What's "An American Test?"

How the U.K. Handles It

Both liberal Democrats and conservative Republicans have claimed victory in the recent settlement of Alabama's new immigration legislation, a fact that has precipitated much press. Some of the ideas put forth, along with inane rhetoric, are laughable. Some news presented to the citizens of Alabama should give us all pause for thought.

While we have the greatest respect for Cliff Wright, a Florence attorney who handles immigration affairs, he might do well to request silence from his receptionist Diana Wilmes. In a recent TimesDaily article, Wilmes reported having to pay $4,000.00 in legal fees in her quest for citizenship. We have news for Ms. Wilmes: Four thou is very little compared to what many of our friends have paid to gain citizenship. How much would we have to pay to become citizens of her native Columbia? We would also like to know just what "an American test" is. Wilmes stated she had to take one.

The TimesDaily article went on to lament how deportation of breadwinners caused remaining family to turn to food stamps and other state and federal programs. How sad that as Veterans Day approaches, we see out tax dollars wasted on those who have no love for our county, much less citizenship.

No, we can't support everyone. Let's support Alabamians first. It shouldn't be a hard choice.

Related posts:

What Illegal Immigration Has Cost the Shoals

An Open Letter to Cliff Wright

Who Should Come First?

Annali Vasquez--See Second Entry

Shoalanda

An Open Letter to Cliff Wright

Dear Cliff:

I read your statements in the TimesDaily concerning illegal immigration and the recent law changes in Alabama. I agree with much you have said, but I also disagree with much.

I agree that the law was not the best thought out piece of legislation ever to be produced in Montgomery. Our lawmakers need to take the blame for that--if they honestly tried to serve the people of Alabama instead of special interests, they wouldn't work under time constraints of their own making, but would labor in a bipartisan manner to serve the state's citizens.

I also know that you have a family and in all probability have your income invested in such ways that you are not inordinately taxed. For those of us who are single, not quite poor, but not quite rich, we pay approximately 25% of our income in taxes. We want our money to go to the citizens and infrastructure of this state--not a foreign government.

I'm also going to guess that you don't do much of your home's shopping. In other words, you're not frequently standing in line behind Hispanic Indians who produce a state electronic debit card to pay for two carts of groceries--all the while in the express lane either because they don't read English or don't care since breaking rules means little to them.

I daily see citizens who are suffering--white, black, and in between. It's not about being a racist. I want our citizens put first. I cannot imagine Jesus advising anyone to commit an illegal act. In fact, He said the poor would be with us always.

We don't have the funds to help everyone. Whom should we help? The Alabama child who may grow up to be a brilliant researcher or top industrialist...or the Hispanic child who may never learn even to read or write English? Again, I say whom should we put first...our citizens or those who continue to fly the colors of a foreign country while taking all the United States has to offer? It shouldn't be a hard choice.



Shoalanda

Janice Keeton Has a Fan Club...

Janice A. Keeton wants to become the first woman elected to the position of Circuit Court Judge in Lauderdale County. If the amount of e-mail we have received concerning the Florence attorney is any indication, she will certainly garner a large share of the votes in the Democratic primary.

Keeton, a 1974 graduate of Muscle Shoals High School, worked for 16 years as a legal secretary before obtaining her juris doctorate degree in 2003. She is also a graduate of Faulkner University and the Birmingham School of Law. After passing the bar exam, Keeton went to work as an associate in the office of her former boss, Florence attorney Cliff Wright. She and her husband Jimmy reside in the Zip City community in northern Lauderdale County.

Recently, Keeton applied to succeed Circuit Court Judge Mike Suttle, but failed to make the selection committee's short list. She will face Gov. Bob Riley's appointee Gil Self in the June 2010 primary. We wish Mrs. Keeton well in her race; however, we have been told by those in the know that Mr. Wright's law practice may very well implode without his junior partner's wit, wisdom, and organizational skills.

Good luck, Janice. We hope to hear more good things from you before the primary.


What's up with this: The ShoalsInsider weekly poll is now featuring candidates in Colbert County's District Court race. Tina Miller Parker is currently in the lead, with Polly Ruggles trailing the pack. We encourage everyone to visit this site and vote for the individual whom you believe will best serve Colbert County.

Shoalanda