Ping and I went out for a walk through the neighborhood this evening while Cici and one of her classmates were working on their debate for tomorrow.  The girls are still working away on their arguments.  I have played a role by asking them pointed questions to get them to think of other issues.

The debate is about the Arizona immigration law.  Cici and her Vietnamese classmate, who is here as an international student, have been assigned to argue in favor of the law.  After they have been working on the debate all evening I asked them how they really feel about the law.  Both of them are strongly in favor of it, so I asked them why.  The border must be closed, they responded.  It is very bad for the U.S. if the border is not closed. 

So are you in favor of the law? The girls asked me.  They were surprised to hear me say no.  But I am in favor of closing the border, I told them.  But not just the Arizona border.  I am in favor of closing the borders all around the U.S., but that must be done by the federal government.  It cannot be done effectively by the states, in my opinion.

We have our conclusion now, the girls told me.  We agree that the border should be closed everywhere, so we will argue for the Arizona law, but say that the federal government needs to step in and close all the borders.

I wish it were that easy.