Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe A RUN FOR THE BORDER Texas Gov. Rick Perry says more than 400 Texas National Guard soldiers will be stationed at ports of entry along the border with Mexico to increase security and expedite crossings. Advertisement "The Texas National Guard is exceptionally well-trained and well-suited for this important mission," Perry said Thursday. "Many of the soldiers have experience in our airports, in disaster relief and in Bosnia peacekeeping efforts." The soldiers will assist U.S. Customs agents and U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service agents at more than three-dozen Texas sites. A smaller contingent of Guard troops has been on duty for several months at three ports of entry assisting in inspections. Perry asked the Bush administration last November to authorize the use of additional guard troops at border ports of entry. He also discussed the issue with Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge in December. The request was prompted by the Sept. 11 attack on the United States and long delays that intense security has created at the ports. Advertisement Perry said the troops will begin their new duty starting next week and that the National Guard will deploy as many troops as possible from South Texas communities. The federal government will pay the cost of deploying the troops. Similar deployments will be made in New Mexico, Arizona and California as well as along the U.S.-Canada border, the governor's office said. -- Is it too easy to get into the United States? Do you support the placement of troops to guard the U.S. border? Why or why not? EDITORIAL SPARKS APOLOGY DEMAND Leaders of the Arab-American community are demanding an apology from Wayne State University officials over an opinion piece that appeared in the Michigan school's newspaper, headlined "Islam sucks." The piece -- which ran Tuesday in the South End, the campus daily -- said Islam "presents a danger to the welfare of many due to its influence." It suggested that the secular school system "deprogram" Muslim immigrants and "help them adopt more productive values." Imad Hamad, regional director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, called the item "absolutely appalling" and full of inaccuracies. He said he fears it may lead to hate crimes against Muslim students. In a letter to Wayne State President Irvin Reid, Hamad said the author is entitled to his opinions but "that does not give him the right to demean our religion." Advertisement The editorial was written by Joe Fisher. Newspaper editor Jason Clancy said the paper has received a few complaints. "As a student newspaper, we welcome anything from students, faculty or staff," Clancy told the Detroit Free Press. "We welcome their ideas, but it doesn't necessarily mean they represent the newspaper." Charles Brown, vice president for student development and campus life, said university officials were saddened by the opinion piece but added that students have the right to express their views. -- What do you think? WHAT WOULD JOHNNY PAYCHECK SAY? The overwhelming majority of Americans -- 83 percent -- say they are satisfied with their current jobs. That's according to the first in a series of polls sponsored by Parade magazine and conducted by Harris Interactive. The survey also found that, despite today's rocky economy, 72 of the 1,011 respondents say they are not concerned about losing their jobs. Fifty-nine percent say their lifestyles are better than their parents', and the median age at which Americans plan to retire is 62. The survey results will be published in the magazine's March 3 issue. -- Do you like your job? Why or why not? How has the economy affected your company? Are you taking any steps to guard against being laid off? Advertisement
