Let's see.

California is thinking about issuing drivers' licenses to illegal aliens.

At the same time, our own state is making it financially easier for illegal aliens to go to college.

But then you've got the U.S. Army.

It's poised to discharge a combat veteran because he's an illegal alien, which in turn means he could be kicked out of the service and then deported.

Juan Escalante was just 4 years old when his family illegally came to the United States.

His parents worked hard, purchased a home and raised their family here in Seattle.

Juan went to school here. At 18, he joined the Army, using a fake Green Card.

He's just come home after having served 4 months over in Iraq.

Now, if Juan Escalante hadn't joined the Army; if he hadn't risked his life while serving in the U.S. military, he could have gone to college here in Washington, paying in-state tuition.

Or, he could move to California and wait on that new law to get a drivers' license.

Instead, Juan Escalante became a soldier.

Please remember, in the early days of fighting in Iraq, two non-citizens who joined the Army were among the first killed in the war.

They've since been granted citizenship.

Posthumously.

I guess the way the government thinks about citizenship, Pvt. Juan Escalante would be better off dead.

That's how whacked the world we live in is.

Want to share your thoughts with Ken Schram? You can e-mail him at kenschram@komo4news.com