Undocumented

I am caught in a dilemma. I have an undocumented friend. His work permit expired, but because he recently suffered a heart attack (he is OK now), he continues to take full advantage of national and local health care facilities, paying absolutely nothing. Eight months after his heart attack, he continues to eat lots of red meat, smoke as he has for decades and drink excessively. In the meantime, he complains about the government and culture of his host nation and, above all, his terrible misfortune at having to live apart from his people. Should I turn him in?

By the way, my friend is an American living in Canada. As a proud Republican of Irish descent who pulls down a handsome salary from his American employer, he constantly preaches about personal responsibility. For starters, he claims that people who have AIDS were irresponsible and as such deserve no special treatment, medical or otherwise, and that welfare recipients are simply losers and should be cut off, period. Hey, “fellow” conservatives, do I still turn him in?

ELLEN Z. RADOVIC

Irvine