Letters to the editor
November 2, 2006
Learning English is part of immigrating
Dear Editor,
Key issues such as immigration, border security and speaking English are the cause of much debate nowadays. Many illegal immigrants and secular progressives are claiming that we should have an open border with an amnesty program. Some are also saying that we shouldn’t make English the official language of the United States. What’s best for the United States?
From a recent poll conducted by Fox News in April 2006, 78 percent of Americans favored passing a law making English the official language of the United States. I think we can all say we have gone into McDonald’s or Taco Bell and tried to order, but couldn’t understand the person taking our order. Not only does that make Americans angry, but it makes it harder to conduct business. Look at past ethnicities that have immigrated to America. The Italians and Irish, for example, never wanted their language. This is the United States and we speak English — they understood that. Unity in a nation starts with a common language, simple as that.
Protecting our nation’s border cannot and should not be defined as racism. We have the right to protect our country from terrorists and other threatening extremists. A Fox News poll in 2005 showed that 67 percent of Americans said they were against illegal immigration. Groups like the Minutemen Project are only trying to make America safer and follow the current law. Title 8, section 1325, states that an improper entry by an illegal alien is a federal crime. Americans realize a safer and secure America is a better America. I can’t understand why you wouldn’t want to secure the border; it’s common sense.
Our ancestors migrated to the United States. But our ancestors did it the legal way and understood that learning and speaking English was a part of becoming an American.
Billy Radford
freshman political science major
Issue 5, not Issue 4, protects non-smokers
Dear Editor,
Many people are confused about issues 4 and 5. Issue 4 will overturn all the hard work that the people in Ohio have done in regard to smoke-free environments. Issue 4 is being led by big tobacco companies who want to look like they care about the health of Ohio citizens. But by using confusing terminology and advertising Issue 5 as something only that older, less hip people would vote for is simply a marketing ploy.
Issue 4 is an amendment that will override Issue 5 even if it is passed. Issue 5 is concerned with the health of all individuals in Ohio. It is not a smoking ban. It is simply an ordinance that makes all places of work smoke-free. If people choose to smoke, that is their decision, but they should not be allowed to expose those who choose not to smoke to the carcinogens that are in secondhand smoke.
Alexis Blavos
graduate student
health education and promotion