to do with how you're dressed. I'm just asking to see your ticket."

The assistant manager persists and finally Mr. Jones admits he has no ticket.

"I'm sorry, sir, but you'll have to leave."

"But my son has a ticket. He's here legally."

"Yes, sir. He can stay if you wish, but you have to leave. You're taking the seat of a paying customer."

"What kind of anti-family operation is this?! You're splitting up my family!!!"

"Sir, you're splitting up your family if you choose to leave him behind. We're not. If you'll just buy a ticket ..."