On my first trip back to the States this year, having not been there in 8 or 9 years, I was waiting in the immigration hall at Logan airport and they had some TVs mounted on the walls. They were showing video with various talking heads saying how they had to be tough on illegal immigrants and beef up the borders and dish out severe penalties on anyone found to be trying to enter the States illegally.

"Yowzers! That's a bit heavy handed!" I thought waiting in line with a sense of foreboding. It was only after about 15 minutes that I realised it was a debate on Fox News about Bush's proposed amnesty on illegal immigrants.

Still, not much of a welcome. You'd think they could tune in to the Kittens Playing With String channel or something a little less in-your-face.