DEAR EDITOR:
Columnist Stephanie Smith is correct in saying that Latinos are
breaking the law when they cross over to this
”
great country
”
illegally, without any formal papers.
DEAR EDITOR:
Columnist Stephanie Smith is correct in saying that Latinos are breaking the law when they cross over to this “great country” illegally, without any formal papers. And she is correct when she said everybody has the right to protest. But I feel that she is very wrong when she wrote her column and didn’t bother to look at the issue from the perspective of a minority. Therefore I will take this time to inform her on some things she may not understand.
When a illegal immigrant comes to the U.S. they will immediately start looking for work. Now I know you may think the first place they would go is to the local Super Taqueria to make those delicious burritos. But no, they will go to a mainly agricultural area and try to get work as a farm laborer. There, they will work picking cotton, strawberries, grapes, garlic or what ever is in season. Now, these migrant farm laborers make up pretty much the entirety of all employees. The pay is minimal and the work is strenuous.
I do not know of any other person besides a illegal immigrant that would do this kind of work. This goes on all across our “great country.” Take away the migrant worker and you take away the backbone of our agricultural economy.
So, why you ask does a person who is breaking the law think they should be given any privileges? Well in short, because they’ve earned them.
Another view you expressed was the dissatisfaction of your fellow classmates participating in the protest. It seems to me that when a person gets directly involved in the society and world they live in, when they take a personal interest in the politics of their government, it serves the person’s future even more so than simply reading about it in Mr. So and Sos history or political science class.
You see, I feel that a day’s worth of education is worth being sacrificed if the alternative is the actual application of the knowledge by going to a local march or protest and expressing your views and hopefully gaining some new ones. In the real world Stephanie, life experience is needed and required just as much if not more so than the education received at institutions.
As for your thoughts on it being silly for kids to protest just because they are not of age to vote yet, I must say that it was pretty silly for you to say something so ignorant. Would it be silly for you not to learn to drive just because you don’t have your drivers license yet. I think it’s kind of great that kids are thrusting themselves into a world that may potentially be a little too real for others.
JUANITA HERNANDEZ, Gilroy
Submitted Friday, Dec. 19 to ed****@****ic.com
