IMMIGRATION SYSTEM IS NOT BROKEN -- IT IS VIOLATED --

Saying that the U.S. immigration system is "broken" is like saying that the girl's hymen is broken after she has been raped.  Saying that the health care system in the U.S. is "broken" falls into the same category.
These are not "broken" systems. they have been raped, and in fact, not just raped, but gang raped.

In 1986 the Simpson - Mazzoli act became law.  The core of the law is that no person who is not able to prove via documentation that he/she has the legal right to be in the country should not be hired to work.

This was the time of the creation of the form I-9.  I was a director of human resources for a large international company in San Diego, California at the time.  I saw what was coming, so I attended the training sessions that the INS (Immigration and Naturalization Service) presented to human resources managers, directors and other significant business leaders to learn how to distinguish between authentic and counterfeit documents.  As it turns out, it was far from rocket science, to use an old expression.  It took me about 30 seconds to realize that an authentic Social Security card was printed by an inked,cloth like ribbon and you could tell immediately.  Cards that were printed from any other media were bogus.  

I also learned how to detect counterfeit "Green Cards" in a flash.  No one got by me.  No one.  Some challenged my judgment and none won.  

I had to deal with sloppy "temp" agencies.  That was easy.  If they did not cooperate with me, they lost the business.  It also cost them a lunch for which they got nothing but my stiff-necked refusal to hire undocumented people that they presented.  It was easy.  I learned and I acted.  I refused offers for money, gifts and yes, sex.  In one instance, the most pressure was laid to bare by a politically well placed engineering director of a very successful and well heeled government contractor.  I beat him too.  

The immigration system is not broken.  It has been raped for all the years that it has been in place.  Yes, the very people who passed the laws, the very people who have the responsibility to enforce the law prefer to take money and make whores of themselves rather than to live by what they propose that others should practice.  

The next time you hear that a "system" is broken, any system, rest assured that the person who is saying that is one of the whores who takes the money from the "johns" who don't want to submit to the requirements of the system.  I have stories about the health care system too.  I also have stories about the labor law system.  I do not have to invent them.  They happened right in front of my very eyes.  Some of them are still happening.  

So, friends and neighbors, enjoy the ride.  It takes a real sense of humor to be able to get through life.  I often wish I had the talent of a political cartoonist.  I don't, so I guess I'll just have to get by with the little talent that I have.

** Liberation from the Beast**

As I have journeyed through life, over many winding paths, I have tasted the many fruits of the Tree of Life. Not all of the fruit were sweet, some were filled with bitterness. In my early days of searching for Peace within myself. I wandered into the deceptions and delusions of the bad fruit that looked good. Ahh!  the wonders of psychedelics, methamphetamines, and the thirst quenching beverages of alcohol.  

These beverages never quenched my thirst, only made me thirst for more.   Trusting in the combinations of these fruits to lead me to an enlightenment, only led me to be seduced into a web of illusions, deceptions, and debauchery.

I lived this life of darkness and found that with it came the treasures of darkness. A falsehood that caused me to believe that I was blessed with all that life had for me. As time proceeded the treasures became the chains that held me tight in a grip that I could not break free from. The only way that I seemed to be blessed in these chains was to partake more of the fruit that caused more bondage. These chains I found were held by a `beast`, a beast that was never satisfied by the amount of the bitterness, guilt, shame, and debauchery that I continued in.

I became fodder for this beast because rapidly all the pleasures that I had found were taken and I had no way to hold on to the blessings I thought I had. Soon my life with every bit of myself was to be consumed by this beast.

Suddenly a moment of time arrived when a traveler on this planet Earth collided with me crossing this path of destruction. This traveler introduced me to a group of travelers that knew of my agony and pain. These travelers asked me if I desired to be freed from this beast. I cried in anguish the answer; “Yes ! I need to be free !!”   With the quarter of sanity that I had I grabbed hold of this `Spiritual Rope` that was offered to me.  I grabbed hold of this Rope with both hands, and I was led to a step called `Surrender`.   I being defeated and close to death, I found this Surrendering easy.  

Feeling better, healthier, and having a position of employment that gave me an income, I became seduced by the sound of a familiar voice. The voice called me in a very sensual way, similar to the songs of the mythical Siren of Greek lore. The glamor enticed me to follow its leading, surely this time all will be different. I am much healthier and I will not allow myself to be chained, this time. “ I can do this !!  There is still fun to be had !!”  A new battle cry !! ......!!

A day arrived unlike any other that I had experienced occurred. A day in which I had a need, a need to find the `Rope`. The Rope that had in the past brought me to health and a life that I had gave me a freedom of choice. I was brought to my knees pleading in prayer that a traveler would once again cross my path on this downward spiral. That same day I was approached by a traveler that recognized me. Once again I was offered the Rope, this Rope that led to Liberation. I grabbed hold of the Rope, this time tying myself around the waist.

Pulled into the gathering of travelers, I was once again led to the stairway, to the step named `Surrender`.  Being tied with the Rope I seemed to be lifted to a concept of living One Day

at a Time !!  I was introduced to a source of Power, a Way, a Truth, and a Life, that increased within me and seemed to flow through me to others. This Power I found was always close

as long as I followed directions that were suggested to me by the fellow travelers and remained willing to hold onto the Rope.

As I traveled with this clan of travelers, I have heard others cry out in the pain that I had experienced; “Please ! Help me !”  I did not know what to do to help others to be free from the

devouring beast. I asked others “What can I do ?” Following the directions that were given me and staying with the clan, these others were also set Free and Liberated from the beast.

The Journey of Life does not have to be lived alone.  For the last 50 years many have grabbed the Rope of Recovery and have been led to the Life giving steps of Narcotics Anonymous.

Freedom and Liberation from the Beast of Addiction is happening every day—One Day At A Time !!  In many countries throughout the Earth !!!

                                                                                                                                           Br. Phil B.    `15 yrs. CLEAN`