I have to admit, I cannot stand the immigration issue probably because for me, it hijacked the singlemost important issue I believe this country is facing – the wanton destruction of future generations of Americans - and also because it has torn our party apart. I have tangled with this issue because my forefathers were Swedish and German immigrants and I understand why people from around the world want to come to the greatest country in the world.

But there has to be rules. Americans love rules because Americans love fairness. Try cutting ahead in line at the grocery store and you’ll see what I mean. Many immigrants who have become Americans know all too well what it means to wait in line and follow the rules. Many of these Americans are the staunchest defenders of lines and the obeying rule of law.

I also believe there are ideaologies and people who believe those ideaologies and that they will do what they can to infiltrate our country and act out their hatred against us. The most immediate way to prevent that is to secure our border and keep them out.

Needless to say, I believe that we must have an immigration policy that secures our border, identifies and locates every foreigner here, and requires they follow a citizenship process if they want to stay here. Most important, I believe that if they’ve come to American to stay, they embrace American culture. In essence, E Pluribus Unum.

Bloggers tend to hat tip one another when appropriate. I’m going to tip my hat to Len Munsil today for his post on the GOP and the issue of Immigration. He writes:

One of the reasons the Republican Party in Arizona, and nationally, is in such disarray is that when we disagree, we seem to have misplaced the capacity to assume good intentions about each other.

Nowhere has that been more obvious than the debate over illegal immigration. I have always supported a hard line against illegal immigration, and I opposed Congressional efforts over the past two years to enact comprehensive reform. I believe border security is a national security priority. I supported employer sanctions and voted against efforts to weaken Arizona’s current law.

But the people I agree with on the issue were wrong in their treatment of conservative Republicans who favored comprehensive reform. Republican Party officials have every right to call up elected officials and (1) scream bloody murder, and (2) let them know privately that they are getting angry calls and letters from the Party faithful. In fact, they have an obligation to do so. But party officials hurt their own cause when they launch public campaigns challenging elected officials of their own party.

This debate reminds me of my many years involvement in the pro-life movement and how perceptions and stereotypes are created and reinforced. There are great people in our party who vehemently disagree on how the GOP should manage, control, spin this issue. The fact of the matter is that we are beating up on one another on an issue that is far less significant than the taking of innocent human life. I hope to God we can settle this issue soon and get back to what really matters – protecting the unalienable right to life.

Hopefully, we will not lose any more ground (elections are about addition) on this issue by not agreeing on the basics: border security, thorough citizenship procedures and American assimilation and acculturation. With 2010 just around the corner, the GOP cannot afford to lose another election cycle, especially when all our newest citizens see is warring factions.