“Thank you for publishing information about immigrants
Dear Editor,
My letter is about your article “Proud to be Mexican” published in your November-December edition. Even though I am not Mexican, I am still an immigrant. I am from El Salvador and have lived in Los Angeles for 11 years and I know how the person who wrote the letter feels. I get put down a lot and get scared when I’m speaking English to somebody. Once I was in a store buying a sweater and the white saleslady asked me in crummy Spanish if I needed some help. She was sort of shocked when I said “No, thank you” in English.
Just because I am a Latina does not mean I am stupid. I can be as smart and even smarter than anyone else in the world. Just because I am an immigrant does not mean I came to this country to live off welfare. I am working very hard to get an education to prove to everyone and anyone who doubts, that I can be whatever I want to be. Yes, I am an immigrant, and damn proud of it.
Sandra E., Washington HS
Dear Editor,
The article that you printed, “”Documented Or Not, What’s the Difference?”” has realistic stories about the lives of immigrants in the United States. A lot of people come here to get a better life, like Lucy, the girl from Russia who explained how hard it is to work to support her family. Others are lucky enough to have passports, and they don’t have to work, like Sejal from India. Thanks for your article. Maybe we can understand that we have the same goals here, and is what we need to help each other without discrimination.
Grety Salgado, Los Angeles High School
Dear Editor,
I recently found a copy of your November-December issue at my local library. Many of the articles caught my attention. The section on immigrants was very well presented. I very much enjoyed reading the essays on the lives of certain young immigrants. You have many talented writers that can express the beliefs of youths in the 90’s extremely well!
Danny Torres, 13, Holy Family Grade School in Glendale
Dear Editor,
This is the land of opportunities, but also of discrimination. You are supposed to be treated like anyone else, but it doesn’t happen if you are Latino. Here at Los Angeles High School, even the Latinos discriminate against each other just because they are not from the same country.
Even if you are not born in the United States, you can be just as good as those who were born here who spend their lives criticizing other people whom they don’t really know.
Dagoberto Melendez,
Los Angeles High School
Dear Editor,
I think your essay “Proud to be Mexican” was great because I am proud to be a Mexican. I think other people would like it too because I know they are going to be proud like I am. I think it was a good thing to write about immigrants. I’m proud of the young woman who wrote it.
Lorena Campo, Locke HS
Dear Editor,
I came to the United States from El Salvador in 1993. My family doesn’t get any help from the government. My mom works every day and I don’t really understand why American people think that we just come to get welfare. Maybe some do but not all. I didn’t come here illegally, but I have friends who told me how they crossed the border. They have suffered enough without being discriminated against, too.
José E. Jerez, Los Angeles High School
Dear Editor,
I think all the articles in the “Special Immigrant Section” are the bomb. I hope you keep printing this section for us. I feel like somebody is worried about us and is trying to help us.
Angel Ochoa, Locke HS
Immigrant section condones breaking the law
Dear Editor,
I find it peculiar that you ran a “Special Immigrant Section” (Nov.-Dec. 95) which condoned illegal immigration over legal immigration. When people follow only the laws or rules which suit them, we have serious problems such as the crime we are suffering from in all communities today. Yet, you condone and promote a situational morality regarding the law when presenting illegal immigration as a viable option to legal immigration. What does this say to those who have tried to follow the rules by immigrating legally? Are they fools?
The articles in this section condone contempt for abiding by the laws and worse, they encourage social complacency. If one feels strongly about fairness and social progress, they need to become a contributing member of the nation so that they can not only enjoy, but take part in, that society’s progress towards these goals.
Ross Valory, Los Angeles High School”