Immigrant rights

I wonder if advocates for the illegal immigrants in the U.S. would fight as hard if the immigrants were Chinese or German, let's say? Several years ago about half the population of a south Texas immigration detention center were Chinese. Nothing was heard about fighting for Chinese immigrants' rights. Maybe we need to change the name of the cause to “Fighting for Hispanic People's Rights,” only.

Edward Kassof

God and society

In the '40s and '50s, in my tiny town in western Nebraska, we stood proudly every morning in school and, with our hands over our hearts, said the Pledge of Allegiance. We never had an organized prayer. I suppose if a teacher had prayed, we wouldn't have thought anything of it, but it didn't happen. Consequently, I am puzzled at the frequent Letters to the Editor blaming no prayer in school for society's ills. And yes, I am a Christian.

A letter (“Fear of God,” Jan. 6) blamed recent violence not on assault rifles but on our “decision” to no longer have God in our schools, government or society. One would think all the churches had been shut down and our Bibles confiscated. I wonder how these letter writers explain the violence and inhumanity in our nation's history — those golden days when everyone worshipped God and prayed in school. And did they watch the inauguration or numerous other patriotic and Christmas specials and miss all the references to God? Even a Super Bowl commercial mentioned God over and over.

No easy answers explain the heartbreaking attack in Newtown. Mental illness and irresponsibility on the part of the gun owner are two of them. Making false claims about our “Godless” society doesn't help and might offend the people who work so hard in churches, schools and other organizations to bring about positive changes.

Suzanne Roberts

'Kiddie corral'

Many teachers, discussing the problems of carrying guns in schools, describe situations very unlikely to happen such as “gunfight at kiddie corral.” What they fail to understand is that many of us don't want potential mass killers to be assured they can shoot students, teachers and staff at will. Even the strongest, most athletic teachers — and the children they are to protect — are at the mercy of these deranged cowards.

If they felt someone would return fire, they would not be inclined to attack. One has only to look at the history of mass killings to see this is true. Teachers and administrators should be armed if qualified, and no teacher would be forced to have a gun.

And I should point out, there are many teachers who are well qualified. I have a friend who was a Navy SEAL who taught science for 25 years. He would know what to do if faced with such a situation, but my point is, this is insurance to keep potential killers away, and the “gunfight at kiddie corral” likely would not occur. This is the same principle as advertising with a yard sign that your home is alarmed and protected to keep the burglars away. “Gun free zones” are an invitation to cowards with guns.

Walter Hooks