Letters to the Editor 05/17/2006

To the Editor:

The immigration woes of the United States have reached a new low.

It is difficult to comprehend the audacity of these people. Due to the complete failure of our elected officials, illegals are taking to the streets to extort rights from our government that were heretofore given to people who immigrated to the United States through legal channels.

We have a national policy of non-negotiation with terrorists, because it will lead to more terrorism. If our government gives in to these “or else” demands, there will be no end to this. We need not be dictated to by people who have no legal right to be here and I see a solution looming on the horizon that will lead us to devastating consequences in freedom and loss of life if something isn’t done.

There are still thousands of people seeking legal status through these channels. For some inexplicable reason, our lawmakers have discriminated in the favor of people crossing the Mexican border illegally. Some say it is strictly for economic reasons, but I see it as a much more deeply ingrained symptom of the failure of our elected officials.

I can’t express strongly enough my disappointment in President Bush. I had believed he was a man of principle, dedicated to the preservation of our country and our way of life. He has stated that countless Americans have died to protect our precious freedom. Yet, he freely gives in to people who have no right to be here.

He will be retired to private life in a couple of years and will no longer have any control over this pivotal issue in American history.

I am repulsed by the behavior and lack of action of people like Senator McCain of Arizona. He trades on his patriotism and history as a war hero and defender of the union, yet his state has absolutely no sovereignty or protection from this onslaught of “illegal immigrants.” For the life of me, I can’t understand why he keeps getting re-elected.

We are beginning to hear from legal Mexican immigrants the disgust and disappointment they feel. These people have proceeded through legal channels and also feel betrayed by their government. This is not to mention the millions of other American who have immigrated in the past couple of decades.

This diminishes and trivializes their determined efforts to become legal American citizens.

We must protect our borders and our sovereignty as a nation at any cost. By continuing to allow this situation, we are sinking further into a hole that will be increasingly difficult to repair. I encourage us all to put intense pressure on our politicians to act on strong legislation to protect our country and our freedom.

Terry Burke

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To the Editor:

One more letter regarding Sisters traffic congestion: Can you give me the pros and cons of having a road from Highway 20 (Barclay Drive perhaps?) cut through the industrial area, hooking up to Redmond and Bend?

If you want to shop or eat go to the city center. This would not be a bypass — just working with a road already in place.

Bill Tomlinson