America must acknowledge its ‘culpability’ in the current immigration situation

Bravo to “Strengthen NC’s ties to Mexico” (July 4). I echo the author’s sentiments and hope for the future.

Trump has maligned the good and moral Mexican people with his disparaging name-calling. He focuses solely on a small minority of criminals, gangs and drug cartels.

These things are prevalent in Mexico and Central America, but we must not lose sight of a major underlying cause – the United States’ drug habit.

Instead of building a $30 billion border wall, we could more effectively spend this money on assistance to Mexican and Central American law enforcement and exposing drug use in the United States for what it is – aid and comfort to the enemy.

And if we could also do something about the proliferation of U.S.-manufactured guns, we might stem the flow of deadly weapons to violent gangs and drug cartels in Latin America. We are arming the enemy.

Unfortunately our president is the unwitting pot calling the kettle black. This is the unintended consequence of xenophobia – a failure to recognize our own culpability.

‘Better future’

Regarding “This Fourth of July, remember what unites us” (July 4): On a cold rainy morning last spring, I went with my granddaughter to visit the Statue of Liberty. Thousands of people waited for several hours in long lines. I heard many languages, accents, and dialects and saw people of all ages and skin of every color. No one pushed or shoved.

What attracted this diverse group of people to wait patiently in the rain to visit the statue in the harbor – a strong woman, “mother of exiles,” holding a torch of liberty, welcoming everyone in? My granddaughter had read Emma Lazarus’ poem in her North Carolina public school: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free.”

Perhaps what attracted many of us to the Statue of Liberty is a vision that still lives in the hearts and minds of the majority of Americans – from wherever their ancestors have come.

This nation had shameful periods of slavery, decimation of Native American people, approval of torture, and now, separation of children from their parents. Nevertheless, we have a common vision of democracy to celebrate and to guide us toward a better future.

‘Benefit of doubt’

“Surgeon killed in high-speed crash” (June 30) leaves the reader with an exceedingly inaccurate impression of Dr. Matt Strouch, as though he might be just a wealthy doctor driving recklessly in his Porsche.

Dr. Strouch was a caring, compassionate physician, who took time with his patients, explaining to each one the complex procedure he might be preparing to perform. I personally witnessed this. He cared deeply, not only for his patients, but for all others.

In my opinion, there is no way that he would put others at risk by intentionally driving at the high rate of speed which resulted in his fatal accident. This was not his nature.

There are several acute medical events which would explain the speeding car, and I will never believe that he was personally at fault. He deserves the benefit of doubt.

His legacy should be that of a deeply considerate and kind human being and family man, highly skilled in his profession, who will be greatly, greatly missed.

‘Better use’

We are now going to vote to amend our constitution so that in order to vote, you must show a picture ID. The reasoning for this is – well, you have to have an ID to drive or board a plane or open a bank account. This seems so very logical.

I see this as a means to eliminate a great portion of our voter base and deny the very right to vote. Our legislature has a responsibility to represent all the people, and also to be responsible when spending taxpayers money. The audit of the 2016 elections showed that 1 vote out of 4,769,640 would have been prevented by presenting a voter ID.

So for one vote, our legislature is going to spend how much? How much have they already spent defending the law that the Fourth Circuit deemed to be unconstitutional? How much have the taxpayers spent defending the gerrymandered voting districts? And how much will be spent in the future?

I think our money could go to better use. If our representatives think they are doing such a great job, why do we need this?

This story was originally published July 6, 2018 at 11:45 AM.