Rewarding Bad Behavior

Rewarding Bad Behavior

Commentary by Sanford D. Horn

August 26, 2005

With the surrender of the Gaza Strip by Israel, no worse message could have been conveyed – bad behavior, heinous behavior, murderous, terrorist behavior has been rewarded.

The land, inhabited by some 8,500 Israelis, did not fall into Palestinian hands due to armed conflict. The land, won in war 38 years ago, was not offered up as some bargaining chip for a promise of peace or any other promises for that matter. No, this land, land on which Jewish blood was spilled; land on which Jewish lives were lost in battle, was simple ceded – given away with the hope that maybe, perhaps, something good will come of it.

Are those who surrendered this land delusional?

Let’s revisit the philosophy of the martyred Rabbi Meir Kahane (1932-1990) who repeatedly reminded people – supporters and opponents – that when one wins a war, the land captured is not supposed to be given back. “When you win, you win,” I heard him say around 1987-88 when he spoke at my alma mater, the University of Maryland.

Consider the great history of the United States. Did any administration since the Polk administration return land to Mexico following the war against that nation (1845-48)? No. And neither did Polk, one of our most underappreciated presidents. (Granted, that land is being lost little by little, but that’s a debate for another day.)

Nothing good can come of this secession. The message has been sent – terror works. The Palestinian people are a patient people. They only had to wait 38 years for Gaza to be delivered into their bloody hands. What will be next when terrorist attacks are stepped up? Tel Aviv? Jerusalem?

There is but one Jewish state in the world surrounded by over a dozen Arab nations seeking to increase their own odds. Israel should not help them. Let’s remember Rabbi Kahane’s battle cry, “NEVER AGAIN!”

Sanford D. Horn is a writer and political consultant living in Alexandria, VA.

Build it and They Will Keep Coming

Build it and They Will Keep Coming

Commentary by Sanford D. Horn

August 19, 2005

The oft-used phrase “build it and they will come,” co-opted from the Kevin Costner film Field of Dreams, could not ring truer regarding the approved day labor site to be erected on the Town of Herndon-Loudoun County border. This “field of dreams” will soon turn portions of Northern Virginia into a field of nightmares as property values, due to fears both realized and imagined, will begin to plummet.

The five to two decision by the Herndon Town Council on Wednesday evening creates a bad precedent that could spread to Annandale, Woodbridge and countless other locales where residents legal and illegal will flock in even greater numbers.

Such a site only validates the presence of workers who may not have a legal leg on which to stand in the US. The concept of providing a site – at taxpayer expense – for workers who may be in this country illegally simply enables more undocumented workers to rush to the site. The government – at any level – from town to county, state and/or federal – supporting this site is criminal in aiding and abetting lawbreaking.

A site where documentation is verified would be a good first step in an honest attempt to begin solving the pandemic of illegal immigration. Those here legally would be welcome to gather, learn English, and secure legal, gainful employment, thus joining the tax rolls and ultimately becoming less of a burden on society.

As legal residents working, they will add to the economy. Verifying immigration status at such a day labor site will help stem the rising tide of illegal behavior. That those who are here illegally have broken the law must not be overlooked.

Build it and they most assuredly will come. Just make sure those who come are entitled to the fruits of the labor creating this site.

Sanford D. Horn is a writer and political consultant living in Alexandria, VA.

Heads in the Sand

Heads in the Sand

Commentary by Sanford D. Horn

August 9, 2005

Proponents of a tax-dollar funded day laborer site in the Town of Herndon continue sticking their collective heads in the sand when criticizing Republican gubernatorial candidate Jerry Kilgore for publicly commenting on their attempt to behave illegally.

This day laborer problem is not a “local issue” as supporters of the site claim. Instead, it is a microcosm of a nationwide epidemic. For Herndon Mayor Michael O’ Reilly to say “We’re trying to deal with too many people standing on a street corner,” is both disingenuous and absurd.

Turning a blind eye to this situation only opens a bigger Pandora’s Box regarding health, education, welfare and other benefits illegals might steal from or sponge off our tax-paying citizenry.

Former Virginia Attorney General Kilgore has guts taking a public stand on this issue that even the head of his party – President Bush – refuses to take for fear of losing Hispanic votes. There are many Hispanic voters – legal US citizens who stood in line and “did it the right way,” who strongly oppose the genesis of such sites.

I have written about this issue frequently, yet no editor has exhibited the bravery to print these words. I will continue to write such commentaries in hope that those tax dollars go where they are most sorely needed – toward improved school systems and transportation systems.

This issue is neither political nor moral – it is legal. Lawbreakers should be arrested and detained. If police had the authority to handle this situation on a local level it would become less of a national pandemic.

Support of such illegality by O’ Reilly or any other elected official should be cause for recall or impeachment.

Sanford D. Horn is a writer and political consultant living in Alexandria, VA.