Opposing illegal entry is not racism

I pulled this article out of the San Diego Union Tribune's Letters to the Editor page. I think it is very insightful and well written.


Regarding “Prejudice in the immigration debate” (Opinion, Aug. 2):

Ruben Navarrette Jr. uses words such as racist and prejudice to describe the emotions and actions of those who are opposed to illegal immigration. That leads to the question of what is racism and prejudice?

Are you a racist if you are disturbed that the arrival of millions of illegal immigrants has driven down wages and benefits for low-and middle-income Americans? That traffic is becoming worse every year and that many new arrivals are driving without either a license or insurance?

Are you prejudiced if you don't want to live next to someone who conducts yard sales or parks four or five cars on the street in front of your home? And how to describe someone who resents a flood of people into their community that broke the law to be there and who can't pay for the emergency hospital and educational services they routinely use? What about millions of people entering the country who are not properly immunized and whose backgrounds are not accounted for?

I am married to a woman born in Mexico. My mother was born in Estonia. I strongly favor more legal immigration and kindlier treatment of those who labor so long and hard to become legal residents here. I don't consider myself either prejudiced or racist, but I strongly oppose illegal immigration and fear the further impact of tens of millions of additional illegal immigrants in the future if nothing is done today to control illegal immigration.

RON JOHNSON
Chula Vista

Charles Barkley spouts off again

Usually when Barkley speaks I just roll my eyes because he typically just spews garbage, but this time he actually made a valid point (at least part of the article seems intelligent). When he is talking about the Democratic party he says ,

"They're criticizing a guy (Bush) who can't run again, who can't get fired, they spent the last two years criticizing him instead of saying, 'Some things aren't right. This is our game plan.' And now we're two years away from the election, and we have no solutions and no front-runner."

Makes pretty good sense to me. I guess its just easier to clown on those in charge instead of finding a way to improve the situation.

His quip about (overly) religious people is oretty damn accurate too.