George Putnam
Thursday, Feb. 15, 2007

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It is this reporter's opinion that the late Robert Ripley would have had a field day with many of the current news stories that balance between the absurd and the ridiculous.

Let's look at a few examples. The Bank of America offers the first shocker: offering credit cards to illegal immigrants. In the past, banks have offered checking accounts and mortgages but it has been difficult for illegal workers to get major credit cards.

But now Bank of America, founded by an Italian immigrant, Amadeo Peter Giannini, has opened the door.

We can't stop there. What about Social Security for illegals?

A pending agreement with Mexico would make Mexican workers and their families eligible for Social Security benefits. It means millions of illegals will be receiving Social Security checks. Workers could claim eligibility simply by documenting their work history through old pay stubs or tax receipts.

This has been labeled "a totalization agreement."

Most recently, we had the Mexican government, through their consulates, dictating some of the events in our court system.

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We have the case of a Mexican consular official demanding the prosecution of one of our own citizens — a Border Patrol agent, involved in his sworn duty to apprehend an illegal drug smuggler coming across the border.

Another "believe it or not": the recent action by the professional football league which refused a recruitment ad for the U.S. Border Patrol that would air during the Super Bowl. The ad was labeled controversial because it mentions "fighting terrorism" and stopping drug smuggling via illegal aliens at the border. The spokesperson for the NFL, Greg Aiello said, "It made us a little bit uncomfortable."

He added that the borders immigration debate is a particularly controversial issue, noting, "The game was in Miami, where [immigration] is a sensitive political issue."

Another shocker came when Rep. Tom Tancredo, R–Colo., was told he should not smoke a cigar in his own congressional office. The complaint came from freshman Rep. Keith Ellison, a Democrat of Minnesota.

This is the same congressman who insisted he be sworn into Congress with his hand not on the holy Bible but on the Quran.

It was around 6 p.m. and Tancredo was preparing for a trip to Mississippi as he so often does, unwinding . . . with a cigar. Suddenly, a police officer appeared. The officer, who was embarrassed, told Tancredo that he was only following orders.

Ellison, a Muslim, was offended by the smoke. Says Tancredo, "I will not stop smoking in my own office."

Ellison's response, "I called the police because the smoke was coming through the walls."

Now our elected officials are becoming smoke detectors.

All of this borders on the ridiculous.

Take a look at how this compares with the Mexican Constitution. It clearly spells out the rights and duties of Mexican citizens and non Mexicans residing in Mexico.

Foreigners are forbidden from getting mixed up in Mexican politics. Article 33 of the Mexican Constitution stipulates that foreigners who violate it can be expelled from Mexico.

In fact, foreigners have recently been expelled for participation in a protest march about the price of tortillas.

Stay tuned, Robert Ripley, I have a feeling you ain't seen nothing yet!

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