A friend sent me a piece from National Review. It raised questions about so many issues affecting us today—immigration policy, welfare reform, the role of guests in our country, and the role of the government agencies in keeping us safe. 

Here’s an excerpt: The checkered immigrant family of the two Boston bombers is a tragic advertisement of almost everything wrong with our current immigration policy. The idea of life-saving asylum doesn’t make any sense when supposed refugees, like both of the Tsarnaev parents, can return to live safely in Russia. The elder of the suspected bombers, Tamerlan, himself had likewise just spent six months in a supposedly deadly homeland — for what exact reasons we can only speculate. Do our immigration authorities really believe that Russia is so dangerous for Muslims that they must be allowed unquestioned admission to the United States, but not so dangerous that they cannot from time to time choose to revisit their deadly place of birth? 

That’s a good question, and it is one that I’ve not seen addressed by the government, or even questioned by the news media. Why did the government grant asylum to the parents? 

The usual reason for granting asylum is that the person is in mortal danger—yet the parents returned to Russia —and were not harmed. Even worse, one of the brothers actually returned to Russia for six months and came back to the U.S. Obviously, Russia is not as dangerous as the U.S. State Department said it was. What will be changed in the government granting of asylum? Why isn’t the news media asking the questions?

Can a resident alien no longer be summarily deported for breaking the laws of his host country? Tamerlan—for domestic violence against his non-boxing wife, or, in the case of his mother, for shoplifting over $1,600 in merchandise? 

Why doesn’t “Homeland Security” check up on those resident aliens? How about monitoring for conviction of crimes? The majority of illegals in the country (they ARE illegal, as in “not legal”) simply overstay their visas. What will change in the government oversight after this event? Why isn’t the news media asking the questions?

Does being on public assistance years after arrival in this country, like the Tsarnaev family, no longer qualify a resident alien for deportation?

Does being investigated by the FBI for apparently loud and public expressions of support for anti-American radical jihadists not mean much?

In short, if a Tamerlan Tsarnaev cannot be deported, then perhaps no resident alien can be under any circumstance.

Here we’ve had an entire family on welfare and social programs—parents (who eventually went back to Russia), and two children—both of which received welfare and a good education. What changes will the government make? Why aren’t the news media asking the questions?

Politicians and bureaucrats bluster about the “needed changes” of border security, well-publicized benchmarks for self-sufficiency, grand talk of the avoidance of crime, and continued emphasis on long-term residence. That’s well and good, but those changes never happen. Why hasn’t government enforced its own laws? Why isn’t the news media asking why?

All too often, we blame inanimate objects for the social ills of our society. We blame the building that houses crack houses. We blame the SUV involved in a crash. We blame guns, but not the person who uses them. 

That’s a childish thing to do. It’s like blaming the hammer when you hit your finger with it. The predictable response from government is “more laws”—more infringements on the freedom of people that didn’t cause the problem. 

In this case, the government failed to enforce its existing laws. Why isn’t government enforcing the laws it has on the books? Why isn’t the news media asking WHY NOT?

Failure to hold government accountable (after all they are the ones that enacted the laws, and the ONLY ones that can enforce them) is our fault. There ought to be a big hue and cry over the failure of government to protect us. 

They failed because they didn’t follow their own rules. If a business had failed to live up to what they promised, they would be in big trouble—not only with government, but with the consumers. Why the apathy from the general public on this issue? 

Some of our Star Eagle readers have commented they like to read about events such as family and school reunions, birthdays and anniversaries, and birth and wedding announcements. In order to read about these important things, we need our faithful readers to pass along the information to us. If you have news, please contact me via e-mail, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; by postal mail, P.O. Box 192, Geneva, MN 56035 or telephone, 507-256-4405.

Birthdays and anniversaries:

• Thursday, May 2nd: Shayna Kress and Tyler Kress, their 3rd; Jack Benjamin Owen, his 4th; Diane Smith, Ted Radke, Jill Goodnature Kubicek, Bonnie Shaunce, Stephanie Corey, DeWayne Farr, Nolin Joe Simmons, his 8th; Joshua Nicholas Paulsen, his 10th; Roger Anderson, Gerald & Mildred Flugum, Dean & Carolyn Wangen.

• Friday, May 3rd: Jase Dean Knudson, his 5th; Cassidy Worrell, Fern Possin, Justin Robertson, Dale Dulas, Wayne Dobberstein, Anthony Brandt, Merle Bartness, Leah (Ruth) & William (Bill) Scott, their 4th.

• Saturday, May 4th: Joyce Wayne, Angie Worrell Aaseth, Daniel Knudson, Kenneth Schumacher, Charles Wangsness, Keith Miller, Shirley Draayer Anderson, Dean Heskett, Thad Tuttle, Leslie Ray Farr, her 11th; Jessica Marcus, Julia Elizabeth Rye, her 5th, Brooklyn Cecila Strand, her 8th, Melonie Butler, Lexi Jo Brandstad, her 12th.

• Sunday, May 5th: Mckenzie Lynn Jensen, her 12th; Alexis Janning, his 12th; Jeff Draayer, Shirley Jensen, Melody Krenke, Ron Langlie, Ryan Larson, Shirley Swearingen, Amber Obermoller, Dennis Sauke, Martin Whelan, Erik & Shannon Smith, their 12th; John & Lucille Nechanicky, Tim & Jolene Sorenson, Kevin & Annie Avery.

• Monday, May 6th: Caleb Scott Harpel, his 13th; Brad Borchert, Tracy Haddy, Cheryl Nelson, Iris Jensen, Brandon Wallace, Bill Vavra, Tim Wilker, Jennifer & Michael Vetsch, their 13th, Bill & Judith Hatch, Everett & Marian Camp.

• Tuesday, May 7th: Brody Hanson, Brian Jensen, John Snyder, Nancy Swearingen Grant, Brian Johnson, Heidi & Jason Owen, their 8th, Bryan & Diane Brighton, Heidi (Crabtree) & Jason Owen, their 8th.

• Wednesday, May 8th: Grace Carol Jean Riskedahl, her 1st; Olivia Kay Smith, her 7th; Kristina Follien, Marguerite Christensen Nelson, Ronald Wangsness, Elizabeth Bremer, Sandy Neubauer.

• Thursday, May 9th: Elli Pearl Baker, Aidan Jeffrey Schlaak, his 6th; John Jensen, Sue Pence, Jake Simmons, Julie Haroldson, Sue Hohansee, Audrey Horan, Karol Carroll, Nijole Aaseth, Rachelle Doran, Carolyn Greer, Karla Kelly, Jerry Westrum, Jill (Ottesen) & Cam Kehne.

• Friday, May 10th: Tari (Walterman) Erickson, Ryan Callahan, Tina Nelson, Steve Nielsen, Christine Ingvaldson, Dave Oeljenbrun, Mary Wilker, Brody Johnson, Mark & Sara Misgen, Rande & Jamie Nelson.

Wishing you sunshine and flowers and many, wonderful days ahead.