Letters page
Welcome to the OFIR Letters and Op-Eds section. Here you can read Letters to the Editor and Op-Eds that have been published in various newspapers and news sources.
Ministers and some of their parishioners often quote the Bible as justification for citizens of other countries to break U.S. immigration laws and preach that U.S. citizens should “welcome the stranger” — meaning illegal immigrants. Other Bible scholars disagree. One of them, The Rev. James Edwards, points out: “It displays questionable judgment to rigidly construct an immigration policy for 21st-century America based on a handful of Scripture passages taken out of context or from particular instances of migration spanning centuries, vastly different nations and kingdoms, wholly different circumstances, etc. found in Scripture. Rather, carefully discerning applicable principles better fits the situation.”
Many Bible passages teach that obeying civil laws is the normative imperative for Christians.
As one who grew up attending Methodist Sunday schools, I suggest that church figures, instead of urging U.S. citizens to welcome unlimited numbers of illegal aliens, go to the countries from which illegal immigrants flee and help the citizens and institutions there achieve acceptable living conditions. That would be true Christian ministry.
The United States, through its aid to developing countries, has spent billions over past decades and sent thousands of technical assistance personnel to improve the economies and governments of poor countries. We don’t need to feel guilty about enforcing our immigration laws.
Let’s keep our law requiring proof of citizenship to get a driver license and vote no on Measure 88, which would change the law to give official driver licenses and IDs to illegal immigrants.
The recent Ebola scare has talk radio hosts yammering, speculating the president's open borders policy will allow the virus to spread.
And though Ebola probably will not spread that way, a number of other diseases will, and indeed have.
The mysterious Enterovirus (EV-D68), has earned the moniker of "the open borders virus." With its polio like symptoms EV-D68 has left a number of children paralyzed or dead. The Centers for Disease Control recently announced an outbreak in Denver, a city many consider to be a de facto sanctuary city for illegal aliens.
In another report, the CDC warned that the United States is experiencing a resurgence in measles, concluding that 97 percent of these cases came to the U.S. from 18 different countries. In addition to EV-D68 and measles, there's been an uptick in cases of mumps, tuberculosis, head lice and you name it.
All this is particularly bad news in Oregon, where Gov. John Kitzhaber and Democrats in the Oregon Legislature are trying to make it easier for illegal aliens to spread diseases by issuing them driver's cards. But the average voter can deny those driver's cards — and help contain the spread of infectious diseases and strike a blow for a healthier Oregon — by voting no on Measure 88 in the upcoming election.
Oregon's voters at the Nov. 4 general election will have a chance to vote on Senate Bill 833, which appears before them as Ballot Measure 88.
The passage of Ballot Measure 88 would require the Oregon DMV to grant to persons "who cannot prove legal presence in the United States" a special state-issued identification called a driver's card.
In reaction to the state driver cards' legislation, sheriffs across the state have stepped forward to oppose the ballot measure.
The Sheriffs of Oregon political action committee, representing the political and public safety concerns of state's 36 county sheriffs, has come out in opposition to the legislation with the following statement: "The Sheriffs of Oregon support the citizens veto referendum #301 to overturn SB 833. We urge a NO vote."
Tom Bergin, Clatsop County sheriff and past president of the Oregon State Sheriffs' Association, made these statements on the driver cards' legislation: "It is wrong to provide special driver's licenses to people who cannot prove legal presence in the United States. For Oregon to do so, will only enhance the ability for criminal behavior, thus creating a larger risk to our citizens public safety. The Sheriffs of Oregon urge you to oppose this measure."
Tim Mueller, former Linn County sheriff, expressed these thoughts on driver cards: "Giving a person a driver's license who is in this country illegally is flat out irresponsible and does nothing to protect the citizens of this state."
Oregon voters should heed the wisdom of Oregon's sheriffs who have joined together with the citizens from Protect Oregon Driver Licenses to oppose driver cards for those "who cannot prove legal presence in the U.S." and vote "no" on Ballot Measure 88.
David Olen Cross tracks issues related to foreign national crime and immigration.
David Olen Cross of Salem writes on immigration issues and foreign national crime. He can be reached at docfnc@yahoo.com.
I agree with Donald Moberg of North Bend. My wife went through the same thing as he did when we arrived in Oregon. A copy of her birth certificate was rejected and she ended up requesting another from San Diego with the raised seal.
