CITIZENSHIP QUESTIONS

From the July 11 Tyler Morning Telegraph story, I somewhat sympathize with the Longview ISD teacher who fears deportation to “a country she doesn’t even know,” but has been living in the USA “legally for most of the last 32 years.”

But my sympathy for her is based in the fact that she evidently believed the unconstitutional promise of our government which had no right to make such a promise to “Dreamers” with the DACA program. While living in the U.S. for 32 years and enjoying the benefits and opportunities of this country, did she really completely rely on this government to secure U.S. citizenship for her and her family or did she show her appreciation for living, being educated and getting a good job as a teacher in the U.S. by applying for U.S. citizenship? Did her family ever warn her about dishonest and unreliable governments which do not always honor their promises and programs? Perhaps their reason for coming and bringing her to this country was a government where they came from that could not be trusted, so if she didn’t apply for citizenship, was she depending on a dubious promise? And if she did apply for citizenship, what happened?

Another article in the same issue by Adriana Cardena described the hardships and struggles of a family when they came (illegally) to the U.S., but once again no mention of applying for U.S. citizenship as a result or recognition of the opportunities afforded them while living in this country. Yes, they worked hard, faced insults, injustice, and hardship, but the success which she attributes to “luck” was actually the result of the opportunities given to her in her U.S. school to demonstrate her diplomatic abilities. Again I am wondering if this successful lady has applied for U.S. citizenship?

I sincerely hope that both ladies are now U.S. citizens because we need the input of those who realize how the opportunities, experiences, and freedom of life in the U.S. can and does enhance their lives.

Anne DeLaet

Tyler

Cubans have finally tired of Fidel Castro’s “great” socialism. If you would like to try it, maybe our government can arrange for an “exchange student” trip for you. If this is such a bad country, why are os many risking their lives to live here?

If you want everything without working for it, you have a big problem. Let me repeat my grandparents, “If you don’t work, you don’t eat.” They worked and lived and owned a one-family, three-story home in Massachusetts. The house had a large kitchen, large dining room, large living room, five big bedrooms and a large bathroom with all kinds of fixtures. The cellar had another kitchen, where grandma died canning tomatoes, pickles, etc. The cellar had grandpa’s work bench and a huge coal burning heating system.

The backyard had two bing cherry trees and two Bartlett pear tree. I lived on a street address 15 Bartlett St. Somerville, Mass. They had hot water in the winter, and fans in the summer. I’m 88 years old, and I grew up in the South. Adult family members pulled their money and we had one of the first TV sets in 1951. When I married my Texan husband they didn’t have TV and I didn’t one until 1954.

My mother watched the weather report given by John Cameron Swayze. Look that up.

God bless America! Land that I love with all my heart.

Ann Mitchell