Name withheld on request
Practice what you teach:I would like to clear up a few of Christa Roach's misconceptions in her August 8 letter. In ten years as a teacher of immigrant children both in Denver and in California, I have not met even one immigrant from any country who came here to exploit the welfare system. I have found that, contrary to Roach's assertions, the immigrants and their children are extremely hardworking, often willing to do jobs that Americans refuse. They contribute a great deal to our communities and society, and, yes, they do pay taxes. I defy you to show me even one immigrant who is here just to exploit the welfare system.
I have also found that, contrary to popular opinion, most immigrants learn English pretty quickly. In fact, most immigrants I have known can write a grammatically correct letter in English, something Ms. Roach evidently cannot do.
While she rails against the "bottom-feeders," I would submit that only the most ignorant, undereducated, lazy and just plain stupid among any racial group ever feel the need to proclaim their superiority over another group. (David Holthouse, by the way, neglected to point this out adequately in his overly sympathetic story.)
Ms. Roach, stop looking for someone to blame for your personal shortcomings, go back and earn your GED, learn to write a complete sentence in at least one language, and quit your pathetic whining!
Bradley R. Cook
Arvada
State of the union address:David Holthouse's article mentioned that the audience consisted of a smattering of people who had on International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers apparel. I am a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, and this union does not support nor condone the views, beliefs and opinions of the groups that Holthouse wrote about in "Skin Deep." The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers is a culturally diverse union. It is a union based on inclusiveness rather than exclusivity. It is offensive for our union to even be mentioned in the same article as a white-power group.
Duane Tidwell
Denver
State of the union rebuttal:I would like to reply to the letter by Ross Aaron in the August 8 Westword: I don't know what union you are a member of, brother, but my experience with the IBEW has been that most of you guys are a bunch of hate-spewing racists. What the hell makes you and all your union brethren and sisters think you are the only people with a right to work? In America, we have this thing called the Constitution. It guarantees the right to pursue life, liberty and happiness. That means my right to work and support my family is more sacred than your pack-mentality, socialist, propaganda-puking union rhetoric.
The economy is in the tank. Companies all around the city are being forced to get lean and mean in order to remain competitive. Companies that can't compete will be forced out of business. That would probably mean union shops go first, because you guys pay the same inflated wage to all journeymen regardless of whether they pull their own weight. Instead of whining about your paltry wage, why don't you jump into the real world with the rest of us and stand or fall based on your own abilities, not the negotiating skills of union bureaucrats?
P.S.: Westwordis absolutely the best publication I have ever read. Your lack of fear in a world of diluted PC garbage is inspiring.
Name withheld on request Shine on: An open letter to skinheads, racists everywhere: There is only one race -- the human race. We are all created equally. No one is "better" than anyone else. We all are spiritual beings embodied in human form. Color, ethnicity, does not matter. Each and every one of us has a light that shines. It is our responsibility here on earth to be keepers of our light and to let it shine. A heart full of love and acceptance shines. How bright is your light shining? Name withheld on request
