Burning Atlanta

What a little cry baby. What a pathetic sympathy-seeking excuse of a columnist, but he's not the only one. The poor, poor, mistreated gate-crashers. What part of "Get out" do they not understand?

Boo-Hoo

Paul and Jenny Ladd were told they must leave the United States by Nov. 23, the day after the 44th anniversary of Jack Kennedy's assassination. If Kennedy's 1960 election stands as some high-water mark for this country, proof that an Irish Catholic could be as loyal to the United States as anyone else, then the deportation of Paul and Jenny Ladd surely signals something almost as significant, if entirely less encouraging.

When they landed at Logan Airport 12 years ago, with $250 between them, the first thing the Ladds did was find jobs. Paul had one by nightfall, roofing. Days later, Jenny was painting houses.

The second thing they did was try to legalize their residency status. They couldn't. Call them naïve, but they actually believed that if you worked hard, paid your taxes, and kept your nose clean, eventually you would be embraced as an American. There were two centuries of experience that this approach worked, especially for the Irish, especially here. No, they weren't naive, they were law-ignoring gate-crashers that somehow felt entitled.

For those who say they cut the line, get real. There is no line. The immigration system is broken, and there is neither the political consensus nor courage to fix it. But it is utterly delusional to think that deporting Paul and Jenny Ladd will make this country any safer or better off. "Get real??" Let me tell you about "real," you whining little candy ass. This is 2007 not 1907. The is the United States of America not the United States of anybody that breaks in and hides out gets to stay. This nation allows more legal immigration than the rest of the world combined and if that's not enough to make you happy you can kiss my dead grandmother's ass. She came from Donegal..LEGALLY!!! The "system" isn't broken, that's just the groundless rhetoric of the open-borders pro-amnesty bunch. The laws are in place but weren't enforced, which is why we have gate-crashers like the Ladds. And now, because of some anemic efforts at enforcement, the gate-crashers are crying to the heavens. It's vey simple: Either come with permission or DON'T COME. Either be here with permission or get the hell out. And that message needs to go out, loud and clear. Then there will be fewer gate-crashers ignoring our laws and our borders.