Don mentioned, “Should need more proof than a green card.” Most of us would agree on that very thing. If one has a “Green Card” they are in the U.S. legally and should be able to drive. Where it gets confusing is the word immigrant. Are they here legally or not. Don, truth be told, Measure 88 was written up for the illegals in our country. The legal immigrants (resident aliens) don’t need prop. 88.
No on Measure 88. I am 91 years old, born in the USA, and served in the U.S. Navy over five years, with honorable discharge.
I had copies of my birthday certificate and discharge papers as I went to renew my drivers license. Motor vehicles would not accept these and was required to mail to Iowa to get original birth certificate.
You would think my holding a drivers license for 70 years would be enough for renewal.
If I was required to do this as a true American that fought this whole World War II in the South Pacific, others, no matter where they are from, should need more proof than a green card.
A word of caution about the measures in our voters' pamphlet: I used to count the "in favor" and "in opposition" arguments, then vote for the ones with the most "in favor" or against the ones with the most "in opposition." Clever, and eliminated the need to read every one. Read one, you've read them all, I thought.
I discovered I could learn a lot by identifying who posted the argument. Measure 88 has 29 arguments in support; 16 were paid for by Caroline Fitchett of "Yes For Safe Roads." At $1,200 per submission, Fitchett forked over $19,200 to champion Measure 88.
Call me cynical. Does Fitchett believe that strongly in Measure 88? Could someone else be bankrolling her submissions and paying her to use her name? If so, why the deception?
I formally endorse Patti Milne in her campaign for election to the Oregon State Senate, District 11.
As a professional airline pilot I thank you for your radio ads criticizing Peter Courtney and Governor John Kitzhaber for endorsing and creating ballot measure 88. They are spot on.
This measure as you have said is an irresponsible feckless political pandering to illegal aliens nationwide that jeopardizes a critical level of aviation security to all Oregonians and everyone using our national air transportation system. This measure should be rejected. Thank you for pointing this out.
No on Measure 88: Measure 88 aims to give driver's licenses to illegal immigrants...
It is interesting that the people supporting this bill — wine makers, fruit growers, etc. — are people who employ low-wage, low-skill employees. Could these employees possibly be illegal immigrants?...
The real reason for this bill should be obvious.
No on Measure 88: Why don't those who favor such nonsense as Measure 88 come out and say what they really believe: that the rule of law means everyone born into this world has an equal right, not of opportunity... we're all the same and no law should distinguish the masses. Only one law exists in their utopian fantasy: mandated tolerance — which is really no law at all.
Measure 88 has nothing to do with race....At its core, this issue is a reminder that civilized nations of diverse citizenry live better under a just and ordered law. Those who break it, no matter how long they've gotten away with it, should pay the penalty, not be accommodated with lesser law.
Measure 88 is an injustice to those who respect the legal and social traditions of this country. I will vote no.
Oregon’s voters during the 2014 General Election will have a chance to vote on Senate Bill 833 that will appear before them as Ballot Measure 88.
The passage of Ballot Measure 88 would require the Oregon DMV to grant to persons “who cannot prove legal presence in the United States” a special state issued identification called a driver’s card.
In reaction to the state driver cards’ legislation, sheriffs across the state have stepped forward to oppose the ballot measure.
The Sheriff’s of Oregon Political Action Committee, representing the political and public safety concerns of state’s 36 county sheriffs, has come out in opposition to the legislation with the following statement: “The Sheriffs of Oregon support the citizens veto referendum No. 301 to overturn SB 833. We urge a NO vote.”
Tom Bergin, Clatsop County Sheriff, past President of the Oregon State Sheriff’s Association, made these statements on the driver cards’ legislation: “It is wrong to provide special driver’s licenses to people who cannot prove legal presence in the United States. For Oregon to do so, will only enhance the ability for criminal behavior, thus creating a larger risk to our citizens’ public safety. The Sheriffs of Oregon urge you to oppose this measure.”
Tim Mueller, former Linn County Sheriff, expressed these thoughts on driver cards: “Giving a person a driver’s license who is in this country illegally is flat out irresponsible and does nothing to protect the citizens of this state.”
Oregon voters should heed the wisdom of Oregon’s sheriffs, who have joined together with the citizens from Protect Oregon Driver Licenses to oppose driver cards for those “who cannot prove legal presence in the U.S.” and vote “No” on Ballot Measure 88.
