Letters
Super Bowl helps highlight the power of unity
In "Mourning a moment passed: when race didn't matter"(Jan. 30, Opinion), the author says "Until we stop using labels to separate cultures, our troubles will remain just behind the dash of indifference." For me, this was an insightful statement exposing the dishonesty and ignorance of political correctness.
The article spotlights the firefighter statue fiasco. Why the percentage of black and Hispanic firefighters, or female for that matter, should be an issue is beyond me. Those being rescued in a fire don't care about the skin color or gender of the individuals rescuing them as long as they can carry them down the ladder safely.
We should learn from the Super Bowl. All anyone cared about that day was that the players were selected because of their ability and that, together, they played the best they could.
The Patriots didn't even come out individually at the beginning. They came out as a team. As one! They had their sights set on what was important.
Not a word about race or hyphenated diversity labels. No one cared about quotas or diversity.
Mary Kuhl
San Ramon, Calif.
Regarding "States take a big gamble" (Feb. 4): Whether it is lotteries that put states into the bookie business, or more and more subsidies for ever-fading race tracks and both land and floating casinos, the price tab discussed by the pushers doesn't ever seem to calculate the actual pricetag charged to the gambler, or to his or her family. Nor does it consider the cost to society.
More and more statesmen are refusing to fall for the false promises of gambling - tired of the huge amount of taxpayer-funded time gambling issues take from the normal legislative agenda. Kudos to these legislators, willing to search for sound economic solutions to real economic problems. Shame on those still pushing gambling.
Dianne M. Berlin
Penryn, Pa.
National Coalition Against
Legalized Gambling
"A hard look at visa overstays" (Feb. 5) describes a sad tale of an illegal alien who has overstayed her visa. While some people call the US "a nation of immigrants," we are also "a nation of laws." If we ignore those who are here illegally, we invite more disasters caused by terrorists in this country illegally.
Some feel illegals fill jobs that legal workers won't take. That is greatly exaggerated. In fact, housekeeping and janitorial jobs that were once held by many low-income Americans are now filled by illegals, while the former represent the largest segment of unemployed.
Illegal immigration is largely an issue of corporate profit and Congressional greed. Our national security is too important to allow this situation to continue.
Byron Slater
San Diego, Calif.
Border Solution Task Force
"Kashmir parties aim beyond war words" (Feb.4) has indicated with clarity the sufferings of the people of Kashmir. However, it did not focus on the participation of Kashmiri people in talks held between India and Pakistan, wherein Kashmir's future is decided. Any peace talks held can only be considered sincere when Kashmiris are acknowledged.
Numerous bilateral peace talks have been held between India and Pakistan without any results. Kashmiri people have suffered, sacrificed, and been subjected to brutal tyranny long enough. Today, when so much stress is being laid on human rights and freedom, the people of Kashmir are entitled to both.
Suraiya Siddiqi
Brampton, Ontario
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