IMMIGRATION 101

Hundreds of thousands of of Hispanic demonstrators, many undocumented, walked off their jobs and waved American and Mexican flags in dozens of U.S. cities showing the world what life in the U.S. is like without illegal aliens to do the jobs most Americans don't want to do. Or so they say. With unemployment around 5% we need to tell those who don't want to do a job that they must not want to eat or place to live. If we put a halt to all entitlemnt programs for able body Americans I bet more people would be willing (if not forced) to work.

2006 seems to be a pivotal turning point year for Hispanics, who have now surpassed African-Americans as the largest “minority”, a term that is quickly becoming an oxymoron as some projections show that the Hispanic population will pass Whites by 2050-- even without mass legalization of current illegal immigrants in this country—and much sooner still if the floodgates of legalization open to our Southern neighbors.

It's history in the making. But should schools give credits for students who participate in this current history?

In an earlier demonstration, Washington area Montgomery County public school Superintendent Jerry D. Weast made a controversial decision to grant students community service credit for attending immigration demonstrations. But in the superheated atmosphere surrounding the immigration debate, the decision is drawing sharp criticism from many quarters. School system offices were flooded with angry phone calls as word of its authorization of credits was heralded on Talk Shows.

Maryland students are required to put in 60 hours of community service to graduate from high school. They are allowed to include work for political campaigns and various activist activities—including the immigration protests.

While talk radio debates school credit, the question remains: What will lawmakers do now that they have witnessed unprecedented numbers of Hispanics taking to the streets?