REPEATING, didn't say we take them all. It's just the perception that we should. Why don't these illegal Chinese immigrants stay in Canada then? Not looking for an argument, it's just an unanswerable question. It would seem that Canada would do just as well. So who does the funneling? Or why don't they stay in China, for that matter? Everyone knows the answer to that one, but it is 'politically incorrect' to voice it.

Getting back to becoming a Canadian. Many conversations here lately seem to be emphasizing the differences between Canadian and U. S. citizens. I prefer to think of the similarities. I like Canadians, at least the Canadians I know. I can't speak for the ones I don't know, so blanket statements about 'Canadians', 'Murricans', 'Mexicans', are pretty useless. If I were not happy here it would be my choice to go there, but it sounds as though I would not be welcomed with open arms. From speaking to Canadian friends over the years, I already knew that. So exclusion of those of the wrong color, age, employment skills, amount of MONEY, whatever, is a universal problem.

One last thing. If I were to go somewhere else, I would not spend my time complaining about how I would like to be back 'home'. That would then be home and I would treat it as such. While I could never become a native, I like to think I'd adapt in such a way that I would be an asset to the community I lived in.

Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor. It used to work, Catspaw, but I am not so sure it works anymore. Assimiliation or lack of it is the key problem.