Having lived in Moorpark for 20 years, I truly care about Ventura County with all my heart, and I care about who represents me in local government.

This June 6, voters will be able to select a Ventura County supervisor for the 4th District. I take my right to vote very seriously and did my research on the candidates running for this position. One candidate who stood out from the rest is Peter Foy.

For four years I was the Ventura County supervisor for the 4th District representing Moorpark, Santa Susana Knolls, Santa Rosa Valley and Simi Valley. I know well the issues and needs of our communities.

There are three candidates for this non-partisan office. One has never been elected to public office nor served in government. I have talked with him and find his experience insufficient and his areas of interest too limited to become a good representative at this time. The job of supervisor is too important for on-the-job training. He is personable and may be a very good candidate in the future.

Election Day is just days away. The streets are filled with eye-catching and colorful signs, but who are these people, and which ones care about my issues?

For Congress, I’m voting for Elton Gallegly for another term. He has a 100 percent voting record on animal-protection issues, from the ban on horse slaughter to the federal bill which recognizes that pets are family, too, and insures that in any future disaster, our government will make sure that no pet is left behind.

Mr. Gallegly votes with his head and his heart.

— Gretchen Wyler, Camarillo

Recently in Thousand Oaks, we had a charity barbecue for the firefighter benefit fund. This benefit fund is used by fire department employees and survivors in times of financial need.

When U.S. Rep. Elton Gallegly heard that we were having this barbecue, he said that if he had a chance he would come on up and buy a plate. Not only did he show up, but he drove himself in his own antique fire engine and then stayed for almost two hours, just chit-chatting and having a good time.

U.S. Rep. Elton Gallegly has a long and excellent record as our congressman. He has been a leader in Congress in supporting our troops, controlling our budgets and securing our borders. He has protected our Navy bases and brought in additional units to help our economy. His leadership has allowed him to provide federal help for our county in numerous ways. We need his seniority and leadership in Washington, D.C. Join me in re-electing Elton Gallegly to Congress.

— Greg and Ede Stratton, Simi Valley

Many thanks to former presidential adviser Karl Rove for curing U.S. Rep. Elton Gallegly's illness. Because of his intervention, we can still have this dynamic empty suit watching our backs in Washington, D.C.

What would we do without his powerful voice? Every two years prior to the November election, he rages about immigration. This one-trick pony says blah, blah, blah and disappears for two years, only to return before the next election to say blah, blah, blah once again, and then hide for another two years.

The other day I got a piece of junk mail from some guy named Gibson who's apparently trying to replace Linda Parks as county supervisor. The guy claims in his little flier that a majority of the City Council members in Thousand Oaks endorsed him over Linda Parks.

I have to take time to thank all of the Santa Paula voters who have reaffirmed their position on Measure E6. It is refreshing to see that even with all the apple pie, flag-waving and photo ops Centex is using to try to sway the population of this city, it isn't working.

We see Centex and its faithful few planting signs along the very street they refuse to help reduce traffic and gridlock on — that's Ojai Road — and assume the property owners will fall for their campaign. Residents I have talked to are not happy with Centex and are removing unwelcome signs. Ojai residents and commuters want a bypass too.

I finally agree with a Centex ad for Measure E6. Yes, some people will say anything!
Centex has spent thousands and thousands of dollars on radio and print advertising and telemarketing trying to get Measure E6 passed. It sponsored a full-page ad in the Santa Paula Times mocking the opposition’s “26,000 cars� yard signs.

Centex’s whole advertising strategy up to that point was simply to ignore the traffic issue and sugarcoat it with all the wonderful things they are supposedly going to give us. Now, they twist the truth: 26,000 car trips daily from Fagan Canyon is stated right in their own environmental impact report. If they twist this truth, what else have they twisted in all their lovely advertising?

I play a fanciful game as I wait to pull out onto Telegraph Road from where I live between Santa Paula and Ventura. I call it the Driveway Departure Index, in which I postulate how long I wait versus the number of vehicles that pass by.

Living here some 12 years, the traffic is definitely up. Between the not-infrequent detours off Highway 126, the housing since built and the never-to-be-disregarded large pickups that will not slow down, getting off the property can be hairy indeed! The countryside is increasingly peppered with homes, and there are now two large commercial nurseries on the road, each with its surrounding concrete expanse for truck traffic, I suppose.

I am writing this letter in support of Assemblyman Keith Richman for state treasurer.

The state Legislature has been in disarray, with petty partisan bickering, for many years. Fortunately for our Assembly district, there has been a shining beacon of leadership in Dr. Richman.

Dr. Richman is a proven leader for our state. He founded the Bipartisan Assembly Group, bringing Assembly members together to try a different, cooperative way of addressing California's challenges. As state treasurer, Dr. Richman will bring that same spirit of cooperation to focus on solutions to our financial problems.

Joe Gibson, who is running for county supervisor, is a professional land use/environmental designer. Why did he, a Conejo Parks and Recreation Board member, allow the park district to construct a drainage system for Conejo Creek Park South with open ditches on the residential side of the park?

These wide drainage ditches are unsafe for anyone who climbs down through the rocks, dirt and weeds. The ditches do not have fencing to keep people from scrambling in them or to keep things from rolling into them. One of our neighbors had to rescue a child stuck in the mud in the ditch near us.

I try to be an informed voter and keep an open mind on all the issues. I look for the best candidate for the job, regardless of party affiliation or what I might hear or read from opponents or their supporters. This is, as we all know, a daunting task, given the nature of politics in general, but I do my best.

However, when I picked up my mail and found a campaign postcard for Joe Gibson for county supervisor, and read it, I felt compelled to contact the sender. When I couldn't find a campaign headquarters, Web site or contact number (the address on the postcard leads to a mailbox rental store) I decided to write this letter.

Re: your May 20 article, “Sierra Club tells Assembly candidate to stop using its logo on campaign mailer�:

I am someone who has been working very hard for environmental protection for our community, and I strongly support Barry Groveman's bid for the State Assembly's 41st District.

Recently we had a problem regarding hospitalization. My husband had been transported from a hospital to a convalescent home, which was inadequate for his condition. He asked to be transferred to another hospital. When we received a bill from the ambulance company that had transported him, it was $740.

We considered that this was unfair. We turned to U.S. Rep. Elton Gallegly at the suggestion of a friend. Rep. Gallegly helped us immediately and without reservation.
The bill was paid by our medical insurers after Rep. Gallegly’s intervention. We feel that Rep. Gallegly is truly a representative of the people.

— Mr. and Mrs. F. R. Braun, Camarillo

Re: your May 20 article, “Pleasant Valley trustees might pursue bond measure for school repairs�:

It is surprising that the Pleasant Valley School District is considering a $65.5 million bond measure less than nine years from Measure T's approval. Depending on when Measure T bonds were issued, Camarillo homeowners may be paying them off for another 30-plus years.

I am very glad to see that the California Supreme Court has reinstated the high school exit exam.

Although I am not a resident of Judy Mikels' supervisorial district, I would like to inform the voters in her district of her excellent work on issues involving Channel Islands Harbor.

I recently retired from an administrative position at the county Harbor Department and had many opportunities to work with and observe Judy Mikels. She is an outspoken advocate of fiscal responsibility in the harbor and strongly supports the revenue-generating potential of the harbor. This is meaningful to the taxpayers of the County of Ventura, in that keeping the harbor self-sufficient and financially viable precludes the need for taxpayer support of the harbor.

