As publisher of Steppin' Out, I receive many submissions for publication on our pages. Among the submissions we receive are articles, press releases and even an occasional letter to the editor. It is one of those letters that this Letter to the Editor post is about.
This morning in my inbox the following message appeared. I read it carefully and although I believe it was well-intended, I'm convinced it is also severely wrong-headed. Although I might admit to accepting the writer's intent, as a resident of New Mexico who has had the privilege of knowing many proud and hardworking Mexican immigrants, I believe the writer's assumptions about 21st century immigrant attitudes are both incorrect and misguided.
Nevertheless, I chose to publish this editorial submission anyway. Why? Because I'm convinced the attitudes and assumptions of this writer embody some of the most common prejudices and misconceptions of a large percentage of the American public about modern-day immigrants. For that reason, I believe the words and thoughts of this sincere, passionate, patriotic and well-meaning writer deserve to be publicly aired and discussed. I couldn't think of a better place to do that than in our "Awaken to Humanity (http://sonewmex.com/modules.php?name=Journal&file=viewjournal&id=12)" blog.
I look forward to reading the comments and feedback of the new blog's host, Reverend Andy Hird, as well as seeing what other readers have to say on this interesting and provocative letter.
[Publisher's Note: We have deliberately CLOSED this letter to the Editor to prevent the posting of reader replies here. Instead, we ask that all replies be posted in our "Awaken to Humanity (http://sonewmex.com/modules.php?name=Journal&file=viewjournal&id=12)" blog. Please remember, only registered and confirmed users are permitted to post on our site. Registration is *free* and open to all visitors. To register, click here (http://sonewmex.com/forums/register.php).]
News papers simply won't publish letters to the editor which they either
deem politically incorrect (read below) or which does not agree with the
philosophy they're pushing on the public. This woman wrote a great letter to
the editor that should have been published but with your help it will get
published via cyberspace!
New Immigrants
From: "David LaBonte"
My wife, Rosemary, wrote a wonderful letter to the editor of the OC
Register [Ed: That's the Orange County (California) Register] which,
of course, was not printed. So, I decided to "print" it myself by
sending it out on the Internet. Pass it along if you feel so inclined.
Dave LaBonte (signed)
Written in response to a series of letters to the editor in the Orange
County Register:
Dear Editor:
So many letter writers have based their arguments on how this land is made
up of immigrants. Ernie Lujan for one, suggests we should tear down the
Statue of Liberty because the people now in question aren't being treated
the same as those who passed through Ellis Island and other ports of entry.
Maybe we should turn to our history books and point out to people like
Mr.Lujan why today's American is not willing to accept this new kind of
immigrant any longer. Back in 1900 when there was a rush from all areas of
Europe to come to the United States , people had to get off a ship and stand
in a long line in New York and be documented. Some would even get down on
their hands and knees and kiss the ground. They made a pledge to uphold the
laws and support their new country in good and bad times. They made learning
English a primary rule in their new American households and some even
changed their names to blend in with their new home.
They had waved good bye to their birth place to give their children a new
life and did everything in their power to help their children assimilate
into one culture.
Nothing was handed to them. No free lunches, no welfare, no labor laws to
protect them. All they had were the skills and craftsmanship they had
brought with them to trade for a future of prosperity. Most of their
children came of age when World War II broke out. My father fought along
side men whose parents had come straight over from Germany , Italy , France
and Japan . None of these 1st generation Americans ever gave any thought
about what country their parents had come from. They were Americans fighting
Hitler, Mussolini and the Emperor of Japan . They were defending the United
States of America as one people. When we liberated France , no one in those
villages were looking for the French-American or the German American or the
Irish American. The people of France saw only Americans. And we carried one
flag that represented one country. Not one of those immigrant sons would
have thought about picking up another country's flag and waving it to
represent who they were. It would have been a disgrace to their parents who
had sacrificed so much to be here. These immigrants truly knew what it meant
to be an American. They stirred the melting pot into one red, white and blue
bowl.
And here we are in 2006 with a new kind of immigrant who wants the same
rights and privileges. Only they want to achieve it by playing with a
different set of rules, one that includes the entitlement card and a
guarantee of being faithful to their mother country. I'm sorry, that's not
what being an American is all about. I believe that the immigrants who
landed on Ellis Island in the early 1900's deserve better than that for all
the toil, hard work and sacrifice in raising future generations to create a
land that has become a beacon for those legally searching for a better life.
I think they would be appalled that they are being used as an example by
those waving foreign country flags.
And for that suggestion about taking down the Statue of Liberty , it
happens to mean a lot to the citizens who are voting on the immigration
bill. I wouldn't start talking about dismantling the United States just yet.
(signed) Rosemary LaBonte
For more information on what others have said about this letter, I recommend visiting the following blog site:
http://fastblogit.com/permalink/?item=3930
And now for the fun part... I can't wait to see what Reverend Andy and other Steppin' Out readers have to say in reply. Please post your replies here (http://sonewmex.com/modules.php?name=Journal&file=viewjournal&id=12).
Have fun!
