Checkpoints for Violent Immigrants

Too often, immigrants come to the U.S. and commit heinous crimes, Opponents of immigration use this to argue for deportation and for keeping the immigrants from coming in the first place. They argue that for every 10 good immigrants, there will be one who will pull off terrible crimes and thus we should lock them all out.

I'd hate to see that. For the good part, these are people seeking the freedom of the U.S., and to join families, and to work.

I'm wondering if some kind of checkpoint program might catch such criminals. Traffic-stop checkpoints? Checkpoints at bars? Checkpoints at grocery stores? I'm not sure. For one thing, you do too much of this and the average citizen might feel hassled.

But I would like to believe such a system would work, even if it had to be done on a scaled-down basis.

 

 

Fewer Deaths in Iran War

The Iran War boasts the lowest opening‑month U.S. soldier fatality count of any major conflict American conflict.

Just 13, just 13.

Compare that to some other conflicts: World War II lost thousands in the first month; The Vietnam War lost hundreds; The Korean War, thousands; the Gulf War,147, mostly during the first month; The Iraq War, 139; the Afghanistan War, dozens; the war on ISIS, more than 13 in opening months; the Revolutionary War, unknown, but still far higher than 13; the American Civil War, 500-1,000; World War I, from hundreds to thousands in the first month of it becoming a major conflict.

We can be glad more lives have not been lost in Iran.

 

Same Old Sergeant

It's the same old sergeant in the same old town—

the same old shouts and commands.

His power continues to rise;

it just expands and expands.

He barks at the privates— that's you and me.

He orders us to stay in line:

“Just do as I say,” he says,

“and everything will turn out fine.”

The commander, the king—

whatever you want to call him—

I've had my fill;

I've had it to the brim.

He's the same old sergeant in the same old town,

except he's getting worse and worse.

How I wish, and how I pray,

we could get rid of this curse.

 

 

The Cowboys

I would speak to the cowboys—

for the cowboys I will call them.

These are those who value war,

who think that it's a gem.

Cowboys pull their guns and fire;

they aim to shoot and kill.

And if anyone asks them why,

they say it's just their will.

We live in a world of cowboys.

We live in a world of war.

They love to see the enemy die.

They love to see blood and gore.