February 17, 2017

Letters to the Editor

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No letters were printed this week; here is the letter from two weeks ago:

Be respectful, listen to others as we watch immigration situation evolve, readers say

With regard to our national security, our people and the welcoming spirit we offer to immigrants who wish to migrate to our country for a better life, we must respectfully and thoughtfully listen to each other and hear everybody’s concerns.

Consider these facts, and thoughts:

President Donald J. Trump’s temporary ban is on all people from seven countries—Syria, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia—and those countries were originally identified by the previous administration.

The ban is for three to four months while we sort out the screening we must do in order to restart immigration … again, to offer immigration to those who wish to come to our country for a better life—whether refugees seeking asylum or for other humane reasons, and to forbid entry to those who harbor evil thoughts and plans for damaging our country and murdering our people.

Please keep in mind that several of these countries have no way to identify potential migrants, nor do they have any credible records of criminal activity.  Nobody said this will be easy.

In the view of those who are quietly watching all these developments, listening to speeches and, of course, watching riots (which accomplish nothing of any importance to the resolution of issues), we cannot continue on the present course and wait for more terrorist attacks in Europe, the U.S. and elsewhere. Lack of action will only lead all of us deeper into the abyss.

This ban is temporary while we reinforce our screening so that we may again open our doors to those who truly seek a better life.

That is always what America has stood for, and will continue to stand for. All churches should support what the U.S. is doing.

We must be patient as this situation evolves.

- Greg and Marilyn Harter | Columbus

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