Or is it closing our minds?

neither of these last two postings make any sense.
We are talking about foreign terroism. Namely Islamic radical, state sponsored groups who have made plegdes to destroy America, its citizens, and its interests no matter what because it is god's will and their own path to heaven. They have been making threats and commiting smaller acts for years. They are a clearly defined threat to our country. What good are borders if they do not protect us from the outside. Tim Mcveigh is another matter, a criminal. Laws do not prevent crime, they only serve as the legal means to punish the offenders, and to keep the law abiding in line. There is no way to prevent tim mcveighs, or other criminals from committing crimes. Actually, there is no way to prevent foreign originated terrorism, but better border control is a reasonable step, which will help while at the same time, maintating privacy and freedom of U.S. citizens.
Enforcing our borders and immigration laws with more than the "honor system" is closed minded? Give me a break. Those are foolish comments. I suppose you beleive that the recent attack is the fault of the US and that we should not retaliate because all violence is bad and that we will create more innocent victims in Afganistan? Dumb. The US is the only reason most of those people are even alive right now (food) and there is no way that U.S. force against the government and terrorists in Afganisitan can victimize those people any more than their own government and religious radical leaders already have.
I can't stand it when people make stupid, illogical comments simply because they sound politically correct or "enlightend" Closed minded? What an idiot. Thinking about our country's safety and all the ways that might make it more secure, without destroying the liberties that is was founded on is OPEN MINDED. You liberals are always trying to make this country more like "other civilized nations". Well take a look at how these other nations monitor aliens, deal with illegals, issue visas and residencies, maintain their borders and such. You will find that the US needs improvements in these areas.

In spite of a couple rash assumptions which damaged, a bit, the credibility of his argument, "I suppose you beleive that the recent attack is the fault of the US and that we should not retaliate ..." and "You liberals ...," I would have to say that, overall, pointman has some good points, "They have been making threats and commiting smaller acts for years. They are a clearly defined threat to our country. What good are borders if they do not protect us from the outside."

In Ireland, when the Nazis tried to invade, they were immediately noticed as, uh, new in town. And, while crawling up from the beach, in the dead of night, would probably place one as a stranger anywhere, the Irish grapevine, i.e. the ensuing gossipfest that detailed the German's movements, made their planned stealth invasion absolutely impossible.

I think of it as a cop on the beat mentality. Cops used to know everyone in their neighborhood. If a new guy came around, he was scrutinized, checked out and nobody cared. It was just part of the process and it made everyone in the neighborhood feel a little safer knowing the police provided this service for their protection.

Why can't our border guards do this? The quick answer is, "because we are a HUGE country." But, if one actually thinks about applying the mentality, if at the border checkpoints, if one is not from the neighborhood, not an American citizen, is a stranger, but wants to reside here, why are they not thoroughly scrutinized, detained, recorded and researched even after they enter our neighborhood, our country?

If they were, would not the flight school, martial arts training, and rogue anti-American comments not have drawn suspicion? And, if there are too many strangers in the neighborhood and there is the ability to curtail the influx, to maintain the integrity of the place, why is that not done? If the government has too many visas issued, too many foreigners in the country, they need to get them out and allow in only the amount they can handle. Issue tourist visas, but then ask why they want to stay longer than the maximum time? Etc., etc.

Of course, this doesn't get rid of the Timothy McVeighs and those outsiders who have been granted American citizenship and illegals but, for all those who slip through the cracks, the majority would be left out on the sidewalk. In fact, if 9-11's foreign terrorists had been kept track of, those that were associating with them, who were American citizens, would have been, more possibly, discovered as well.

Kinda out there, but I am up all night, still fighting jetlag from Asia, so just thought I'd share MHO.