LETTER: Let’s get the facts before we act

Donley, your letter is the only absolutely sensible thing I've seen from ANYONE so far on this issue. Your thinking is about facts. I totally agree with you. Thank you for your letter. I wish everyone would think things through and we might not have so many problems.

As a renter I will gladly pay the $5.00
I would gladly pay more to rent an apt or house to keep law brakers out of this town or any other.Laws like this one DOES work and has not been challanged in other cities.

Some people have really shown their ignorance when it comes to this matter. I want to thank Donley for educating himself and stating the facts.I saw a really ignorant woman outside of Walmart last week, using a megaphone yelling about the illegals and that we need to do something about them. Then she proceded to point her fingers at my friend and her family as if they are here illegally. My friend was born and raised in California and her beautiful boys were born in the USA also.If this ignorant woman had half a brain, she would realize that not all people who do not look like her are illegal! Also if she is the type of person who is backing a new mayor for Fremont, I think I will stick with Skip.I am for law and order also but come on, use the brain God gave you!

FINALLY! A voice of reason! Thank you Donley!

I enjoy reading calm, intelligent letters like Donley's, instead of the angry and oftentimes ignorant rhetoric so often posted. I do have one comment, however, with regard to Donley's statement about the cost to defend such a law. Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't the Tribune report a while back on a group of attorneys (from Missouri?) willing to defend Fremont in court pro bono (for free)if this would have passed when the city council voted?

The Tribune hasn't specifically reported the information about attorneys willing to represent Fremont for free. That's come from those who supported the ordinance against illegal immigration. While there probably are attorneys who would do that, I have two questions: 1. Will those same attorneys pay all costs involved with the case such as taking dispositions and paying any fees assessed by the court if the city were to lose? 2. Do you really want someone defending the city that might not have the city's best interest at heart? Those attorneys obviously are concerned about immigration, not what might be best for the City of Fremont. You see, it's one thing for an attorney to say they will represent you for free, but it's best to read the fine print before agreeing to anything, isn't it?

Ok - I think we just found our new write in canidate for Mayor...Donley Ruether.

You have asked some very good questions that need to be answered before any law starts. I am not a bleeding heart liberal, I just want to make sure that if a law is started it is the best law that will enforce the most and not drain our city financially.

Thank you for a good Letter to the Editor!

to Doug
They were in Washing DC and another group in Denver Co.

If any potential business is scared away from locating in Fremont solely due to having to making sure all employees are properly documented, I say good riddance!

excellent letter.

I believe these thoughts represent the silent majority in this community.

This is just good common sense that seems to be lacking from so much of the "Talk" about this law and now petition. Thanks for this letter!

Supporter...includng Carl 4 Mayor.

Why not give the answers? Why not even attempt to try and answer. With out this info seems like you are hoping to continue to have folks act out of fear and anger instead of acting based on real information.

why is this?

I agree that we need to wait instead of rushing into everything. Lets get all the facts. Very well stated in this letter. And personally I hope I dont encounter anybody yelling from a megaphone at wal-mart b/c i think its sad that they are just judging by looking at people and making assumptions.

In response to Jody Bunn's comment or rather fetching story. It would seem to me that if one had a menacing finger pointed at her in a "racist" fashion that one would remember that we were campaigning in front of Wal Mart over three weeks ago...not last week like the story teller stated. I happen to know both of the women who were on the bull horn at that time and neither women are racists. NOW, if the fable spinner is speaking of last week in front of Taco Bell that would have been me on the bull horn and may I say that I was pointing to passing cars and asking the question of each.. "what are YOU going to do about the problem, Fremonters?" Alas, it must be extremely difficult to keep the facts straight when one is being "fed" a story. I'll ask the question again.."what are YOU going to do about your problem, Fremonters?"

Perhaps the question should be: What are you folks FROM OMAHA going to do in YOUR CITY? Haven't heard of you guys pushing for an ordinance in a city that, just guessing here, has a few more illegal immigrants than Fremont.

Has everyone missed the point that there are no real facts in this issue? The Federal government does not do their job with enforcement, hospitals and schools are obligated to serve without question, and I highly doubt that illegal immigrants are just going to raise their hand and admit they're not here legally.

There's no real way to know how many illegal immigrants are in our communities illegally and what services they utilize.

Just look at the information the task force has provided as "facts" already. It says nothing as to the services that illegal immigrants utilize at the hospital, only makes comparisons based on ones race (Hispanic). Why? Because hospitals are obligated to treat without question. They ask for identification but they can't actually verify that it's legal.

I can't wait to hear what the task force comes out with next. I'm sure it'll be some data about the number of Hispanics who attend the schools. Which, again, will tell us nothing at all about illegal immigration; Just how many Hispanics attend our schools.

Doh!

Last Dec. my wife fell on the ice and took her to the hospital.She is a legal immigrant She had a concussion the bill came to $2500.00. We live on SS and I asked them about it and they told me they did not know anything about it to go to Health and Human services. They told me on my SS I made $14.00 to much.Maybe it was because we are not hispanic. And they wonder why I am MAD. So we have to sue our landlord for the cost. I hated to do this because they are such great people.

I find it very interesting that everyone forgets that our Great Nation was founded by illegal immigrants who fled their native countries for much the same reasons as the "illegals" who have recently fled here. Did everyone forget that out Founding Fathers effectively stole our country's land from it's indiginous people, namely the "Indians" (Native Americans Please) and "Mexicans" (Central Americans Please)?? Not only that, but we, as a United Country have treated these folks as less than nothing? These folks have been living here for hundreds and thousands of years before Anglos ever set foot on this continent. Don't get me wrong, I hate folks who break the law, but then our whole country has been founded on just that. Just a little "food for thought".

