The Tide Turns

“Yesterday's immigration protests will be remembered as a turning point. The pro-amnesty, zero-enforcement coalition gambled that it could take to the streets and intimidate the majority of Americans into backtracking on their plans to toughen immigration law. It was a bold gamble for the open-borders bunch - and they lost.” – James P. Pinkerton writing in today’s Newsday

Over a month ago, I wrote that all these big pro-immigration rallies across the country might backfire. It looks like I was right, and the tipping point may have occurred yesterday.

Throughout this contentious debate, I’ve remained resolute in my support for a comprehensive pro-immigration policy—one which includes beefed-up border security and law enforcement, but one that also includes some kind of guest-worker program for undocumented immigrants and a path to citizenship. Illegals should pay a fine, should go to the "back of the line" of green card applicants, but they should not be felons and should not be forced to return home.

Unfortunately, it’s looking more and more like these illegal immigrants and their brash leaders are becoming their own worst enemies. For whatever reason, Americans have been mistaken for doormats. Look no further than “Nuestro Himno,” the Spanish-language version of our expropriated “Star-Spangled Banner.” (Make sure to check out today’s Investor’s Business Daily editorial for more on this subject.)

This Spanglish “national anthem” was an incredibly poor decision; a smack in the face to Americans; a tone-deaf manuever made all the worse by the fact its lyrics are completely different from the original. Consider verse two:

“My people keep fighting
It's time to break the chains”

Huh? The time has come to break the chains? What the heck is that? That sounds like some Marxist mumbo-jumbo to me.

Let’s get this straight once and for all: English is our language. It forms the foundation of our culture. It encourages national unity and the free-flow of commerce. And for hundreds of years, immigrants have come to our shores, jumped right in, and learned our language. They did not make ridiculous demands that we acquiesce to their native tongue. It was this way with the Irish, Italians, Koreans, Germans, and so forth. That’s the way it’s always been and the way it ought to remain.

Under no circumstances should we allow bilingualism in school. None. Latin immigrants can come to our fertile soil seeking freedom and opportunity, but not to change culture.

I wonder if the left is taking over these pro-immigration marches? If so, it will kill comprehensive reform and play right into the hands of the know-nothing xenophobes like Pat Buchanan, Lou Dobbs and Tom Tancredo.

But make no mistake about it: This Spanglish national anthem is a culture war that they will lose. The same goes for these misguided boycotts of business and schools. Poor decisions all the way around. And I will fight this culture war even though I support a balanced immigration reform bill.

It’s not “time to break the chains.”

It’s time for these people to open their eyes.