Published: August 28, 2006 12:39 pm            

8/27/06 Letters to the editor

Time to get immigration under control



Dear Editor:



Editor’s note: This is an open letter directed to U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison and U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards.



I appreciate the good work done by our congressional trio but hate the bad work and/or submissiveness and nonaction connected to the illegal alien crisis now upon us. I have been aware of these pitiful congressional activities for many years and have written a few letters and have done a whole lot of bellyaching to my acquaintances, but have not been in tune with the right ears nor have I had the attention of the right and able people.

I thought good politics was based on bipatisanship consideration. Now it seems to be, “follow the lead dogs wherever they are leading us or I’ll never get any pork.” My age fellow citizens have been around long enough to recognize sincerity, honesty, common sense and real patriotism as well as glib tongues, opportunism and lobby loving. We want you to listen to us as we may have some decent requests and thoughts. Nearly all of us vote regularly, if that means anything to you. Have we voted wrongly? I have no doubt that most younger folks are also apprehensive over current events.

A long time after we knew, you finally discovered the fact that too many illegal aliens were coming into the U.S. too fast and without documentation, yet no solution has been decided upon. In the meantime, thousands more have come in and are now only God knows where. Many are criminals or of a nonproductive class. Others are from countries where communicable diseases are rampant. We need these diseases like we need “bilingual.”

Many are good hard working folks, but there are too many here illegally. Ever since the abdication of the Shah of Iran, when anyone not armed was waved through our gates, millions have so entered and are now lost in the shuffle. Visas are passed out like stick candy. Who decides on who enters and how they are tracked and identified? Was our old system so flawed or were you intimidated to the wills of immigrant and ethnic associations? Now we have no working system and a lot of overburdened schools, hospitals, welfare, cities and jails.

Our enforcement groups are overpowered. You do remember the law prohibiting illegal entrance into the U.S.? How about the one disallowing hiring of illegals? Have you been conditioned to believe that America cannot survive without all of the illegals, when two illegals (man and wife) can equal (produce) innumerable, supposedly legal, offspring? That’s tougher to digest than that new math.

I back President Bush on many things, but his immigration ideas don’t ring right. He needs to cut loose from Vicente Fox and his replacement. With your access, tell Mr. President we Americans elected you to do the right things first for Americans, not for Mexicans or others, so give this message to our neighbors to the south and the rest of the world: “I feel for any who don’t enjoy good lives there, but work on your own country’s system, don’t come up here and take advantage of and try to change our system. Apply for immigration and follow our rules. If you want to become an American you can do it legally, but you must first decide not to be a Mexican, or an Iranian or an Iraqi, or a Russian or an Asian and by wanting and working to become an American and blending in with our culture. If your religion holds love, friendship, tolerance and forgiveness without hate as key qualities, bring it. If your religion dictates its laws over those of this country and intolerance of others, you and it will not be welcome. We like our country like it was intended to be and when you feel the same, you will be welcomed, otherwise, do not come here and if you are already here, please go elsewhere.” God bless America!

Very sincerely,



Monte Swatzell

Cleburne





Remembering K.D. Pool



Dear Editor:



Every now and then you meet a person who affects your life from that very moment you meet. One such man is K.D. Pool. I met Mr. Pool when I was campaigning for school board. This man gave me encouragement, support and a little advice that I will never forget and asked for nothing in return except for my continued commitment to this community. I had the privilege to be there when he and his wife donated their “home place” to Happy Hills and witnessed his commitment to community. Cleburne has lost a good citizen and he will be missed. May his spirit of commitment fill us all and may we honor his memory by passing on a little encouragement and kindness to someone every day.



Teresa Blackwell

Cleburne





Disappointed with city



Dear Editor:



I would like to take this means to convey my disappointment with the city of Cleburne taking care of problems that arise in our community. There is a water leak in the street at Batterson and N. Anglin that is in its fifth week and it displeases me greatly to see my tax dollars running down the gutter.

I observe this every morning when going to my office in downtown. Also, last week, there was another leak about a block north of this one, as well as a recurring one at North Main and May Avenue that I have to avoid on my return trip home in the afternoon. I know there are many other leaks in the city but five weeks is ridiculous, especially since I have made two calls to the city and talked with some city employees working at another giant leak, so I know they are aware of these problems. When it comes time to raise our taxes, I am sure they will be very prompt on that.

