“When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you.” — African Proverb
In athletics, building a unified team is unquestionably the most difficult challenge a coach faces each season. Getting every team member to pull the rope in the same direction is difficult. Some teams, despite your best efforts, never figure it out. And when that dissent grows within, it can derail even the most talented teams. The enemy within is the most dangerous and destructive.
History has proven that it can be equally devastating to our country.
It should come as no surprise that I believe the model used to build successful teams translates quite flawlessly into what it takes to build a successful and united country. As a coach I am also a strong believer in rules, standards and consequences. No team or society can effectively function without all three.
The recent anniversary of the World Trade Center bombing in 1993 by foreign terrorists living inside our country should remind all of us to take a moment and put our political ideologies aside and consider the massive numbers crossing illegally and undocumented into our country. Consider that while many seek a new beginning here, there is also an unknown percentage entering that simply hate us. Differentiating between the two is why we have immigration protocol and how we take the first steps to prevent entry by those who want to inflict damage. None of that safeguarding process is happening right now. If you believe all those crossing our Southern border are innocent families simply seeking asylum you are ignoring the odds and the facts.
It has been especially frustrating for my family as our daughter and her husband wade through the red tape of the proper immigration process. Filing all the paperwork and arranging the interviews has proven to be quite a time-consuming ordeal. But in comparison, I feel much better about this process than those who are simply walking across an imaginary border line. Honestly, there are more security checks entering a concert or professional sports event.
Those who want to turn this into a political dog fight are part of the problem and I am not interested in that debate. This should not be about political platforms. It should be about the safety of our homeland and following the proper immigration process that has always been in place to protect us. We welcome you to our country, we just ask that you come through the door legally, so we can continue to guard ourselves against those who wish to do us harm. In 1886, when the Statue of Liberty was completed, immigrants came for a new beginning, not to try to end our existence.
It is becoming increasingly apparent that not all immigrants are here to become productive, law-abiding citizens. While many are here to chase the American dream, there are those who want to create the American nightmare. No rational person can deny that these people exist, and that their population is growing within our borders. If that reality doesn’t give you pause for concern, it should.
I cannot understand a mindset that doesn’t believe our country’s security is essentially important. After 9-11 we took the needed measures to protect the United States from airline terrorism. The rigid and thorough security procedures instituted have been inconvenient, but extremely effective. However, assuming evil will only arrive by airplane is foolish and irresponsible.
Although 1993 and 9-11 may be distant memories, they should be constant reminders that our national security is paramount to all of us. And when we knowingly allow the enemy within, we are destined to witness another tragedy on our own soil. No American should be too naïve to see that possibility rising with each day that we turn a blind eye to the stampede of unknowns at our southern border.
There is another saying in the athletic arena, “It is amazing what can be accomplished when nobody cares who gets the credit.” While our politicians point fingers and maneuver to look good and gain votes, the influx of illegal immigrants continues. And as they continue to worry more about who gets the credit than the solution, nothing will be accomplished. The lies and deception of the current immigration bill are further proof of the mass corruption of our political system.
The loser in all of this isn’t the democrats or republicans, it is the American people. Innocent Americans are paying the ultimate price for the apathy of our politicians. And when that next national tragedy strikes on our soil, “I told you so” will be of no consolation to any of us.
Dan Bauer is a freelance writer, retired teacher and hockey coach in Wausau. You can contact him at [email protected].
Editor’s note: Wausau Pilot & Review gladly publishes commentary from readers, residents and candidates for local offices. The views of readers and columnists are independent of this newspaper and do not necessarily reflect the views of Wausau Pilot & Review. To submit, email [email protected] or mail to 500 N. Third St., Suite 208-8, Wausau, Wis. 54403.
