View From The Ditch Bank

SO WHAT HAPPENED---To Sunday's, that is. MLWFAE and I were traveling this past Sunday to a neighboring town in Arizona ( 2 hours + away ) and we noticed people out mowing their lawns, trimming shrubs and trees and working on their houses. And all this as we were leaving the town we live in. Observed more of the same as we passed the small hamlets ( small towns, not the hindquarters of small pigs ) and she commented, What ever Happened to Sunday? Now, I know that ever since the children of Adam and Eve were large enough to rebel, there have been people who did not go to church. Still, when we were growing up, a long time after Adam and Eve, the majority of the people did take a day off on Sunday. No working, beyond necessary chores, on Sunday. Maybe they didn't go to Church, but it wasn't a major work day. I guess it did begin as a play day, golf, fishing etc, but now it seems like it is just another day. Businesses are open, people have to go to work, and if they have the day off, they work any way, as mentioned at the start. Wouldn't things be a lot better, if people would go back to using Sunday as a day of rest, and worship. And That's The View From The Ditch Bank

View From The Ditch Bank

I'M STILL CONFUSED---When I last posted, i wrote about the immigration law. since then, a few things have came up, so I would like to make a couple of comments, or three, before commenting about my original post. Since 2006 there has been 22,000 deaths related to the illegal drug commerce between Mexico and the United States. Many of those deaths have been right along the border of the 4 States that border Mexico, namely; Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Several of those deaths have occurred inside the U.S. border, with the most recent one that of a rancher in southeast Arizona. Most of those deaths do not make the national news, but are reported in the local news only, and almost Ho Hum at times even then. Cities such as El Paso, Tucson, the Mesa/Phoenix area and on in to Southern California have a particular problem with those from Mexico hanging around street corners looking for work. The are NOT here legally. If any one hires them, or transports them, they are arrested and jailed for a week and their car is impounded. So no one hires them. so they steal to exist. Not good, I know, but they do it. On the other side of the coin, ( the worse side ) are the drug dealers and the human and drug runners. They bring people to the U.S. for a large fee, then force the females into prostitution and the males into drug dealers. If they are arrested, they cry foul and are just deported, only to come right back and do it again, and again. When Janet Napalitano was the Governor of Arizona, she was in contact with Washington D.C. on a regular basis, asking for assistance with the border problem. Now, she is in Washington and singing the Washington tune, forgetting where she came from. She is on the Atlantic coast checking out the oil spill and slick. I ask why? Is this her concern. I say, it is a concern and should be addressed by the Environmental Department and/or the department of the Interior. But not Homeland security. This oil does not threaten our National security. The illegals at the border definitely do. Now, Arizona only passed a law that has been on the federal books for decades. This gave Arizona law officials power to do the job that federal officials should be doing, but are not. A New Mexico state Tic said on the news that these people aren't criminals, they are just in the country illegally. That is a quote. What part of ILLEGAL don't he understand. I have heard of people who have managed to get to the U.S. minutes or hours ahead of being killed by the drug cartel's. Many of those, I heard, have lost family members to death at the hands of the drug gangs. These individuals are trying to gain employment and gain legal status. I feel for them. And feel that the U.S. should not arrest them and deport them, to certain death, but help those who want to be here as legal citizens gain the paper work they need. Let them work, and pay taxes and go to school and learn the language, ( I have heard many of them are doing just that ). I have no problem with that. But to come in illegally, and then rob, rape, steal and kill and then cry they have been discriminated against when they get caught, or when a State, or City wants to get tough with them. No, I have no sympathy for them.
This has been a long post. I hope the point didn't get lost in the mix. Now, to refer to the point of my original post. I don't understand why there are people who can stand and say, These people are here illegally, they broke the law, but we need to punish Arizona, or Albuquerque for wanting to do something about that. I think the Tics in Washington and the local state Tics should get behind the state's and enforce the Federal Law, and get tough on those who are running to and ruining this country. The President of Mexico spoke to Congress this morning, to complain about the law in Arizona. Why is he complaining. We aren't coming to his country illegally. he should be helping us to keep his people home and SAFE. I hope I made my point clear. Probably didn't though. That's why I am still confused. And that's the View From The Ditch Bank