Donley,
It's about time someone wrote something sensible! Great letter!

Susan Smith--Get a life! Do you really think by you yelling through a megaphone on the street corner that you are helping the cause? There are so many other productive ways you could be helping society. When I see someone lurching around corners and yelling, first thing that comes to my mind it, "wow, that person must be a crack head!".
SUSAN SMITH-What are YOU going to do about this problem?

Ever heard "Two wrongs don't make a right?"

Just because our Founding Fathers in essence stole the land we are lucky enough to live on does not mean that we should just overlook those who do that today.

Just some more food for thought.

to mr Skinner,

First of all your claim that the white "illegals" stole land from the mexicans & indians "native Americans" now, need to use some logic.
1. It has been said and can be debated that the "native americans" are actually from Siberia or Mongolia genetically. These people eventually settled in the arctit as "eskimos"; North Americans as the "indians" and became the incas & aztects in Mexico & southwards, later to become the mexicans. So technically no one is native to the Western hemisphere. Secondly, when the eurpeans came later on, they and the "natives" fought, the europeans won and we became the US as we are now. Political correctness may demand the US let illgals in free b/c of what happend 200 or 300 years ago, by the "evil whites" but I disagree. there is NOT any civilization world wide that has no immoral blood on their hands. Even the "native Americans" had tribal wars with each other on occasion to settle fights over water or hunting grounds. should the world go back thousands of years b/c borders were different back then? We need to use common sense today. We have the rule of law. You want to come to the US, fine then follow the rules, Assimilate to the culture. Yes America is a great melting pot of immigrants, but in the past they ALL assimilated to a general "American culture" to join our society. Thats what people around here against illgal immigration want. Its not about race, its the rule os law and assimilation. Have a good day.

And, what's more to Mr. Skinner, can what the founding fathers did be considered "illegal" if there were not actually laws on the books then?

Wow, Brian, you must be white as a ghost.
First, the Native Peoples may have emigrated from the Far East, HOWEVER it was for purposes of expanding their search for food and AVOIDING fights with neighboring tribes.
Second, they WALKED here over a land bridge that disappeared about 14,000 years ago.
Third, no, not every culture assimilates to American norm. Ever been to/heard of Chinatown, Little Italy, the French Quarter, etc.? These are examples of other cultures who still live in the U.S. while practicing the traditions of their homeland.
Also, no other country has such an large population of descendants of former slaves that were forced to come to our Country. Asian-Americans and African-Americans had been brought here for years before the "Better Thinking" half of the U.S.A. won the Civil War and finally "forced" the C.S.A. to come to their senses and release the slaves. That's the best thing that has happened to our country thus far, in my opinion. And yes, even though I am not of a "pure breed", I am entitled, under your understanding of the "LAW", my own opinion. As does the "other side" of this stupid debate.

to mr skinner,

1. Yes I have heard of Chinatown, litle Italy and other culture divisions that you mentioned. Yes they have their own little neighborhood corner of the country, BUT they assimilated when it came to the RULE of LAW and other laws of America. Secondly, they do not protest for their rights to be here illegally. Thirdly, while they may speak thier native language in the privacy of their own homes, they do not demand the rest of the nation to change for them with like today's illegal immigrants. I have never heard a service call to press a number to speak Italian or Chinese.
2. As for Slavery I NEVER said slavery was "OK". Keep in mind Slavery was thought of as ok for thousands of years since recorded history. When an invading army came the losing nation was either killed or enslaved. This is pointed out in Ancient history constantly. Yes it was good that slavery was banned during the war between the states (1861-18650), but sad it had to take so long and should have never happened to begin with. Instead of seeing the US as "evil" b/c slavery was allowed for the first 90 years of history after our independence in 1776, why dont you see the US as one of the first nations world wide that banned slavery as an institution. Tell me this Mr. Skinner, the ancient Roman Empire had slaves, but no one critises Italy today about slavery under the Roman empire 2,000 years or more ago? BTW I may be white as a ghost, but my ancestors came from a part of Europe that were enslaved by the Roman Empire. Some were crucified, some were fed to lions in sports arenas as entertainment or forced to fight as gladiators. So as I said in my post there is NO race or civilization that has no immoral blood on their hands. Are we going to spend our time complaining about the past hundreds or thousands of years ago or are we going to move forward and try to fix our problems in todays nation or society?
3. I NEVER said you did not have the right to express any opinion. In fact Last week I posted a comment that defended "fremonter"'s right to post negative remarks about woodclifs fireworks show by some people who wanted him banned from posting. You are totally free to disagree with me but I have never stated anyone should NOT have the right to post an opinion here in this format. have a good day.

Mr. Skinner- "Also, no other country has such an large population of descendants of former slaves that were forced to come to our Country. Asian-Americans and African-Americans had been brought here for years before the "Better Thinking" half of the U.S.A. won the Civil War..."
You really do need to look into getting your facts straight. The slaves were NOT FORCED to come to our country, they were SOLD or TRADED into slavery by their tribal leaders and elders, it still goes on to this day only now it is called HUMAN TRAFFICING. on another note, what relivance does these events have to do with the Illegal Immigration problem here in the year 2008 or are you just trying turn it into an arguement of race because then people not stay focused on the REAL topic. Let's not forget 9/11. This IMO is the main reason why we NEED to tighten our borders!

About 19 percent of students in Fremont public schools are hispanic how many of them are here legally or not I do not know. Honestly I would tend to guess a lot of the children themselves were born here and are legal their parents are another story.