Letters to the editor for Saturday, February 2, 2013

A plan on immigration

Following our federal elections in November, public statements were made by leaders of both political parties supporting the consideration of comprehensive immigration reform in the 113th Congress.

We agree with statements made by the U.S. Catholic bishops and other people of faith that now is the time for our elected officials to work toward the following:

The creation of a system that preserves family unity as a cornerstone of our national immigration system, provides legal paths for low-skilled immigrant workers to come and work in the United States, restores due process protections to our immigration enforcement policies, addresses the root causes of migration, such as persecution and economic disparity, and provides a path to citizenship for millions of undocumented persons who are already living in our communities, have never been found guilty of serious crime, and are contributing to our nation.

Now is the time to build bridges across party lines to create an immigration system that is just, humane, responds to our current reality, and serves the common good.

Sister Virginia Wilkinson

New Windsor

Ideological purity obsolete

When one becomes of age and wishes to participate in the political process, he embarks on a philosophical path that quickly leads to a forked road. The fork produces one road to the left and one to the right. You can choose either. Both roads are well-traveled. Unfortunately, they never converge.

We Americans, traveling these roads, should backtrack, re-face that fork, decline either road and construct a new one that runs directly in the middle (centrist philosophy) between them. This middle road is paved with pragmatic politics, and its signposts direct us to moderation.

The two overused roads, weathered and worn by their respective ideologies, are no longer suited for travel. Ideological purity (of liberalism and conservatism) is counterproductive, causing political polarization resulting in government gridlock. Consequently America's problems remain unresolved and the American people suffer. Ideological purity is obsolete with no place in our political landscape.

We should build that middle road. Once completed, hopefully as time passes more and more citizens will take it and follow the signposts. Then crisis management will be replaced with good governance and America's serious issues can be adequately addressed.

John Lown


Service makes a difference

The beginning of each political year brings us inaugurations, speeches, organizational meetings, and appeals to potential volunteers.

Assemblyman Steve Katz believes that being an elected official "should work more like jury duty, where people do their civic duty, serve a term and then go back to real life." People who served could then apply their acquired political experience in real life, while real life would inform the politicians' actions.

The opportunities to serve are limitless and not at all related to a certain position; it's not the title that matters, it's the person and the intention that make the difference.

Right now, the Rochester Youth Commission needs volunteers; reading the quarterly newsletters, you're going to find out about opportunities to help. Serving — even in small ways — brings rich meaning to our lives, to those we help and are positively affected; it's challenging, it's inspiring, it's rewarding.

To quote Albert Schweitzer: "The ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve."

Manuela Michailescu


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