View From The Ditch Bank

I GUESS I DON'T UNDERSTAND---I grew up, and live, in the State of New Mexico. Now I think I am more in the state of Confusion. The neighboring State, Arizona, passed a law saying that the Law Enforcement Officers could question people about their legal residency status. Boy, has that caused a ruckus. People are up in arms. Of course, New Mexico's Governor said there was no way we would follow that course. We want every one to know they are welcome here. Drug dealers, legal or illegal, don't seem to matter. A few years ago he even had the MVD close their offices to all legal residents and spend a day catering to those who are here illegally to issue them a New Mexico drivers license. Now, the Mayor of Albuquerque has said that his policemen can question all who they arrest about their legal status. No racial profiling here. ALL will be questioned, if they are arrested. Regardless of their race, color, creed or hairstyle. Once again there are those up in arms over that, saying that the police will "arrest" someone just to question them about their legal status. Now, what is it that I don't understand. Well, let me explain something. My youngest immigrated to a foreign country. Well, foreign to him, not to them. It is an island, so the border is kinda hard to just cross, but still he had to spend weeks or months gathering documentation to send to said country, along with $700 to apply for a visa. No, not a credit card. They could keep the money and turn down the application. They didn't. turn down the application. They did keep the money. After he moved to that country, he had only 9 months to stay, then he paid $600 more and applied for a residency. This was approved and lasted for 2 years, while he proved himself, or something. This all started in 2003 and he still lives there. And has since been give citizenship. Now, my point is, he did this legally and followed all the rules. And he is learning the language. -:) So, to get to my point. I have no problem with someone coming into this country, legally, learning the language, getting a job and becoming a good resident or even citizen. But why get upset with Arizona, or Albuquerque, just because they want the people to obey the law. Arizona did not declare martial law on it's citizens, nor did the city of Albuquerque. They just said, if you are here illegally, you are breaking the law. That little dot after the word law, says it all. So, do we uphold the law of the land and arrest and deport those who are here illegally, or do we protest when a city or state wants to uphold the laws of the land. Why should we support those tics who call for sanctions against those who advocate the upholding of the law. I say, vote them out of office and vote in those who actually know what this country is and stands for, and bring the law back into focus. And help those who want to immigrate here and contribute to the country and economy, and not just take from it, break other laws and demand rights that aren't theirs to begin with. And that's the View From The Ditch Bank

View From The Ditch Bank

SENSE-- What exactly is it? Well, if I had any I would know, I guess. And if I do have any, it would be of the common variety. As in common sense. Got to thinkin about this the other day, when I saw a Quest Phone service pickup parked near a phone service box. The phone service man apparently needed to do some service work. OK, no problem, except his pickup was parked on the side walk. Now, the last time I checked it was just that, a side walk, not a side park, or a service vehicle parking area, but a side walk. Still maybe a bit misleading, as I have never seen any one actually walking on their side. Have seen a drunk or two sleeping on them, on their side, but not walking. So, that leads one to assume, ( break that one down ) that a side walk is a place where people ( and now a days their dogs ) walk along the side of the road. Where vehicles are. Like Phone company service vehicles. Common sense says, don't park a vehicle on a side walk. Then just today as I was driving home, there, parked in the middle of the road was a vehicle, with the driver in it. He waved me around. What was he doing. Talking on his cell phone. Well, OK, he did stop to talk, but in the middle of the road. I mean, can't you pull over and park at the side of the road. OH! he was on a phone, he could have just used the side walk. Aw, common sense. Where did it go? And that's the view from the ditch bank.

View From The Ditch Bank

MY FAULT, TOTALLY---MLWFAE and I were traveling a week or two back, and, feeling a little tired, decided to stop in a town we were passing through and at the 50's favorite drive inn we ordered a coke. Just a little pick me up, cause we were kinda tired, well OK sleepy, and still had a ways to go to get home. I knew better. I just forgot. Here came the cokes, there went the money, and adios, we were on our way, again. Not long after leaving the drive inn, well several miles and many minutes, ( maybe 45 ) the coke was gone, but the cup was still full. Yep, ice. That's what I forgot. I shoulda said Easy on the ice. If I wanted a cup of flavored ice, I would have ordered a snowcone. It's gettin hot, spring is here, summer is chasing it and I will remember this little Oops in the future. I Hope. And that's the view from the ditch bank.