That's right. Illegalration. It's what illegalrants do. They illegalrate into our country and demonstrate in the streets while wearing tee-shirts that loudly proclaim, "I'm Illegal -- So What?" They proudly display their status as illegalrants.

Seemingly gone are the days when immigrants came to this country, registered as immigrants, and worked hard to gain their citizenship while learning our language.

I grew up in a predominantly Italian neighborhood in Kansas City. The folks up and down our street were old-country immigrants who were proud of their heritage and even prouder of their United States citizenship, which did not come easy for many of them.

They spoke their native tongue when in their own homes and among those who understood. They also had the decency to learn English so they could speak to their neighbors who were not of Italian descent, or talk with the produce manager at the local grocery store, or offer condolences when a family member of one of their non-Italian neighbors passed away.

They were immigrants. They came to our country -- like many folks from across Europe, Asia, and the British Isles -- looking for a better life while understanding they would need to orient themselves to our culture and language. They respected our nation enough to "pay the price" to go through the proper channels to gain their right to be called Americans.

As I write this column, news agencies around the country are reporting on massive marches and demonstrations that have taken place around the nation today. The illegalrants have once again taken their demands to the streets in hopes that the government will enact what they call "immigration reform." Translated loosely, that means they want the government to grant them amnesty (pardon from the crime of coming here illegally in the first place) while continuing to allow many of them to stay on the welfare and public health care rolls.

The Bush Administration offered a good "legalization" program last year when it suggested illegalrants should pay $3,500 for a work visa, go back to their home countries to apply for citizenship, and pay a $10,000 fine. Of course, the shouts of "unfair" and "inequitable" were loud and many. And why not?

Why should we impose our language, laws and expectations on those who are here illegally? Why should we disrupt their lives? Why should we ask them to do things the "right way?"

I have been to other countries. I wouldn't want to live anywhere but in the United States. But I can assure you that if I did want to take advantage of whatever they might have to offer -- rampant poverty, high crime rates and corruption in high places -- I wouldn't be able to go to Guadalajara or Moscow or Kiev or Peking, find a job, rent a house, and send my paychecks back to the states via Western Union. If I refused to do things their way, I'd be jailed in the blink of an eye, never again to see the light of day.

It's not a race issue.

It's simply a matter of right and wrong.

Sort of gives the old "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses …" a whole new meaning, doesn't it?