I am so proud to endorse Linda Parks for reelection as county supervisor!

There are few truly good people who run for office. Most everyone realizes how lucky we are: Mrs. Parks has continuously proven her competence, honesty, and intelligence. She’s responsible for the things we enjoy and can still be proud of in Ventura County.

I feel bad for anyone at any time wasting time and money to run against her. Why would you vote for anyone else? That would be tantamount to voting for Walter Mondale instead of Ronald Reagan or, for that matter, like trading Shaq.

When it comes time to vote, we all have our key issues. Mine is education.

As the president of the Board of Education in the Las Virgenes Unified School District, I pay particularly close attention to education in all elections. And on June 6, I am voting for Barry Groveman for State Assembly.

I have had the privilege of working closely with Barry Groveman, the former mayor in Calabasas, and I want to tell you what I know to be true of this leader:

It is a privilege to write this letter in support of Bob Larkin for State Assembly.

We have been friends since 1972, when we were brought together to chair a park bond campaign for the Rancho Simi Recreation & Park District. Since that time, I have seen Bob give untold hours to the community, the County of Ventura and the State of California. He is a caring and dedicated person who truly wants the best for the people.

The other day, I sent an e-mail to the Michael Tenenbaum campaign asking for a yard sign. Shortly afterwards, I received a phone call from Michael Tenenbaum himself. I was impressed with the fact that a busy congressional candidate made time to personally call me and have a nice conversation.

This refreshing surprise underscores the reason I’m voting for Tenenbaum. In the past, I’ve made several attempts to contact Elton Gallegly, but to no avail. While I never expected to hear directly from the congressman, I was disappointed when I didn’t even get a response from a staffer.

Re: your May 24 editorial, “Prop. 82 not the best option�:

I disagree that few will argue against the benefits of preschool.

Head Start has been around for 35 years. The gap between disadvantaged kids and other kids continues to widen.

Joe Gibson has bought his way onto a political mailer being sent to voters that claims to be a “Democratic Voter Guide.�

Once again, Mr. Gibson has chosen to engage in dirty politics and distortions in his quest to win the nonpartisan supervisor’s office. One only has to read the fine print to see that this mailer was not produced by the Democratic Party or any other Democratic organization. This mailer was put together in an attempt to trick Democratic voters in the 2nd District into believing that Republican Joe Gibson shares the values of Democratic candidates and voters, when nothing could be further from the truth.

Because Oak Park residents are aging and their children are graduating, the Oak Park Unified School District has opened its schools to out-of-area children. What, if anything, do these kids pay to attend Oak Park schools? Why should Oak Park residents pay for these children for the next 30 years?

Has anyone really gone over that wish list the school district has put out? Electronic blackboards? Electronic batons? Fix what needs to fixed, such as the roof, the plumbing and any electrical problems. Don't waste money on electronic toys.

Vote no on B6 and C6.

— Dave McDonald, Oak Park

While new technologies have given criminals more opportunities to commit crimes, it has also given police and prosecutors more opportunities to catch and prosecute criminals.

That was the thinking behind U.S. Rep. Elton Gallegly’s bill to provide federal funding for local prosecutors who had identified suspects through new DNA evidence. While federal and state money was available to find the suspects, money wasn’t available to bring them to trial.

Barry Groveman is that rare candidate who combines knowledge, integrity and passion with the ability to get something done. Looking at what he has accomplished in his own city as councilmember and mayor of Calabasas speaks volumes for his abilities to initiate good ideas and gain the respect of all he works with.

Every meeting that we have jointly attended for the last three years, each as councilmember for our own cities, I have been impressed by his ability to quickly grasp the issues and look for better ways of solving old problems.

Barry Groveman is that rare candidate who combines knowledge, integrity and passion with the ability to get something done. Looking at what he has accomplished in his own city as councilmember and mayor of Calabasas speaks volumes for his abilities to initiate good ideas and gain the respect of all he works with.

Every meeting that we have jointly attended for the last three years, each as councilmember for our own cities, I have been impressed by his ability to quickly grasp the issues and look for better ways of solving old problems.

I have known Supervisor Judy Mikels for 25 years. I truly know her character and abilities firsthand.

Judy has proven that she will fight and win for our rights. She has proven this time and time again as an elected servant of the people.

Here's an interesting tidbit of information to keep with you when you go to vote on June 6: While all the other candidates are repeating old, worn-out cliches like, "I'm a fiscal conservative!" or "I'm for public safety!" only one local candidate has dared to offer solutions to some of the area's problems.

If there's something odd about Jim Dantona's mailers, it is the fact that he actually offers suggestions on how to turn the secret landfill expansion into a win-win situation or how to manage development in a smarter, more community-friendly level.

Honorable people live up to their agreements and pay their bills. Sometimes that means making hard decisions.

In her four years as supervisor, Linda Parks has made tough decisions that reduced the size of county government, eliminating hundreds of government positions. She refused personal pay raises and voted against double digit raises for the county county executive officer. She was instrumental in settling a lawsuit between the Triunfo Sanitation District and the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District, reducing expenses for legal fees. She helped lead the way in turning county government from operating in the red to now operating in the black. The consequent building of county reserves and increasing county bond ratings will reduce future interest expense.

Steal from the rich, and give to the poor. Robin Hood has been seen as a hero by most, but is that right?

Proposition 82 would be funded by a 1.7 percent tax on individual incomes above $400,000 and $800,000 for couples. That's a $2.1 billion increase in the personal income tax rate paid by top earners as of now. This proposition will tax higher-income families to pay for preschool for all, namely lower-income families who can't afford it.

The Agoura Hills City Council has placed final approval of the Agoura Village Specific Plan on its agenda for May 24.

I’m looking forward to swift approval. Construction on the Kanan/Agoura Road roundabout — and detouring of traffic (to where?) — should be under way just about the same time the Highway 101 intersection expansion work is finishing up.

By next year, I’ll look forward to sitting at the newest Starbucks sidewalk café early every Saturday morning. I’ll hardly pay attention while the gentle breeze wafts in horse odors from the stable and equestrian paths planned to wind through our new downtown — blending with the aroma of my freshly brewed latte.

The spirit of Cinco de Mayo seems to be dead.

Those brave people pushed out the French and Spanish oppressors. The current government of Mexico seems to be equally oppressive. The United States obviously loves Mexican citizens more than the Mexican government does. Even though they enter illegally they are provided with the finest medical attention for free, and even though they bad-mouth a government they have no or little knowledge of, they are protected and fed.

Re: your May 13 article, “2 slain in Iraqi army units’ confrontation":

The last paragraph of this article, which was on page A12, stated that 12 U.S. troops were killed in Iraq this week. How shameful that such sacrifices are so unceremoniously buried both in our papers and by our president, who sent them on their ill-fated mission.

— William W. Carter, Newbury Park

If it looks like a duck, sounds like a duck and walks like a duck, then it's a duck. No matter what the president names it, it is amnesty. The illegals must be laughing and rolling in the aisles.

The border must be militarized. How do we do this? Easy. We transfer troops from such places as Korea, Germany, Japan and other areas that need these troops like I need a wart on the end of my nose and put them on the border — not as backup people sitting behind desks and shuffling papers, but on the border with arms.

