By JOHN G. WOLFE

Welcome to the World, Grandson

In my last column I wrote of the pending birth of my first grandchild. I am happy to report that on July 14, Brooks Clark Wolfe entered this world as a very healthy newborn. Now I am a grandpa, and there is just something about the whole experience that is hard to describe.
When a newborn enters the family it causes us to reflect on the world they enter and ponder what future might await them. I decided to write a little about the world I would like my grandson to inhabit.
Of course, I want a world without war and crime but such is highly unlikely. However, I would like him to live in a nation where our leaders think a little more before rushing off to war, plunging our nation further into debt and making more enemies. I speak mostly of the Middle East. If anyone thinks for a minute that we are going to bring about peace in that region they better read their history books.
I am certain every President-elect thinks he has the know-how to get things done to bring peace and democracy to those “unfortunate” people in that region. Folks, it is not gonna happen. Our constant meddling and desire to spread “our way” only antagonizes people and makes us new enemies.
I am more concerned about our own borders. Our immediate concern is not far away in some distant land, but on our own borders fighting illegal immigration and in our own cities fighting crime. Let’s not forget that gang warfare is not an invention of the Mexicans, but the spillover of the violence occurring south of the border frightens me. And before someone yells “prejudice” know that I am not opposed to legal immigration. Heck, we are all pretty much descendants of immigrants, although some had no choice about coming. However, somewhere along the line I think we have to put a lid on it. I am not sure that our nation isn’t already too big to govern.
There is no way to solve the problem of the over 12 million illegal immigrants we now have on our land, so we need to embrace them and steer them in the right direction towards valid citizenship and stop the flood of more illegals. Be realistic folks, 12 million people is about six times the total population of our entire state. There is no way they can all be deported. We sometimes have trouble catching the “Ten Most Wanted.” It is just not a realistic expectation. President George W knew it, and so doesn’t President Obama.
Of course I am concerned about the national debt and deficit spending. But the two political parties hollering at each other and playing the blame game solves nothing. Each has a pretty good record of running up both. I do know one thing, if we are going to go into deeper debt I would much rather it be for healthcare than for years of useless wars that were pretty much unfounded at their inception. Let’s take care of our own for a change.
And please, let’s end the name-calling. Referring to our President as a “socialist” solves nothing. Most of the people using that term don’t even know what it means. It doesn’t take many brain cells to call people names or to affix trite labels. Frankly, I find it very childish. They said the same thing about Franklin Roosevelt, perhaps the greatest President of his century. I don’t know about you, but I sure am glad he was around when he was!
It is time to end the hateful talk on television too. Quite frankly, I think the President’s most ardent critics are going to reap the reward for their trash talk, maybe not in 2010, but probably by 2012. Objectivity has gone down the tubes.
Americans have a strong sense of justice and fair play. They don’t like to see anyone persecuted and needlessly attacked. How does such solve anything? The constant barrage from the extremists is already getting old and I think and will soon come back to haunt them twofold.
I would like to think that my grandson might live in a world where people could put party politics aside and work for what is best for the country rather than what is best for the next election or the selfish interests of a few. Unfortunately, I don’t see much effort at true statesmanship, only partisan wrangling that makes the whole lot in Washington look like buffoons.
Oh, I have many more ideas for the type of world I would like my grandson to live in, but I will have to address some of those next time as I am running out of room.
In the meantime, welcome to the world Brooks!