Sorry my replies are often late. I spend most of my time working on difficult technical problems, and don’t have much time to play or debate.
I’ve already been criticized for typo’s and sentence structure. But I really don’t care. If people appreciate the content and its solid, I’ve met my goal to inform and provoke thoughtful understanding. I can only apologize for late replies and bad grammer, but most people understand and accept I don’t have time to run through a word processor, and when I do on a long post meant as a one way transmission for an issue statement, I don’t structure it in any way except newpaper fill.

You however have posed an interesting and heartfelt reply that deserves an answer.

I would love to give Indians back large portions of their land, but that is not feasible unless it is done only as a small purchase for each tribe or nation, and placed in trust as a National Park in their honor (A Tribal museum that could make income for them, and later expand the land purchase). Feasibly, you can only buy land back as it becomes available for private purchase. I would not advocate imminant domain, but would support people donating land in trust (living trust, or protected natural refuges). VA has laws where this can be done in conservatory status. I would propose the same to the Indian Nations who once occupied the native land. They were the original Immigrants to North America BTW, 10,000.00 years ago at the end of the last Ice age. They are of ASIAN ethnic group descent, with DNA markers back to Mongolia and Kazakhstan. They killed the entire population of early Aborigines, who migrated in boats east to NA, except for very few left in Argentina.

I am 1/16 Cherokee, but do not register with a Native status. The rest of me is European most recently, but again very mixed, so it DOES NOT MATTER, IMHO we are ALL mixed races if you only go back a short time in history (40-60K years, we ALL have genetic markers that came from areas of Southern Egypt, and later Kazakhstan, so technically we are ALL African and Russian Mix. This is why I get so angry when people try to protest racially, name their protest groups by race or ethnic group (it causes conflict and NEVER peace), align racially or ethnically on GROUP ideologies, and HATE others not like themselves, or try to have civil riots with others who are not like themselves. The only isuue in my mind is the issue of “legal” and “illegal”. That is a social, ecomonic, and moral issue. The recent influx of “illegal” aliens is doing this 1960’s racial devisiveness thing all over again, as are the religions and genders. It will divide and destroy our country. It is wrong and needs to be stopped! I hope you feel the same way.

I am your typical bleeding heart over American Indians. I make no bones about it. However, let’s think about your proposal and its implications.

What would you do if your house were sitting on these sacred Indian lands? I think your heart is in the right place but the practical end of returning Indian lands to the Indians is simply not possible.

It can be done at the point of a bayonet…

I can’t believe that he made a statement that “Wherever there is a mexican, there is Mexico”. What is he trying to do, claim US land and mexican oversight legal authority and legal status for every location a Mexican has a foot planted as if its a Flag?

That’s like saying evertine a US citizen goes to Mexico, they own it and only come under US law. What an arrogant insult to every US citizen!

Here’s what he said in a speech… Sorry to post it so large, but you should read this, no wonder the “illegal” people who come here only care about their own race and ethnic group at the expense of all others, with a leader like that…

“MEXICO CITY, Sept. 2 — President Felipe Calderón harshly criticized the United States government on Sunday for the recent crackdown on illegal immigrants, saying it has led to the persecution of immigrant workers without visas.

The Bush administration has stepped up raids on factories and farms suspected of hiring illegal workers, imposing heavy fines and deporting a record number of illegal immigrants in 2006. The United States Congress this summer failed to approve proposed legislation to revamp immigration laws to make it easier for Mexican immigrants to gain citizenship or temporary work visas, disappointing the Calderón administration.

“In the name of the government of Mexico, I again issue an energetic protest against the unilateral measures taken by the Congress and the United States government that exacerbate the persecution and the vexing treatment against undocumented Mexican workers,” Mr. Calderón said in his annual formal address to the nation.

“The insensitivity shown toward those who have contributed to the economy and the United States society has been an inducement to redouble the struggle to recognize the enormous contribution to the economy of both countries and to defend their rights.”

As he has in the past, Mr. Calderón called on the United States Congress to pass changes to immigration law that would grant legal status to about 12 million Mexicans living and working illegally in the United States. He also reiterated his strong opposition to plans to build more fences and other barriers along much of the southern border. The assembled business executives and dignitaries gave him a standing ovation.

Criticizing the United States for its treatment of illegal Mexican immigrants has become routine for most Mexican politicians, including Mr. Calderón. Because the immigrants send home about $20 billion a year and because the yearly migration of more than 400,000 people relieves Mexico of masses of the poor, the government here has little incentive either to stem the migration northward or to support stricter measures making it harder for Mexicans to cross the border.

As the United States has stepped up enforcement efforts over the last two years, it has sent more and more Mexican immigrants home, where they have little or no work. Last year, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents deported 183,431 people after raids nationwide.

The border patrol, meanwhile, has reported steep declines in apprehensions along the border over the last year, suggesting that fewer people are trying to enter illegally in light of beefed-up patrols and new physical barriers.

In his speech, Mr. Calderón, who has acknowledged that he has relatives who migrated to the United States, suggested that the deportation of undocumented immigrants bordered on a violation of human rights, and he vowed to help illegal migrants.

“I have said that Mexico does not stop at its border, that wherever there is a Mexican, there is Mexico,” he said. “And, for this reason, the government action on behalf of our countrymen is guided by principles, for the defense and protection of their rights.”

American employers who ignore immigration laws may face criminal charges and higher fines under a new enforcement effort announced in August.

Last week, Mr. Calderón, a conservative, met with Elvira Arellano, 32, a Mexican who entered the United states illegally and became famous among advocates for Mexican immigrants for defying deportation orders and claiming sanctuary in a Chicago church for a year. In a meeting in his Los Pinos residence, he promised to help Ms. Arellano obtain a visa for the United States.

Mr. Calderón, who took office last December after a razor-thin victory, was forced to deliver his annual state-of-the-nation speech to an invited audience in the National Palace on Sunday because on Saturday leftist lawmakers refused to let him deliver it to Congress, as presidents have done traditionally. He sent it to Congress in writing instead.

Mr. Calderón also urged Congress to pass a tax reform bill, to open the energy sector to more foreign investment and to take other measures he maintains will make Mexico more competitive and will create jobs. He said his goal as president was to generate more wealth and distribute it more equally.

But he acknowledged that he must win over lawmakers to accomplish anything. “It is possible to transform Mexico, but it cannot be done by decree,” he said.”

I’m not saying there won’t be crackdowns. There will be more and more workplaces busted, etc. But I doubt a fence/wall will ever be built across nearly 2,000 miles of border or that if it is, it will be patrolled in a way that can’t be circumvented easily. After all, countries trying to maintain and patrol much tinier fences/walls as borders in just the hundreds of miles can’t do it. And this country doesn’t have the manpower, the money, or in truth the inclination, if it hurts business. I think it will be like many other Republican base issues. I am hard pressed to name one that has resulted in significant changes despite all the rhetoric to the faithful.

There was a very interesting article in the NYT about two brothers split by the illegal immigration issue. One is the mayor of a small NJ town and is like Barletta, and his brother is a Legal Aid lawyer. Very fascinating story. They are breaking their elderly mother’s heart by no longer speaking.

In a New Jersey Town, an Immigration Fight Pits Brother Against Brother

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/04/nyregion/04brothers.html?_r=1&oref=slogin