With Karl Rove’s help, our president always says the right thing, but he never does the right thing. Sending National Guard troops down there as support for the Border Patrol is like putting a Band-aid on a severed limb. He manages to appease us by acknowledging the problem but then does nothing to fix it. In fact, most of the time, he exasperates it.

It is with great sadness I witness the president and the U.S. Senate surrendering our sovereignty to a Third World nation, rewarding lawlessness with citizenship. Mexicans should be protesting in their country for reform. Today, I heard the Mexican government is threatening to sue in U.S. courts if we start to enforce our immigration laws. Are there no leaders left in either party? Does anyone have a backbone in Washington or Sacramento? Are both political parties beholden to corporations and special interest groups?

Re: Scott Harris’ April 30 commentary, “Sometimes, adhering to standards will trump compassion�:

It was quite a shock to read this article devaluing the elderly woman's need to cross the street. "Make way for progress!" seems to be Mr. Harris’ motto. It’s even more of a tragedy to think of pedestrians who are struck and killed by autos driven by people in a hurry to get somewhere they probably don't even really want to go.

It's preposterous to think that the length of a crossing signal cannot be adjusted, or that the elderly need to make "other arrangements."

Re: your May 11 article, “Bill may let Santa Rosa game hunts continue�:

So now Lois Capps, D-Santa Barbara, would have us believe that she wants the national parks open to all. Where was she when the parks came up with the day-use fee, effectively charging all taxpayers to use the very parks we pay taxes for? Maybe she is only concerned when it fits her political agenda. Oh that’s right, she supported the double taxation. She’s just a typical hypocritical politician.

— James Foster, Camarillo

Re: your May 12 editorial, “Did mom get a call? Ask NSA�:

I don't understand why The Star doesn’t understand the National Security Agency’s surveillance programs that have been outed. What they are trying to do is see who the terrorists are calling after they get a call from Osama bin Laden or one of his cronies. After all the leaks, these programs have lost most of their value, and the people who leaked information should get no mercy from the courts. If you were discovered to be a terrorist, would you use your phone to get calls from Osama bin Laden? You would use a pay phone — a different one each time — or get a prepaid cell phone.

I think The Star needs to see the movie “United 93� and get a reality check.

— Walt Quist, Oxnard

Re: your May 12 editorial, “Did mom get a call? Ask NSA�:

This editorial asked, "What else is the Bush administration not telling us?" Personally, I hope that it is quite a bit. If the administration weren't making every possible effort to keep us safe from attack, I would be very upset.

Sen. Patrick Leahy asked: "Are you telling me that tens of millions of Americans are involved with al-Qaida?" Short of having them identify themselves by crashing a plane into the World Trade Center, how else can they be identified? I want our government to be proactive. Don't wait for another attack to start looking for the bad guys.

Re: Lois Capps’ May 11 commentary, “Medicare drug plan changes in the works�:

It is no wonder that seniors are remaining hesitant and skeptical regarding enrolling in Medicare Part D.

U.S. Rep. Lois Capps, D-Santa Barbara, and her colleagues have made every effort to publicly trash the program and overturn the legislation. Her motivation is to find all the glitches in the program, rather than the parts of the program that are working.

Re: your May 11 article, “Tick season trouble for people and pets�:

In an otherwise informative article, The Star writes that Lyme disease is rare here, with 17 cases reported in Ventura County since 2002, suggesting that people should not worry unduly about contracting this serious and potentially fatal tick-borne infection.

An alternataive explanation of the low numbers is that doctors think Lyme disease is rare and refuse to test or diagnose it. Many cases of Lyme are misdiagnosed as more familiar diseases like chronic fatigue, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, Lou Gehrig’s disease or even psychiatric illness. There are also many closely related strains of Lyme disease which do not test positive on current insensitive tests.

In 1789, my great-great-great-grandmother was born on the Island of Wima, Santa Rosa Island. She was given the name Marta, and she was born at the village of Hichimin.

This is all we know about her and her life on the Island of Wima. We don’t know her native name. We don’t know her husband’s name. We do know that she was removed from her homeland, taken to Santa Ynez, gave birth and died there.

Re: Kevin Mitchell’s May 15 letter, “Permanent is better�:

Shame on Mr. Mitchell for writing a letter so void of facts while attacking the character of 70-plus boarders at Two Winds Ranch.

The meeting Mr. Mitchell referred to was to present proposals for a permanent equestrian center from two potential operators. Circle K's presentation showed clearly what the stalls, barns and arenas would look like under their management. They detailed a plan to continue a Western-flavored ranch that was supported by the current boarders.

When will the Thousand Oaks City Council majority, the developer junta of Dennis Gillette, Tom Glancy, Jacqui Irwin and Andy Fox, stop referring to the city government as if it were a sanctified, poverty-stricken, holier-than-thou shrine? And when will each of them start thinking for themselves?

The answer is never, because these four characters are right out of a Western dime novel. Instead of fairly representing all us sod-busters out here, they march in lockstep to the tune of their corporate masters, like so many old-time railroad goons or hired guns.

As a concerned parent, teacher and Christian, I am writing to make people aware of a new retail store in The Oaks and Simi Valley Town Center called Urban Outfitters. It is supposedly a young women's clothing store, targeting females 16 to 25 years old, but it has sexually explicit books and paraphernalia as well as books and merchandise that encourage illegal drug use!

I am a 30-something California resident and 15-something U.S. citizen. I came to this country, I learned the language, I gained my residency and citizenship the old fashioned way, but this is not the purpose of my letter.

In my native country, I struggled to pass my classes, and I was not able to complete my college or university studies. I had to pass a fifth-grade test, eighth-grade test, and, of course, an exit exam at the end of high school. I do not remember well, but I think I had to go through a second- or third-grade progress exam. I graduated at 19 from a trade school with a diploma that has given me the opportunity to reach many goals in life and raise a family.

Re: Dr. Charles Weis’ April 30 commentary, “Preschool for All deserves passage�:
In rebuttal to Dr. Charles Weis' argument in favor of Proposition 82, I 
would like to offer the following facts gleaned from the California Legislative Analysts Office.

I'm 9 years old. I have a strong opinion about all of the articles that you've been printing about childhood obesity and who is to blame for this problem.

Let’s stop playing the blame game. Let’s take responsibility for our own choices. If you eat to much sugar, you could get sick easier, you don't look as good, people make fun of you, you can't think as clearly, you get sleepy in school, and you can't do as well in sports. This is not what I would want for myself.

The president is now under fire because he is having the National Security Agency collect banks of telephone numbers, and the opposition, whether Democrats or Republicans, views this practice as an infringement of our rights.

An initiative is being circulated for voter signatures to amend the California Constitution “to bar state and local governments from condemning or damaging private property to promote other private property use.� This amendment is ostensibly about “eminent domain,� which is defined as the taking of private property for public use. However, as noted in the title of the proposed amendment, proponents of this initiative state that the government has been taking private property for private use.
This is very rare, indeed, so why this big expensive hoopla to get an initiative on the ballot? Who stands to benefit? And who exactly is the Protect Our Homes Coalition, the main backers of the initiative?

I’m writing to The Star to express my disappointment in its lowering of standards for publication. I have been a subscriber to this paper and its predecessors for more than 40 years. I believe we have lost any resemblance of a local newspaper.

