Opinion/Letters: Catholic school diversity; socialist Democrats; Ramirez cartoon

Staff Writer
The Providence Journal

Checking the demographics

In the Sunday Journal, Mr. Andrew Grover argued that “Rhode Island’s Catholic prep schools largely function to let white parents keep their children at arm’s length from their poorer, browner neighbors” (Letters, Oct. 4).

A simple demographic survey of some of our Catholic schools shows a different story. Bishop McVinney Regional School serves largely minority students, while the “white” population of St. Raphael Academy and St. Paul School makes up only 50% of the student body.

Rather than separating students of different ethnicities, we discover the exact opposite. Catholic schools educate children regardless of race. Parents send their children to Catholic schools because they want an excellent, faith-based education for their children. In fact, Mr. Grover’s argument has more merit against public schools, which keep students separated from each other based on ZIP Code.

If we want students to integrate, then parents need the ability to choose which school they want their children to attend. Charter, private and Catholic schools give parents options.

The Rev. Joshua Barrow, East Greenwich

The writer is associate pastor of Our Lady of Mercy Church.

Socialist Democratic policies

With Kamala Harris not even making it to the Iowa Democratic primary and Biden finishing a pathetic fourth in Iowa, fifth in New Hampshire and getting trounced in Nevada by socialist Democrat Bernie Sanders, what does that tell you about the zero enthusiasm for Biden/Harris among Democrats and the direction the party is going to go should he win?

Yes, Biden won only after just about everyone else dropped out. Even the Democrats knew they couldn’t win a general election on Bernie's platform, so just like four years ago, they chose a different candidate than the one the voters wanted. However, if Biden wins, it will be the AOC/Sanders policies of free stuff for everyone that will win the day.

There isn't enough tea in China to pay for it all.

Roy Wagner, Warwick

Foolish Ramirez cartoon

Sunday’s political cartoon by Michael Ramirez (Commentary, Sept. 27) is as foolish as the fool he depicts! The Supreme Court jester should represent the Republicans who displayed their hypocrisy by allowing a nominee to go through after denying such to President Barack Obama four years ago.

Don Jackson, North Providence