While I am on my soapbox, I am wondering what happened to the new civic center we were supposed to get after voting to raise the city sales tax. Also, the community theater, etc. All we seem to hear about is Splash Station. I am all for having things for our children but that was not what we citizens voted on.

I would like to hear some other input on these matters.

Sincerely,



Patsy Jo James

Cleburne





Free roller coaster ride



Dear Editor:



Most everyone at one time or another likes roller coaster rides. Would you like to take a free ride? There is no standing in line to buy a ticket, no standing in the heat. In fact, all you will need to do is drive on Williams Avenue in Cleburne. Just turn east off of North Granbury Street and bang, you’re on the roller coaster ride. You will think you’re at Six Flags getting a thrilling roller coaster ride. Your car will shake, rattle and almost roll as your hands firmly grip the steering wheel as you try to control your car. The street has been in terrible condition for years and is only getting worse. It is absolutely terrible. I don’t understand this, as this stretch is very popular and traveled daily by many. The city has more money now than ever, so why can’t we have decent streets? There are so many that need repairs and Williams Avenue tops the list.



Maxine Jones

Cleburne





Thanks from Layland Museum



Dear Editor:



The Layland Museum expresses deep appreciation to the following people for helping us with the Benjamin Franklin weekend: Wilma Reed for hosting our actor, the Java Lounge and Gary and Joy Lee McCoy, Family Fun Kites in Granbury for a great demonstration, Action Signs for donation of labor and a fantastic sign, and Michael Mager of the Times-Review for his article.

Our partner at Hill College in Hillsboro, the Heritage Museum, made it possible by booking the program. Many thanks. In addition, we are deeply grateful for the speakers at our Best of the West Summer Children’s Programs: W.C. Smith, blacksmith of Baytown; Floyd Vick Sr., cowboy roper of the Vick Ranch in Breckenridge; the Curly Q Square Dancers represented by Gary and Joy Lee McCoy and Preston and Catherine Daniell; Mary Parvin of the Art Guild, Kim Gorman of Camp Fire USA, and the kind parents who drove us everywhere.

We owe gratitude to our new Friends coordinator, too — Teresa Steed, who sponsored a fabulous trip to Russell Farm Art Center. This is a good community to live in.

Sincerely,



Bettye Cook, educator

Cleburne





Appalled at CISD



Dear Editor:



I was appalled as I read the story in Monday’s Times-Review about Mr. Smith and his problem getting transportation for his daughter to school. Do any of the Ph.D.s at the CISD administration office have any common sense? Muscular dystrophy is a progressive disease; if Mr. Smith could not drive last year due to his MD, how is it that the district did not put two plus two together and contact him first to see if he needed help again.

With all the school taxes I pay, I expect my district to use a good dose of common sense regarding the disabled families that reside in our district. As long as Mr. Smith is alive and has his school-age child at home, CISD should automatically provide bus service without all this paperwork and bureaucratic nonsense. If I read in the Times-Review of any more of this type of nonsense, I will be visiting the school board and asking for some administrator’s job ASAP.

Sincerely,



Michael L. Simons

Cleburne





Edwards should be called on actions



Dear Editor:



I thought of something the other day when I was walking back into my house from the mailbox, reading a letter I got from Congressman Chet Edwards. It occurred to me that I have now received three “updates” in the past couple of months from Edwards’ Washington office; I know this practice to be called “franking.” Franked mail is mail produced at the expense of the taxpayers from members of Congress. I wonder if this is what Edwards means when he says he’s “sending money back to our district?” I know he prides himself on sending money to the district, but I find it odd that I’m inundated with mail from his office, produced at my expense, when he’s up for re-election in under three months. Our congressman’s actions don’t reflect his rhetoric, and he ought to be called on it!

Thanks,



Tim Jeske

Hubbard





Tax dollars shouldn’t go to re-election campaign



Dear Editor:



It is very important for our congressman to articulate what is going on in Washington to represent us. So important that we pay for this service with our tax dollars in a system called “franking.” That said I have not received a single letter from Congressman Chet Edwards until all my neighbors started talking about Van Taylor. The literature Edwards has mailed out over the past two weeks is nothing more than campaign propaganda shrouded in “official business.”

Maybe if Edwards represented us well the first year and a half of his term he wouldn’t have to spend his last couple months franking his campaign material. Edwards does not represent our values and I will not be voting for him. The last thing I want my tax dollars spent on is his re-election campaign.



Bill Miller

Cleburne

        

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