This year, we are celebrating 50 years of Conejo Valley Days. What a great opportunity for The Star to highlight this event. Who are the people, the hundreds of individual volunteers, who have worked and continue to work for a whole year to produce an event each year called Conejo Valley Days? What is Conejo Valley Days? Where has the event been held — not only today at Conejo Creek South, but in the past 50 years? I’m sure The Star’s archives have most of this information. Why do these fine volunteers work so hard creating this great community event?

Does anyone remember the constant phrase, “It’s the economy, stupid!� used during the Bill Clinton candidacy? The argument was that Clinton deserved to be re-elected because the economy was healthy. Well, look at today’s economic growth.

Today, while the Democrats still harp on the old line that tax cuts are for the benefit of the wealthy, we are seeing record revenues coming to all levels of government — federal, state and county. At the same time, the stock market was recently near a record high, trade deficits are dropping and unemployment is extremely low. All this is taking place while we are engaged in fighting worldwide terrorism.

Re: John Relle's May 12 letter, "U.S. a nation of settlers":

This letter would have brilliantly summed up the history of American immigration if the writer had only gotten the story right.

Mr. Relles seems to think it is significant that the first "settlers" were Britons. That's actually a rather trivial point, since the Eastern seaboard was comprised of British crown colonies.

I continue to be discomforted by the position so-called "journalists" take: the highly predictable and unpatriotic position of being soft on illegal immigration. The mere mention of the word illegal should be enough to silence critics.

Why have a law if it is not to be enforced?

Laws as important as immigration should be enforced without prejudice. All civilized countries in the world have immigration laws, and they are enforced with varying degrees of vigor and resilience. This is not just an American issue.

The National Security Agency has been gathering all of our information — phone and e-mail records — in secret, without warrants. Meanwhile, the Justice Department ends its inquiry into the NSA eavesdropping program because, well, the NSA won't let them investigate. This news is buried in The Star on Page 6 — May 11, “Eavesdropping probe abruptly ends� — a total of 18 lines. The Justice Department is trying to kill a lawsuit that affirms AT&T had eavesdropping rooms especially installed for the NSA.

I recently attended a wedding ceremony between two women at a Jewish temple in Camarillo. It was also attended by a rabbi from Ventura, as well as nearly 100 people, many of whom brought their children of all ages, none of whom showed the slightest puzzlement at the sight of two women getting married.

It's the 21st century.

It's a new day.

— Stan Kohls, Somis

So, the government is doing an investigation into possible price gouging at the pumps? Do they think we are morons? Oil companies are experiencing their greatest profits in history, and gas has gone up more than 50 cents a gallon in the past 30 days. This is an outright disgrace and sham for the people of the United States to be taken advantage of like this. Any idiot in his right mind could hazard a guess that we aren't being told the truth about what is going on. Stop wasting our money on ridiculous investigations and do something to stop this abomination.

— Kerry Berman, Simi Valley

Re: your May 11 article, “Tax cuts would give some help to middle-income, big boon to rich�:

I checked the percentages on the “What thee cuts mean to you� chart on Page 1 between the highest income value in each bracket and the average tax savings. Those who make the most income still progressively have a higher percentage of tax savings. I believe the tax rate should be equal across the board for all.

— Steve Crandall, Camarillo

Re: your March 30 article, “Former teacher sentenced for sex with student�:

To the people of Ventura County, to my communities, to my church, to the young lady and her family, and to all those affected by my horrifying behavior in February 2001:

I cannot find words to express my deep sorrow in having failed you. Words jumble up in my throat, trying to say I’m so very sorry, but words cannot say my emotion because what I feel comes from my soul and from the depths of my heart, unimaginable before now, how my failure hurt so many. I apologize to all of you, forever.

Re: Frank Moraga's May 5 essay, “Fight against intolerance�:

I assume Mr. Moraga’s essay was about legal immigrants because the word “illegal� did not appear in the entire article. There is a very important difference between the two.

The concern of citizens and, finally, our elected officials is centered on the serious problem of illegal immigration. I have never talked to anyone concerned about legal immigrants. I have read many articles supposedly on the subject of illegal immigration where the issue of legality is absent.

Re: Richard Larsen's May 9 essay, “Time out on immigration�:

Calling for cooler heads to prevail in the immigration debate is, of course, entirely reasonable. Neither of the extremes in this war of words has a workable plan or solution. The immigrants "rights" crowd marches and waves flags, while the xenophobes call the John and Ken Show. Neither group will respond to Larsen's essay.

Meanwhile, from Congress, we have the House proposing to jail or deport millions, while the Senate offers a thinly disguised amnesty program. Neither extreme makes any sense.

I have believed for a long time that to solve the illegal alien problem, the United States only needs to enforce existing laws. There is no need for forced deportations and new laws; we just need to insure that U.S. companies do not hire illegal aliens. Then more illegal aliens will go home, and not many will want to cross the border illegally into the United States.

My grandparents came through New York’s Castle Garden Immigration Center in 1892. To enter America, they had to prove they had sponsorship by a citizen, a job waiting and money to travel to the job location. It was no "open immigration" as the pro-illegals claim. And they also had to denounce allegiance to the king of Italy.

— George Pezzini, Camarillo

I’m very much in favor of legal immigration, so much so that I believe the immigration quotas should be increased. On the other hand, I am 100 percent against any and all illegal immigration. I believe that all illegal immigrants should be sent back home whenever caught. No other country in the world allows illegal immigrants to become citizens.

I most strenuously object to a number of things that this country currently allows:

Re: your May 2 front-page photo, “Thousands rally locally�:

In the crowd was a poster of Ernesto "Che" Guevara, the Cuban revolutionary. What does this say about some of the sponsors of the May 1 marches? Che Guevara was a hard-line communist in Fidel Castro's revolution, which brought totalitarianism to that land.

My grandparents on both sides of my family came from Eastern Europe and French Canada almost 100 years ago. They had to learn English and give up all they knew to live here. They raised their children to speak English and adapt to the American way.
Protesters showed their true colors by raising flags from their home countries. If their allegiance is to those countries, they should go back.

These people want citizenship without earning it. They feel that, because they work in the fields or clean toilets, as our distinguished mayor said, that gives them equal rights. How many times has the mayor cleaned a toilet or helped in the fields?

My grandparents on both sides of my family came from Eastern Europe and French Canada almost 100 years ago. They had to learn English and give up all they knew to live here. They raised their children to speak English and adapt to the American way.
Protesters showed their true colors by raising flags from their home countries. If their allegiance is to those countries, they should go back.

These people want citizenship without earning it. They feel that, because they work in the fields or clean toilets, as our distinguished mayor said, that gives them equal rights. How many times has the mayor cleaned a toilet or helped in the fields?

I have a great respect for my immigrant Mexican neighbors — their work ethic, their demeanor and the contributions they make to the United States. They are a big part of what makes all our lives easier and more enjoyable.

I also have a great respect for the country my family and my immigrant ancestors built, along with a society and affluent lifestyle next to none. Do I want to compromise that for a “watered down� and permissive country where anyone can come here, legally or illegally, and demand recognition? The answer is emphatically no.

I have been watching the marches and listening to politicians’ speeches regarding illegal aliens with wonder.

My family came to the United States legally. I was born, educated and worked here all of my life. I have been politically active and voted every election for the last 40 years. I have raised my children, worked for little money, tithed to my church, and tried to be a law-abiding citizen. I have paid my taxes every year. Yet, I am not legal because I am gay.

"We are a nation of immigrants."