Greg Platt
Publisher and WebMaster
Steppin' Out New Mexico - www.SONewMex.com (http://www.SONewMex.com)
This morning in my inbox the following message appeared. I read it carefully and although I believe it was well-intended, I'm convinced it is also severely wrong-headed. Although I might admit to accepting the writer's intent, as a resident of New Mexico who has had the privilege of knowing many proud and hardworking Mexican immigrants, I believe the writer's assumptions about 21st century immigrant attitudes are both incorrect and misguided.
Nevertheless, I chose to publish this editorial submission anyway. Why? Because I'm convinced the attitudes and assumptions of this writer embody some of the most common prejudices and misconceptions of a large percentage of the American public about modern-day immigrants. For that reason, I believe the words and thoughts of this sincere, passionate, patriotic and well-meaning writer deserve to be publicly aired and discussed. I couldn't think of a better place to do that than in our "Awaken to Humanity (http://sonewmex.com/modules.php?name=Journal&file=viewjournal&id=12)" blog.
I look forward to reading the comments and feedback of the new blog's host, Reverend Andy Hird, as well as seeing what other readers have to say on this interesting and provocative letter.
[Publisher's Note: We have deliberately CLOSED this letter to the Editor to prevent the posting of reader replies here. Instead, we ask that all replies be posted in our "Awaken to Humanity (http://sonewmex.com/modules.php?name=Journal&file=viewjournal&id=12)" blog. Please remember, only registered and confirmed users are permitted to post on our site. Registration is *free* and open to all visitors. To register, click here (http://sonewmex.com/forums/register.php).]
News papers simply won't publish letters to the editor which they either
deem politically incorrect (read below) or which does not agree with the
philosophy they're pushing on the public. This woman wrote a great letter to
the editor that should have been published but with your help it will get
published via cyberspace!
New Immigrants
From: "David LaBonte"
My wife, Rosemary, wrote a wonderful letter to the editor of the OC
Register [Ed: That's the Orange County (California) Register] which,
of course, was not printed. So, I decided to "print" it myself by
sending it out on the Internet. Pass it along if you feel so inclined.
Dave LaBonte (signed)
Written in response to a series of letters to the editor in the Orange
County Register:
Dear Editor:
So many letter writers have based their arguments on how this land is made
up of immigrants. Ernie Lujan for one, suggests we should tear down the
Statue of Liberty because the people now in question aren't being treated
the same as those who passed through Ellis Island and other ports of entry.
Maybe we should turn to our history books and point out to people like
Mr.Lujan why today's American is not willing to accept this new kind of
immigrant any longer. Back in 1900 when there was a rush from all areas of
Europe to come to the United States , people had to get off a ship and stand
in a long line in New York and be documented. Some would even get down on
their hands and knees and kiss the ground. They made a pledge to uphold the
laws and support their new country in good and bad times. They made learning
English a primary rule in their new American households and some even
changed their names to blend in with their new home.
They had waved good bye to their birth place to give their children a new
life and did everything in their power to help their children assimilate
into one culture.
Nothing was handed to them. No free lunches, no welfare, no labor laws to
protect them. All they had were the skills and craftsmanship they had
brought with them to trade for a future of prosperity. Most of their
children came of age when World War II broke out. My father fought along
side men whose parents had come straight over from Germany , Italy , France
and Japan . None of these 1st generation Americans ever gave any thought
about what country their parents had come from. They were Americans fighting
Hitler, Mussolini and the Emperor of Japan . They were defending the United
States of America as one people. When we liberated France , no one in those
villages were looking for the French-American or the German American or the
Irish American. The people of France saw only Americans. And we carried one
flag that represented one country. Not one of those immigrant sons would
have thought about picking up another country's flag and waving it to
represent who they were. It would have been a disgrace to their parents who
had sacrificed so much to be here. These immigrants truly knew what it meant
to be an American. They stirred the melting pot into one red, white and blue
bowl.
And here we are in 2006 with a new kind of immigrant who wants the same
rights and privileges. Only they want to achieve it by playing with a
different set of rules, one that includes the entitlement card and a
guarantee of being faithful to their mother country. I'm sorry, that's not
what being an American is all about. I believe that the immigrants who
landed on Ellis Island in the early 1900's deserve better than that for all
the toil, hard work and sacrifice in raising future generations to create a
land that has become a beacon for those legally searching for a better life.
I think they would be appalled that they are being used as an example by
those waving foreign country flags.
And for that suggestion about taking down the Statue of Liberty , it
happens to mean a lot to the citizens who are voting on the immigration
bill. I wouldn't start talking about dismantling the United States just yet.
(signed) Rosemary LaBonte
For more information on what others have said about this letter, I recommend visiting the following blog site:
http://fastblogit.com/permalink/?item=3930
And now for the fun part... I can't wait to see what Reverend Andy and other Steppin' Out readers have to say in reply. Please post your replies here (http://sonewmex.com/modules.php?name=Journal&file=viewjournal&id=12).
Have fun!
Greg Platt
Publisher and WebMaster
Steppin' Out New Mexico - www.SONewMex.com (http://www.SONewMex.com)