March Against Proposition 187

Re “70,000 March Through L.A. Against Prop. 187,” Oct. 17: I was struck by the accompanying photograph showing a sea of red, green and white Mexican flags and in the foreground one, tiny lone American flag.

Yes, indeed, the protesters certainly made their point. Proposition 187 is not good for Mexico, but the more salient point is whether or not it is good for California, a point the marchers seemed to have ignored.

As a former teacher and a lifelong, professional educator my heart goes out to the kids who will be left by the wayside should Proposition 187 become law. Nevertheless, with populations worldwide set to double in the next 35 years, America will face no greater challenge than the struggle to secure and control her borders. Proposition 187 is a minor skirmish in the coming war to curb immigration. As in all wars there are going to be casualties and, I’m afraid, this time it will be the kids.

Next time it could be you or me.

STANLEY L. CUMMINGS

Dana Point

It was sad to glimpse only a single U.S. flag amid a sea of Mexican flags in your front-page photo of the march to protest Proposition 187. I think it illustrates the frustrations that many Californians feel about this issue. Why should California support a foreign welfare state on its own soil?

I would like to see all those Mexican flag-wavers go back to Mexico and demand free health care, education, aid to dependent children and welfare.

ROBERT SUNDSTROM

Long Beach

I was amazed at the outrage some people expressed when they saw your front-page picture showing the Oct. 16 march with so many Mexican flags. They should have seen the front page of La Opinion . It showed some American flags. I also saw quite a few on the Spanish-speaking TV stations. Could it be that some of these marchers see in the American flag the image of Gov. Pete Wilson and what he represents? We know that he is using the immigration issue as a political ploy, but he has gone too far. He is dividing the country. He is reviving xenophobia.

JOSE SOTO

Montebello

Now that it appears that Proposition 187 may pass overwhelmingly, it is time for the “Schindlers” of California to rise up.

It is impossible to miss the parallels between the proposition and ethnically biased laws of other eras. All previous measures were equally legal. They were favored by a majority of the population. They were enacted for the best reasons. They resulted from dulled consciences and faulty memories. At least in Poland the people were promised brandy, sugar, and cigarettes for turning in illegal residents. In California morality is to be sacrificed to the god of supposed tax relief. Only here could a program to control illegal immigration become an attack on children and those least able to defend themselves against the strength of the state.

Proposition 187 is a wake-up call for those with high ethical standards. Many people who consider themselves to be ordinary will be called on to be heroes in the face of a self-righteous measure based on deep-seated injustice.

PATRICK J. MURPHY

Corona

Re “The Constitutional Issue Behind Proposition 187,” Opinion, Oct. 9:

Proposition 187 is not about constitutional law. It is definitely not about whether illegal immigrants contribute more than they take away (or vice versa). Nor is the recent tide of immigrant-bashing politics about federal versus state responsibilities. The current attack on immigrants is Anglo California’s last, futile stand against the Latinization and Asianization of the Golden State. Get used to it, old- Californianos .

PEDRO LaFARGO RUBIO

San Diego

The verbal graffiti from anti-Proposition 187 protesters against Harold Ezell at the Sportsmen’s Lodge (Oct. 13) speak volumes about why 187 must pass. No respect for property or propriety and the “you must accept us because we are here” attitude do more to help pass 187 than a million dollars in political ads.

RICHARD JEPPERSON

Glendale

It might seem difficult to explain the debate about Proposition 187 to a child. But 9-year-old Theresa showed wisdom beyond her years. Her advice: “Tell them that people have to go where there is no violence. They have to go where the children will not be hurt.”

JEANETTE ARNQUIST

Hemet

Proposition 187 is a chance for those of us who pay taxes to voice our disapproval of using our tax dollars to benefit citizens of other countries to the detriment of our own citizens.

Cardinal Roger Mahony continues to beat the drum for tax-paid educational, medical and welfare support for illegal immigrants (Oct. 9). Nothing prevents the Catholic Church from using some of its tax-exempt income to open the doors of its private schools, its hospitals and its own structures to provide this help.

With the health of the Pope in question, I also wonder if Cardinal Mahony is not campaigning in papal politics.

KATHRYN G. WEINMANN

Mission Viejo