We hear this continuously, but, in fact, we are primarily a nation of settlers. There’s a big difference.

Re: your May 5 article, “46,700 state students fail to pass high school exam�:

I was saddened to read this article, which reports that 11 percent of our California senior students can’t pass exams for math, through algebra, and English, through about the ninth-grade level. That means these seniors cannot pass tests for entry to the sophomore level. Why, then, are they classified as seniors?

It has been quite some time since gasoline was priced at a level acceptable to those whose funds are limited but who must have a car to get to work. The Star prints an article about every three months extolling the great bonus we Americans enjoy by having the price of gasoline as low as it is. The varied authors point out that some countries of the world pay the equivalent of $5 to $6 per gallon. The price comparison is approximately correct, but the advantages of the lower U.S. price are wrong, wrong, wrong.

Allow me to list the "advantages" we Americans have.

Re: Stephenie Owen's May 8 letter, “Bird flu risk is high�:

Ms. Owen's statements about bird flu, factory farming and vegetarianism, while rooted in facts, take an unfortunate turn into scare tactics that serve no one. Let's keep things in perspective.

Please join me in supporting a no-smoking resolution/ordinance for all of Ventura's city parks and beaches.

The Ventura City Council will get this motion on May 22 at the City Council meeting at 7 p.m. in City Hall Council Chambers.

I was approached by several members of our community requesting no smoking at the new community sports park. I brought this issue forward to our Parks and Recreation Commission, for which I have been proud to serve for the past nine years.

Re: Godfrey Smythe's April 10 letter, “Too much freedom� and his April 21 letter, “Credibility in question�:

We are students at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the California State University, Channel Islands. Since we have had firsthand experience with the exceptional variety and quality of education offered through this program, we felt it necessary to comment on Mr. Smythe's criticisms.

In the wake of the recent immigrant rallies, some of the more strident anti-immigration spokespeople have been asking, with a hint of indignation: "What rights do these people claim to have?" The general answer, of course, is basic human rights, but the following may also be of interest.

The U.S. government home page concerned with requirements for citizenship includes an online practice test. One of the multiple choice questions is this (response wording is given verbatim):

I want to thank The Star for publishing four excellent briefs and articles that helped inform the public about our April 25 educational program, “Removing Barriers to Independent Living: Home Conversions for Aging in Place.� About 100 people came out on a drizzly evening, and 73 percent of attendees reported they had read about the event in the newspaper.

Most nonprofits and advocate groups don't have a chance in reaching the people who need information without help from local media. Thank you for maintaining an active role in our community.

Re: Cheryl Rollings’ May 4 commentary, “Helping to prevent teenage pregnancy�:

Cheryl Rollings' article offers several suggestions for reducing teen pregnancy, and she is correct in stating that parents should be the primary source of information regarding sexual education. That being the case, why was Planned Parenthood so opposed to Proposition 73, the Parental Notification Initiative? If the family is so important to a child's sex education, should not the parents be notified, at the very least, if their daughter is going to have an abortion?

Re: your May 7 In Brief article, “Gateway sign contract given to Anaheim firm�:

The City of Thousand Oaks recently spent $70,000 on a “Buy Local� campaign, sending every resident three postcards explaining the importance of spending money locally in order to help pay for police, schools, libraries, etc. Directly after concluding this yearlong effort of meetings and studies and direct mailings, the city awards a contract to a company 70 miles away - for our gateway signs, no less. I guess the city didn't get a postcard.

- Tina Carlson, Thousand Oaks

Re: Jodi Bagwell’s May 1 letter, “Mikels is always there�:

I read this letter with great amusement. Hmmm. It looks like Judy Mikels never met a photo opportunity she didn't like.

“Working Friday nights at nonprofit organization events, or on Saturdays throwing out the first ball at youth baseball opening days … attending chamber mixers� are not what the citizens of Ventura County are paying Ms. Mikels for.

Re: your May 10 editorial, “47,000 seniors face test threat�:

What is the true value of a high school diploma awarded to students who cannot pass an exit exam when passing requires that they get only half the answers right and when they can have five attempts to pass?

I recently received my sample ballot in the mail. Lo and behold, I discovered it was printed in English and Spanish. Why?

I have always been under the impression that in order to vote, you have to be a citizen of these United States. Also, in order to become a citizen, you must be able to read, write, speak and understand ordinary usage of the English language.

Now, if this is the case, why are our ballots being printed in various languages? I find this to be offensive and a slap in the face.

Re: your May 10 editorial, “47,000 seniors face test threat�:

I have talked with many a public school teacher who all are in agreement the exit exam is not a challenging test at all. It is based on eighth-grade math and ninth-grade English.

Think back. Generally, most children at sixth grade are up to this level. So are we saying that seniors in high school — soon to enter the global workforce — cannot pass an exam that a sixth-grader will probably pass with ease?

The City of Camarillo is planning a civic arts plaza and huge parking structures between Ponderosa and Daily, Arneill and Mobil roads. They have proposed to tear down all existing business and residential structures for this project, including refiguring the post office and studying a new location for the fire station.

The plan would include new zoning for high-density apartments and townhomes. Some stores would have housing above them. They have also mentioned an idea of a trolley system to run down Arneill Road and Ventura Boulevard.

I have written before about the dangerous traffic conditions at the corner of Vista Street and Temple Avenue in Camarillo. I have expressed the concern about these conditions on the part of myself and many of my neighbors. The city’s response was that a four-way stop or light at this intersection would potentially cause rear-end collisions. Instead, a flasher caution light was installed, which, in my opinion, was a total waste of money on the part of the city. I rarely see it flashing, and it’s useless.

There was an injury collision there recently and two people were taken to the hospital. This was the nightmare scenario we are all constantly concerned about. In the last five months, there have been two major accidents at this intersection.

Why doesn't the media ever ask the politicians how they are going to fulfill their campaign promises?

Steve Westly and Phil Angelides are promising to fully fund education and other services. Why don't they explain how they are going to do that? Why do Democrats avoid trying to fix failed systems or fix other problems? Instead, they are just going to fully fund them.

As a Christian, I only have this to say about capital punishment in this country, and I quote the Bible: Hebrews 10:30, “Justice belongs to me: I will repay them,� “The Lord himself will handle these cases" and, Hebrews 10:31, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of God.�

My add: We can't kill them, we can only hold them until God takes them.

— David Crow Cope, Newbury Park

Re: your May 3 article, “U.S. youths easily lost, even with a map�:

Nothing changes. Young adults still cannot find themselves, New Orleans or Iraq.
In the early 1970s, in a graduate geography course, it was Vietnam that the kids could not find. There was a high school teacher in our course who related that 80 percent of the kids in his history class could not find Vietnam on a world map; many had trouble with North America. Later I learned that many people could not even read or orient a map. I found that puzzling, since, for whatever reason, I have always known how to read a map and tell directions.

— Martin Miller, Thousand Oaks

Re: John Krist’s May 4 essay, “Bullet ban needs a boost�:

This is spot on. Assemblyman Pedro Nava, D-Santa Barbara, carefully crafted AB2123 to eliminate lead ammunition only in those areas most critical for condors and for hunted species that represent the largest percentage of condors’ diet. Additionally, the legislation would have provided vouchers for free non-lead ammunition to big game hunters who applied for licenses within the specified region (Department of Fish & Game’s deer hunting zones D11, D13 and portions of South A).

