I have seldom read a more politically correct letter than the one addressing my Aug. 31 letter on immigration. It is a model of textbook clichés and with a little snip and twist changed the intended meaning of my words. My message was economics, not racism. I'll try to clarify it for my contentious responder.
No longer is this the America of a hundred years ago. Then, our greatest need was for physically strong men and women to build this country and a better life for themselves. If a man could read, write and do sums, even on a rudimentary level, it was enough.
We needed people to develop the country outside of Boston and Philadelphia; to clear the land, to farm, to break up and plant the prairies, build roads, railroads, and build new towns. Immigrants came, from all over the world, and built this country. They wanted escape from the old country and they wanted to be Americans.
Today's immigrants must have that same demanding intensity for achievement, but with a focus on education. We are in a competitive global economy and need brains, not muscle. For too many years the people we've been sending to Washington have not been as competent as we hoped.
Here is an example in logistics. A man is able to provide for his wife and two children. They have four more children. Of course, the children cannot help the family's economic welfare. Their standard of living drops and the wife must go to work. That family is overpopulated.
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This same thing happens to a country. The majority of our immigrants have no skills, no education and can't speak the language. They are in the millions with more on the way. If things don't change the outcome is obvious. As I said before -- wake up, America!
