Another President on Immigration

Dear Editor,

Here are Theodore Roosevelt’s ideas on immigrants and being an American in 1907:

“In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person’s becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American…There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag… We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language. And we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.”

Ed Byrum

 

 

Europa Bolsters The Downtown

Dear Editor,

Although it is said that money makes the world go around, I think we all realize that not everything depends on money, and because of this truth, I am writing in support of Europa, the lovely, laid-back restaurant located on Davie Street, between the Cultural Arts Center and the future Tanger Center.

According to a recent article in the News & Record, the building from which Europa leases its space is owned by the city.  When the lease runs out, the city wants to lease the space to the highest bidder, which may or may not be Europa.

And here’s the point.  Europa is a casual, medium-priced restaurant with excellent food and wines, which draws people to the downtown area, an area which the City of Greensboro has for years struggled to revive.  Europa has played its part in bringing about this revival.  The folks who enjoy Center City Park and the Cultural Arts Center, and those who will attend future performances at Tanger, are the very people who flock to Europa.  It is also a popular gathering place for young business and professional people, especially on Wednesday evenings.

If the space is leased at a higher price, no matter to whom, the business will not have the same draw as Europa now has because the prices will have to reflect the cost of the lease.

If the City of Greensboro can offer incentives to large incoming businesses, then why not offer an incentive to Europa to stay right where it is, at the same rent, to continue doing what it already does so well.

As I mentioned earlier, money is not everything, but in this case, the presence of Europa might very well contribute to the income and stability of other downtown establishments.  One hand washes the other.

Maureen Parker

 

 

Leadership of the Union

Dear Editor,

President Donald Trump’s State of the Union woke me up to the fact that we, the people, create our own destiny.  They were unspoken words, but when things go wrong we’ve allowed it.  And in this regard the things that now seem to be working were only a short time ago failing us.  Things like confidence in our future as measured by our stock market.

Good leadership means things are improving and our people are self-disciplined and sufficient.  We must work and struggle before we can reap better rewards.  There is no free lunch for any of us.

He did not offer an olive branch to the opposing party?  No. And both parties still seem oblivious to the other party’s interests. But when “talking points” become more important than the reality of our nations future, we will surely fail.  These talking points must never come at the expense of truth.

In this regard, we detest the lack of modesty in Trumps style, but a false modesty, in the guise of humility, is the highest hypocrisy. Herein, Trump is not totally accepted by either party and this could be a potential strength.

For me, it was among the best State of the Union addresses ever, but to those who lack understanding of economic principles or those who have never had to meet a payroll for others, well, they may never get it.  There can be no compromise here. Yet divided we are not the strong nation that rose above others.  But compromising past failings will no longer work for a nation with our debt.

We must grow and the wildest dreamer could not have done a worse job in preventing growth from happening here over the past few decades.  We should dream but never allow dreams to become our master.

Timing and leadership go together and prudent taxes are truths that we must face.  Spirituality will at some point have to balance to our material cravings.  Herein, It’s amazing how the right leaders have so often appeared in our history.

Ray Hylton

 

 

Primaries of Primary Importance

Dear Editor,

The conservative Republicans that run the General Assembly want to get rid of judicial primaries. If they think that getting rid of judicial primaries is a good idea then why don’t they support the idea of getting rid of primaries for legislators in the General Assembly? They aren’t hypocrites, are they? Why not get rid of all political primaries, caucuses and conventions?

I think that each political party should decide whether or not they hold primaries, caucuses or conventions. If they do, the political parties should pay for these events, not the taxpayers.

Chuck Mann

 

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