Many who are willing to write or speak publicly about the need for immigration reform are truly eloquent, committed to their tasks and willing to be called "racists," "xenophobes" and worse.  And bravo to them.

However, telling the story does not equal "doing" the story, as Cindy Sheehan proved with her encampment near Bush's Waco ranch and the Minute Men movement proved by peacefully assembling on our Southern border to help overworked, understaffed Border Patrol officers find invading illegal aliens.  These latter folks were putting themselves on the line in dangerous places where our Border Patrol officers have been killed by alien smugglers.

Sending a check to brave activists is worthy (VDARE.COM note: Very worthy!) but far easier than being there.  No offense to you who have done so—as John Milton opined, "They also serve who only stand and wait"—but being in that "work and wait at home" category myself, I can not help but feel great admiration for those willing to put their bodies on the line.

Why?  Because a huge power block is assembling to crush the most worthy immigration reform legislation in years—HR 4437, the "Border Protection Anti-Terrorism and Illegal Immigration Control Act."  Soon the debate on its companion bill in the US Senate (S1362) will commence. 

As Peter Gadiel, founder of 911 Families for A Secure America, another group not afraid to put their bodies on the line, notes:

"While the House bill is not perfect legislation, one of the main ingredients that makes that legislation effective is that it does not contain an amnesty or guest worker provision."

The nature of the opposition to HR 4437 is totally clear from listing those who have spoken against it.  In addition to the corrupt Bush Administration, all the usual suspects are there, plus a few more who apparently haven't thought through the moral, economic, and public safety aspects of the raging immigration invasion the US now suffers: ACLU (civil rightists gone amok), US Chamber of Commerce (cheap labor advocates), American Immigration Lawyers Assn. (more business for us, damn our poorest citizens), National Immigration Forum (cheap labor mouthpiece), National Assn of Manufacturers (cheap labor seekers who apparently watched the Ford, GM and Chrysler mass firings with indifference), La Raza (more ethnics, legal or illegal are better), and Catholic Charities (more Hispanics equals more Catholic members).

So it is crunch time for immigration reform.  We will now see whether we continue to be a country which lives by the Rule of Law and which can at least partially adhere to the doctrine which separates Church and State. 

We will now see whether we can maintain the greatest democracy the world has known, or whether we will drift as a nation into increasing chaos, epitomized by our growing loss of a vital Middle Class, and our free fall into a debt-bloated, corruptly-governed, ideologically-split second-class power.

Both parties are jockeying for more illegal and legal immigrants, seeking their political fealty.  Despite the polls showing that over 80 percent of us want real reform, this Senate is likely to add the Bush demand for a huge new amnesty. 

Here's someone with a great idea.  His name is Frosty Wooldridge, a Colorado teacher, former military officer and professional athlete, world traveler and immigration reform activist. He is mounting for later this year, if money can be raised, the 21st Century Paul Revere Riders' bike traverse across the US to connect Americans from all walks of life, in small towns and big cities with the dangers of unending legal and illegal immigration.

Wooldridge envisions three teams of four riders each, people who will reach millions via personal contact, radio interviews, and TV appearances.  There will terrific media coverage, particularly in American's small-town, heartland press. People all across America will talk face to face to Frosty and his mates about why standing up for border security and not allowing yet another amnesty is vital to our national security. 

As Frosty notes,

"Great moments in American history exploded with such Americans as Paul Revere and his famous ride.....Later Susan B. Anthony stood for voter rights for women.  Dr. Martin Luther King stood for human rights.  All of these great moments will vanish if we allow our borders to remain open to an unending ling of legal and illegal immigrants. The structure, cohesiveness and fabric of America will not survive this human wave." 

The total funds needed are about $105,000. I am sure Frosty would be pleased to get your checks at: Frosty Wooldridge, Louisville, Colorado 80027. His phone is 303-666-6186 and his email is frostyw@juno.com

As more and more Americans learn first hand the urgency of what needs doing, the more powerful will be our presence on Capitol Hill and at the White House.  Activism like Frosty's and a growing number of other brave Americans is making a huge difference. But those of us who mainly "stand and wait" can also provide dramatic input—by showing up at the polls this November. 

I am a Democrat, but I think now that what is needed this November is single-issue voting. 

Ask your representatives at every level where they stood on immigration. And if they failed to vote correctly on the current bills, tell them flatly: "You lost my vote for failing to back real immigration reform."  And get your family and friends to follow your lead. 

Anything less will be a moral failure. 

Donald A. Collins [email him], is a freelance writer living in Washington DC and a former long time member of the board of FAIR, the Federation for American Immigration Reform. His views are his own.