Re: your May 2 article, “Congressman wants to toss out deadline for deer, elk hunts�:

Once again, Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-San Diego, has proposed legislation to continue deer and elk hunting on Santa Rosa Island past the existing end date of 2011. If this legislation passes, more than 90 percent of the island will be off limits to all but a few.
The island was purchased with public tax dollars in order for it to be open to all of us.

I contacted U.S. Rep. Elton Gallegly, R-Simi Valley, about two weeks ago regarding former Rep. Randy “Duke� Cunningham of San Diego. My question was whether he will continue to receive his congressional pension now that he is in prison as a convicted felon. To no one’s surprise, the answer is, “Yes, he will.�

Of course, we all know that congressmen pay nothing for their wonderful retirement plan, while we who are on Social Security pay in for many years for a lot less.
I will quote one paragraph of the letter I received:

Re: your May 3 article, “U.S. youths easily lost, even with a map�:

Of course the knowledge of geography in this country is abysmal! It has not been taught in schools for more than 50 years. Nobody even knows what it is anymore.

There is more to geography than just poring over maps. Lip service is given to its inclusion in “social studies.� This is a joke. When Dan Quayle stated that they spoke Latin in Latin America, he made a fool not only of himself but also of the entire country. Compare this with Britain, where geography is compulsory until age 15, and available all through high schools and colleges. Television newscasts show maps to support the global news. The message is simple: geography matters.

Re: your May 2 article, “Cable, phone firms battle over bundling�:

The article hit the nail on the head when it said, “More competition could bring more features and better service at cheaper prices.� Lower pricing occurs whenever the cable industry’s long-standing monopoly over video services is threatened by new competition. According to a Bank of America study, consumers have enjoyed up to 42 percent in increased savings in areas where alternative video providers are allowed to compete with cable.

Re: your May 2 article, “Cable, phone firms battle over bundling�:

This is an issue of great concern to consumers who are rightfully frustrated with cable television providers.

Since 1994, using its monopoly power, the cable industry has inflicted rate hikes of more than 86 percent on its customers, who can either pay the fees or disconnect service. In return, the cable industry has offered abysmal service and stagnant programming.

Oh, goody! Just what we need: a Wal-Mart four miles from another Wal-Mart in Oxnard. I can't wait until they open one on the Avenue; then I won't have to drive as far! Ventura still doesn't have one single electronics store. Why are we trying to duplicate every big box in the county? Good grief, give us something new!

— John Plait, Ventura

Re: Paul C. Campos’ April 27 commentary, “In reviewing some drugs, FDA practices twisted science�:

If health outcomes determined drug laws instead of cultural norms, marijuana would be legal. Marijuana can be harmful if abused, but jail cells are inappropriate as health interventions and ineffective as deterrents.

As time goes by, the risk of a bird flu pandemic becomes more and more frightening. Just look at any factory-farm chicken or turkey shed, and it's easy to see why. One shed houses tens of thousands of birds who are never allowed outside and are cooped up in their own filth. When one bird gets sick, the disease can quickly spread to all of them. Farmers know they have created breeding grounds for diseases, so they dose their animals with massive amounts of drugs.

The immigration protesters may soon find out they made a mistake. The lumping of all immigrants together, both legal and illegal, may just create a reaction against immigrants in general, which is too bad. Immigrant contributions to American culture are too numerous to mention, but they have enriched our lives as Americans beyond measure.

My family came to the United States in 1960. We had immigration papers and our envelope with our medical records and chest X-rays. We had a sponsor who lived in the United States who was an American citizen, and my dad had a job in the United States. We did not walk across an Arizona desert in the middle of the night. We rode a train from Canada. We had been on a waiting list, and it took 10 months for our names to come up. I was 12 years old.

When I was 18, I chose to join the Navy and served almost four years. During that time, I had three tours of duty in Vietnam. I am an American citizen now and take pride in that. I do not fly the Canadian flag nor any other flag but the Stars and Stripes.

Re: Marsha Mercer’s May 3 commentary, "After spring break, immigration reform seems doable":

My husband immigrated to this country in 1963 from Mexico legally, and he set about learning English. My father came here from France in 1933, and he learned English immediately.

What really upsets me the most right now is the Spanish version of the national anthem. The United States has one national anthem. It was written by Frances Scott Key. There is no hoop-de-ha that goes along with our national anthem. It is solemn. It's a big deal to get it right, and so many have burst into tears over messing it up at ball games. It is sung in English and only English. It's a tribute to our country. One doesn't change it. It all comes down to respect — respect of America and Americans.

Last year I wrote a letter to the paper extolling the fine job that U.S. Rep. Elton Gallegly was doing to support the ceaseless effort in guarding our borders. He has put constant pressure on the Department of Homeland Security to increase their efforts in border enforcement.

Can we have an “Illegal Immigrants March� every day? I drive to work from Oxnard to Santa Barbara every day, and I was thoroughly amazed at how traffic-free Highway 101 was on Monday. I’m certain that this was just one of the many benefits experienced by the “legal� citizens on Monday as they went about their normal activities of helping contribute to the vibrant Ventura County economy.

— Joseph Gibson, Oxnard

Re: your April 30 photograph on Page A6:

This photograph was of Herminio Velazquez, a Mexican day laborer taking a break from unloading boxes and apparently wiping the sweat from his neck using an American flag. I am outraged at The Star for publishing this photograph. As a veteran, I call on all veterans in the county to express their displeasure to The Star for a photograph that was intended to disturb most citizens. I fail to see how this photograph displaying the desecration of our flag can gain support for the cause of the illegal immigrant.

— John Ferritto, Ventura

Monday should have been a wake-up call to all Americans who value their culture, language and national sovereignty. A million anarchists both legal and illegal who have no respect for the rule of law or any of the above took to the streets to demand rights they do not have.

We Americans are too busy being productive to resort to this mob rule tactic, but we can make our voices heard. We should all call, write and boycott all those American businesses that hire these illegal workers who are equally guilty until they agree to pay for all of these "guest workers’" education, medical, welfare and incarceration expenses for them and their dependents. Then let's see how cheap that labor is!

I am so upset at all this immigration stuff going on. I use that word “stuff� because you won't print what I want to write!

The man who wrote the Spanish-language version of the “Star-Spangled Banner� is from England. What is the point of recording this new version? Did he think we are going to all run out and listen to it?

I am an American. People can call me a racist, I don't care. I think that all those protests Monday were so outrageous. This is my country. This is America, not Mexico. If that is being a racist, then I guess I am one.

Re: your May 2 article, “Thousands rally locally�:

In the entire 5,000-plus word article, The Star uses the word “undocumented� only one time. And never does The Star use the term “illegal.� The article mentions “immigrant� so many times I lost count.

Let’s not forget what this entire issue is about: illegal and undocumented aliens.

— Bob Scudder, Camarillo

My daughter, Kathleen, God bless her, joined a Mexican friend of hers and walked down Wilshire Boulevard in the demonstration Monday. I'm very proud of her for doing that.

She is second-generation American, as my parents immigrated here from Liverpool, England, in 1921. My dad had been in hiding there, under the Brits’ noses, as he was a wanted man by the English for his part in the Easter Rebellion two years before. My mom and dad just beat it in here before the first anti-immigrant laws were passed. They both became naturalized citizens and loved this country — as I and my daughter also do.

I was out and about Monday morning, the day all "immigrants" were supposed to show the rest of us what a day without them would be like. I, for one, would like to thank them for showing me just what that is like. Let me tell you how my day went.

