There is not enough room for all to come
Published: May 11, 2008
In Wednesday’s edition, the Potomac News had three letters about illegal immigration.
Lisa Johnson-Firth of the Immigration & Human Rights Law Group had a predictable position given the name of her group and seems to want to ignore existing federal immigration laws rather than enforce or replace them. As for me, I don’t see much wrong with lowering what we pay for education because as illegal aliens leave the county, it means more funding for other students and other needs. With respect to families being broken up, those acts are not on the Board of County Supervisors for enacting local actions to enforce national laws but on the lawbreakers themselves. As for “loving thy neighbor,” I love my neighbors when they’re neighborly, but I get a little torqued when my neighbors encroach on my house/nation.
William Westhoff also wrote, but I don’t know if we were at the same meeting. This was my first venture to a BOCS meeting and I was impressed by how respectful almost everyone was. The notable exceptions I remember were the gentleman that told everybody to stand up and a lady at the beginning that was sharply adamant against the PWC position. There was no “vile castigation” towards
Supervisor Frank Principi and almost all the citizens were anything but obnoxious.
The third letter was by Michael Hogan. I’m not for handing out guns and while he raised some legitimate issues, the letter’s tone was too harsh for me.
The first act of those who come to America should not be a conscious effort to break our laws. Those who come to America legally can be guests or legal residents and may turn out to be future
Americans, but those who sneak in illegally do not and should not have the full rights of citizens, native or naturalized.
Being an American is a fortunate privilege and while it would be nice if all six billion of our neighbors could enjoy America as we do, the fact is there just isn’t room and we have the right and responsibility to determine who we admit and under what circumstances.
LEO GRASSILLI
Woodbridge
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do the right thing: what is this “law and order” PWC BOCS goons are trying to preserve? Sure,there are law breakers among illegals just as there are among citizens.
Mr. Charist, maybe we could replace the statue with one of Steewart, Letiecq, HSM, et al - and build some sort of fence. Maybe we could become the n. American “Burma”.
Mr. Grassilli:
Ms. Johnson-Firth makes a living off the backs of legal and illegal immigrants, so her stance is predictable. You should see how many of these lawyers are handing out business cards at police community out reach meetings. It is one stop shopping for all who are illegal immigrants. Mr. Westoff, in previous letters has never supported the Rule of Law Resolution, so his comments are predictable as well as politically motivated. The Democratic party in our county doesn’t support the resolution.
Chairman Stewart,and Supervisors Caddigan, Covington, and Stirrup should be commended for wanting to preserve law and order in Prince William County. These supervisors are looking out for the best interests of all of our citizens.
Well, that settles it. We certainly don’t need that towering pile of moldering copper sitting smack dab in the middle of New York Harbor anymore:
“The New Colossus
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!“ cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!“
Emma Lazarus, 1883”
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