Because of our firm's investments in Mexico, I recently joined the US-Mexico Chamber of Commerce, and a couple days ago, I attended their program in Los Angeles.

Parts of it were very interesting, but first, a couple of disgressions: (1) It was held at the Biltmore, which is truly one of the grand old hotels of LA. Its exterior is nice; nothing to write home about, but its interior is truly remarkable. The artistic vision and attention to detail is something you won't see in a modern hotel. If you are in LA, it's well worth the time to explore the Biltmore. And (2) As luck would have it, The Anonymous Hawk's office is a stone's throw from the Biltmore, so I stopped by. For all those who are wondering, the AH's office is one of those deals that with understated elegance, says, "This is the office of a Big. Important. Powerful. Person." (BSD, if you will.) Yet another reason that The AH is a world class litigator and you and I are not (at least presumably not...if you are a world class litigator reading this, whose name is not AH, feel free to correct me).

Now we have dispensed with the digressions, did you know that the Hispanic population in the US is about 41 million, or about 14% of the population? A US-based Hispanic demographer did an interesting presentation for us at the Chamber meeting. He also mentioned that the number of Hispanics in the US is more than the *entire* populations of Canada and Australia *combined.* And the number of Hispanics in the Los Angeles area is greater than the *entire* population (not combined) of the following countries: Denmark, Ireland, Israel, Jordan, New Zealand, and Norway (and of course, many others...these were just examples).

There was a lively immigration discussion as well, but not a lot of opposing viewpoints. What a tricky issue. I am generally for hard-working, law abiding people trying to feed their families in any context, but I will tell you that it made me viscerally uncomfortable to see so many folks waving the Mexican flag only in various pro-immigrant marches and rallies in LA during the past couple years. The marchers would better serve their own cause if they waved only American flags during the demonstrations. (And to their credit, many of them do.) Or at least wave both flags at once. I have a small lapel pin that I occasionally wear that depicts both the US Flag and the Mexican flag--they call it a "friendship pin."

I was interested to see the strongly pro-immigrant editorial in the WSJ yesterday. It was not just on the editorial page; it was on the left-hand side without a byline, so that means it was agreed upon by the WSJ Editorial Board. The editorial dismantled a Heritage Foundation study that said that the average lifetime cost of a low-skilled immigrant household to the US taxpayer is $1.1 million per copy. In a debating move technically known as a "double reverse whammy," the WSJ editorial mentioned a study by US government social security actuaries that estimates that over the next 75 years, immigrants will pay $5 trillion *more* in payroll taxes than they will receive in Social Security benefits.

The editorial also pointed out that illegal immigrants simply don't get any welfare benefits from the government (except for emergency room care). The editorial is worth reading if you are interested in the immigration debate; I am sorry that I can't link to it.

A good portion of America's strength incomes from its diversity, so I am all for people retaining and celebrating their native cultures. But it also seems that a shared language and shared culture can make us stronger as well.

I strongly agree with immigrant parents who want their kids to be immersed in English language and culture in US schools, but also teach their children about their native country's culture. I strongly agree with the immigrant parents who instill in their children the importance of voting (and particularly, one of the many important reaons for learning English: so that they can be better informed voters and not have to vote in some other language). I strongly agree with the immigrant parents who teach their children the importance of Memorial Day and Veterans' day in the US.

And speaking of which, many of us native-born US citizens could do a better job instilling in kids the significance of Memorial Day; what could be a better time for doing so than Monday? Have a nice long weekend, and never stop appreciating the soldiers who have fought and sacrificed and died for our freedom; for our country.

And in honor of Memorial Day, here are some parting thoughts, often attributed to a Mr. John Hagee:

*I gave you a birthright of freedom born in the Constitution, and now your children graduate too illiterate to read it.
* I fought in the snow barefoot to give you the freedom to vote, and you stay at home because it rains.
* I left my family destitute to give you the freedom of speech, and you remain silent on critical issues, because it might be bad for business.
* I orphaned my children to give you a government to serve you, and it has stolen democracy from the people.
* It's the soldier, not the reporter, who gives you the freedom of the press.
* It's the soldier, not the poet, who gives you the freedom of speech.
* It's the soldier, not the campus organizer, who allows you to demonstrate.
* It's the soldier who salutes the flag, serves the flag, whose coffin is draped with the flag that allows the protester to burn the flag.