I got out in the Oxnard traffic by 8:30 a.m. There was no traffic. I went to my banks and there were no lines. I did errands at various stores and there were no lines. This was great. They sure showed me.

Anti-immigration letters have stated a jaded perspective of the issue. Their focus has been to highlight the strain that immigrants place on the economy. However, they have failed to note the millions of dollars that immigrants funnel into the U.S. economy.

It is estimated by economic analysts that immigrants contribute an estimated $75,000 over their lifetime, compared to the $25,000 that they "drain" from the U.S. economy. Therefore, immigrants actually benefit our economy by not only paying taxes, but, as a consequence of their status, not collecting millions in taxes which in turn are redirected into the economy.

Re: Matthew Gibbons' April 27 letter, “Embrace the LNG opportunity�:

I take exception to Mr. Gibbons' rant about the liquefied natural gas controversy.

Illegal immigration has raised tempers and rhetoric throughout our nation's history. If the protests are any measure of the prominence of this issue in the hearts of Californians, it appears this issue will again come to the boiling point on the next ballot.

Re: your May 2 article, “Marches held in county to back immigrant rights�:

I'd like to thank The Star for its informative article. However, I believe the headline is biased and incorrect. It should read, “Marches held in county to back illegal immigrant rights.�

I don't think the majority of Americans have any problem with legal immigration. I believe the problem is with illegal immigration. I'd like to see The Star publish an article using the correct title rather than mislead readers into believing that legal immigrant rights are being abused.

— Ted Eckman, Simi Valley

Immigrants, as many have stated recently, are indeed the backbone of the United States. I am a first-generation immigrant from Germany, and my wife is a first-generation immigrant from the Philippine islands. My parents attended citizenship school and learned the English language. After five years and a test for knowledge of the language and American history, we were issued citizenship papers. We all endured many privations and hardships to get here and managed not to break the law.

Re: your April 19 article, “Flag flying upside down accidental�:

The way I see it, the upside-down flag at the Friedrich Farm was no accident.

Media coverage of Monday’s rallies showed several participants displaying upside-down U.S. flags. Was this, too, an "accident"? I think not.

Re: Tina Aschenbrenner’s May 2 letter, “Is the U.S. great or racist?�:

Ms. Aschenbrenner’s letter has drawn an erroneous parallel to the pilgrims coming to America and the plight of the illegal Mexican immigrant.

She asks if we culturally assimilated and learned the native language of the indigenous people. We did not. So Ms. Aschenbrenner must be implying that the illegal Mexicans must learn our language! The Native Americans were Stone Age people, and although that is no excuse, it is indeed a reason. In the 1600s, might made right. In the 21st century, that is not true.

Re: Tom Ion’s May 3 letter, “Impact of amnesty program�:

If there was any doubt I may have had about this issue, it was resolved Monday. Mr. Ion's letter really says it all.

I also believe that the ultimate consequences of legalizing millions of those in this country illegally would be devastating in more ways than just economic. It would mean that we would have given up our principles under threats and intimidation, that our compassion could be used to bully us into an untenable position.

Re: Tom McNeilan’s April 28 letter, “Tax the other fuel, too�:

I can't believe I just read another excuse for the oil companies to keep gouging us for gas! Why can't people like Mr. McNeilan understand that charging high prices for items such as milk or coffee or other non-necessary products is quite different than charging outrageous prices for oil products that are required to get us to our workplace, bring products to market or heat our homes? Mr. McNeilan doesn’t have to buy coffee, and if the price is too high, others will stop buying coffee, too, and the public will be able to drive the price down if the company wants to remain in business.
We all can't just stop using gasoline!

We are all complaining about the price of gas we are currently paying at the pump. The oil companies tell us that it is because of the rising price of a barrel of crude oil. If this is so, why don’t we see the price of gas fall as the price of a barrel of oil falls?
What they don't tell you is that a barrel of oil doesn’t produce a barrel of gasoline.

There are many other things that are refined from that barrel of oil before we get to combustible fuels. These include plastics and artificial polyesters such as nylon and rayon. The pharmaceutical industry uses petrochemical products. So does Procter and Gamble and other manufacturers of cleaning products. Gasoline, diesel and kerosene are at the bottom of the refining chain.

Re: Deroy Murdock’s April 28 commentary, “Snow should make the White House press corps sweat�:

My thanks to Deroy Murdock for a brilliant piece of political satire. How else could anyone interpret his advice to a president who has lost the trust and confidence of an ever-growing majority of the American people? Arrange your wagons in an ever-tightening circle, rewarding those who agree with you and punishing the growing number of those that disagree with you. Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!

It looks as though the race for Ventura County supervisor will be yet another example of “If I throw enough mud, perhaps it'll stick to Linda.�

As in recent races, opponents of Supervisor Parks are building their platform on personal attacks instead of attacking the issues that face us.

I have lived here for almost 25 years. Joe Gibson has served on the Conejo Recreation and Parks District Board of Directors since 1998, and this is the first time I've ever known of him getting involved in local issues. I do not feel comfortable voting for anyone who has not shown himself regarding issues affecting our community.

Ventura County will hold an election this June for Ventura County supervisor. Our District 2 is fortunate to have an excellent candidate, Joe Gibson, for whom to vote.

In current times, we have sometimes come to expect “sound bites� from our elected officials and candidates running for office. The voting public deserves more, and we should demand more. It is up to individuals to learn about the candidates they wish to represent them. A campaign should be about the candidates presenting their platform, their programs, their experience, and their background — not witnessing a verbal assault on each other or reading letters filled with negative rhetoric. Joe Gibson has asked those who support him to be positive.

I, as an American citizen and veteran, propose we give illegal immigrants the rights we enjoy, albeit at a price. I would like to introduce a mandatory military service for any and all illegal immigrants who “want to be American.�

Freedom is not, nor ever will be, free. It is earned, often with your life. People who are here illegally shouldn't be sent to our overcrowded prisons and jails. Instead, they should be sent to fight the war on terror in Iraq and Afghanistan. After all, if they really want to be Americans, they need to appreciate — and serve — the millions of people who sacrificed their lives to make us free.

The “day without illegals� was absolutely wonderful!

Traffic was light, especially on Highway 101. Maybe we don't have to build more lanes, after all!

I picked up my takeout lunch, as usual. There were actually more customers than normal in the store where I work. On my afternoon errand, the clerk actually understood what I needed and knew where it was. My nap was peaceful. Dinner out with friends was great fun. The only difference I noticed was we ordered in English without the usual repeats.

As a child of an immigrant parent, I am saddened by the current state of events and that the true issue of immigration has been swept under the rug.

My family came here through legal means and waited five years before being invited into the United States. After becoming American citizens, my family was able to hold on to their ethnicity and culture and still be American.

In response to the boycott by immigrants, I have a few things to say. In a recent article, one immigrant was quoted as saying, “They're treating us like criminals.�

Well, hello! What part of the term “illegal immigration� is not being comprehended here? When you come into this country illegally, you break the law. Breaking the law makes you a criminal. That is a fact, and nothing they say can contradict this.

Re: Richard Larsen’s May 2 essay, “Protests don’t solve issues�:

Larsen’s essay relating to immigration and breaking the law was appalling. How can he state that going faster than posted speed limits, crossing in mid-streets or cheating on income taxes equate to illegally sneaking into the United States? His reasoning and logic are abhorrent. What is wrong with the print media for not seeing our anger over the biased reporting on this volatile issue?

Re: Richard Larsen’s May 2 essay, “Protests don’t solve issues�:

Larsen’s essay relating to immigration and breaking the law was appalling. How can he state that going faster than posted speed limits, crossing in mid-streets or cheating on income taxes equate to illegally sneaking into the United States? His reasoning and logic are abhorrent. What is wrong with the print media for not seeing our anger over the biased reporting on this volatile issue?

I want to openly thank all the illegal immigrants and their supporters for Monday’s economic walkout.

My commute to and from work on Highway 101 was done in half the usual time, as traffic was wonderfully light. It was also reassuring knowing that, for a change, the majority of cars on the road were being driven by insured drivers.

If the widely publicized illegal immigrant demonstrations on Monday showed anything, it showed two very important facts: One, this country doesn’t have the stomach to address the illegal immigration issue the way it should, and, two, there must be a whole lot more illegal immigrants driving on our freeways than I thought because the trip to and from work was a piece of cake.

If we can’t count on the government coming to terms with building the fence, enforcing existing immigration laws or hammering scofflaw employers who hire illegals, can we at least hope for more large demonstrations so we can all drive to work at the posted speed limit like the good old days?

— Fred Romero, Simi Valley

I have yet to see an article describing what a guest worker program or amnesty will really mean. Let me do it for you.

With the 12 to 20 million illegal immigrants already here, we will see an inflow of at least double that amount over the next few years. They will have false papers that, like in the 1980s, will be accepted because nobody will have the time or money to authenticate them. The English skills required for citizenship will be a joke.

All is not as it seems with Monday’s boycott and protests by Latinos in regards to illegal immigration.

One of the major Los Angeles groups that organized the boycott and protests is called A.N.S.W.E.R.-LA. The group has an online Web site to disseminate information on the boycott and protests: http://www.answerla.org/

On the left-hand side of the Web site are links. Under national news is a link titled, “Statement on the Israeli raid on Jericho.� The A.N.S.W.E.R. organization promotes support of the Palestinians and condemns the U.S. support of Israel.

Those who simplistically say, “Let the immigrants learn English,� don’t understand that these immigrants are the poorest of the poor. They have had no schooling in Mexico on any subject. They're used to living in garbage dumps. They can’t read or write Spanish or any language. The schooling process is foreign to them, so someone has to school them in their own language before they can translate to English.

The other option is to simply pick up English by watching TV or working on the job with those who came before. I would liken this to learning a language in the same manner as a 1- or 2-year-old child does: from birth, from scratch, just by listening.

Re: your April 29 article, “Students at protests may be truant�:

I am disgusted that the California State Senate decided to endorse Monday’s protest, thereby sending a message to students that it was all right for them to miss school to protest something that most of them do not understand.

I believe that students were used as pawns for this event. Because the leaders of the protest purposely erased the lines between illegal and legal immigration, students failed to understand the real goal of the protest.

Re: your April 29 article, “Bush rejects national anthem in Spanish, plans for boycott�:

It is very unfortunate that the president of the United States, along with others, is offended by the idea of a Spanish-language version of the U.S. national anthem. In a recent statement, President Bush bitterly criticized this idea of expressing patriotism for the United States in Spanish!

I am mad and appalled at having the national anthem in Spanish. We are not a bilingual nation, period. Wake up, American people, and see what is happening to us. What’s next? College courses in Spanish? Traffic signs in Spanish? They already come here nine months pregnant so the kids can be U.S. citizens.

As a legal immigrant, I am sick and tired of listening to the illegals and their demands. They are breaking the law, period. They have no rights at all, nothing. Let them go to China or Russia and demand these rights. Let’s see what will happen to them.

Re: your April 29 article, “Bush rejects national anthem in Spanish, plans for boycott�:

This article put its finger on the uproar about illegal immigration.

When my father immigrated here from Holland in 1920 as a boy with his family - three brothers and his parents - I believe only my grandfather spoke English. There was no help in school. They had to learn English or sink!

I believe that the illegal immigrants should be deported. It does not matter how long they have been here, the fact is simple: They broke the law to get here, and they should be held accountable for their actions.

I know that in the time some have been here, they have had children in the United States, but that should not be a qualifying factor as to whether or not they are deported. They should be deported, but with a stipulation that they can come back to the United States if they do it legally and their applications are considered favorable.

With all of the hoopla over Monday being “a day without a Mexican� day, I was elated to hear President Bush say that the national anthem should be sung in the English language. The U.S Constitution was written in English. The Declaration of Independence was written in English. The amendments to the Constitution were written in English. The Pledge of Allegiance was written in English, including “one nation, under God," and there is no way that this great nation would be what it is today if it were not for English-speaking individuals.

I am so tired of hearing that immigrants only do the jobs Americans won’t do. Maybe, just maybe, if the government would drop all these welfare programs they dream up, we would not need all these workers. As it now stands, most people on welfare figure, “Why should I work for $200 a week when I can sit on my duff and let the taxpayers pay me?�

Since the government is so fond of busing to equal things out, let them start busing non-workers to the fields to earn their money. Maybe then they will feel more like a part of society and want to better themselves.

Re: your April 23 article, “Life without 50,000 illegal immigrants�:

Many letters to the editor reflect typical anti-immigrant sentiments. The Star has consistently portrayed the humanity of these people and their plight in America. This article concerning the economic reality of undocumented immigrants’ contributions was particularly informative.

A neighbor expressed a sentiment many seem to echo: “I don’t have a problem with immigrants, but if you’re going to come to my country, do it the right way.�

I must say that I was quite impressed by the sheer power and solidarity of the immigrant protest marches. They certainly got the attention of our government at all levels. They forced our legislators to respond and at least debate the issue. That’s power.

They helped me to realize that the rest of us have that same power. What I’ve never understood about the structure of our federal government is why do we have a two-party system that is dedicated to undermining any proposed legislation by the other party. If you ask the Democrats, they will say the Republicans are dishonest, ignorant of the people’s will, lazy, stupid, etc. If we ask the Republicans, they will say to same thing about the Democrats.

Re: your April 23 article, “Life without 50,000 illegal immigrants�:

Kudos to The Star for its report on this subject.

A better payback can be had by concentrating on passage of a compromise bill by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Immigration. That bill, to be acceptable to hard-line Republicans, must assert the right of the United States to control its borders and enforce greater border security. To be acceptable to moderate Republicans and Democrats, there should an opportunity for resident illegals to acquire legal status and eventual citizenship by satisfying reasonable qualifications.

So, all the illegals boycotted America on Monday. There was no shopping or working on this day to teach us a lesson, show how much money they spend and make us embrace their demands for "rights." Excuse me, but what part of “illegal� did they miss? People are not entitled to any "rights" when they violate our borders.

I can live with that. In fact, I have a better idea. Why don't the illegals also boycott our hospitals, schools, jails and highways?

Imagine going to the emergency room and not having it full of folks who only use it as a free clinic and have no intention of paying.

I want to tell you a story about one immigrant to our country I knew.

Born in 1919 in England, he was the eighth child of a lower-class family in a rural farming community. His father died early, leaving his mother to provide for this large family. When World War II came, he entered the English Navy, serving as a stores officer on a ship traveling the treacherous Atlantic between England and Boston.