The recent Curt Smith column on immigration is difficult to get a handle on, because of its lack of coherence.
His description of Asian immigrants was of no surprise to those of us who have observed the success that many Asian immigrants have had in our educational systems and elsewhere. As Smith suggests, there is much we can learn from our Asian brethren .
However, early on in his column, Smith takes a swipe at Obama, declaring that he “would grant work permits to young illegal aliens, mocking the law requiring their deportation.” Smith wrongly reports Obama’s rationale: “They want to help the country.” On the other hand, his criteria assures that they have been “good citizens.”
A brief review of Obama’s controversial ruling regarding illegal immigrants tells us the following: Those affected were brought to this country as children, are younger than 30, and have been in the U.S. at least 5 years. They must have arrived in the U.S. before they were 16, and they must have either graduated from an U.S. high school, or earned a GED, or are currently in school. They cannot have a criminal record. The ruling means that they can apply for a work permit that is good for two years, and then, depending upon their record, may be renewed. They seem to fit Smith’s criteria for a “good American”: Work hard, study, obey the law, respect the police.
Smith’s shorthand description of these people as “illegal aliens” serves his political purposes, but did not properly inform us of whom he was speaking. Nor did he help us understand his blanket statement that “Obama wrongly feels that most Hispanics wish to bend the law.” On what basis did he make that statement? And, I am not sure what he means by the statement, “To U.S. Asians, American exceptionalism should be evidenced in their lives.” Has he not made the case that Asians came to this country with the work and moral ethics that each of us would wish defined our culture?
Smith’s “Commentary” did not deserve publication. In an incoherent manner, he misrepresented and distorted information in a manner that suited to his political agenda, but failed to inform.
ED HOMSEY
Greece
The recent Curt Smith column on immigration is difficult to get a handle on, because of its lack of coherence.
His description of Asian immigrants was of no surprise to those of us who have observed the success that many Asian immigrants have had in our educational systems and elsewhere. As Smith suggests, there is much we can learn from our Asian brethren .
However, early on in his column, Smith takes a swipe at Obama, declaring that he “would grant work permits to young illegal aliens, mocking the law requiring their deportation.” Smith wrongly reports Obama’s rationale: “They want to help the country.” On the other hand, his criteria assures that they have been “good citizens.”
A brief review of Obama’s controversial ruling regarding illegal immigrants tells us the following: Those affected were brought to this country as children, are younger than 30, and have been in the U.S. at least 5 years. They must have arrived in the U.S. before they were 16, and they must have either graduated from an U.S. high school, or earned a GED, or are currently in school. They cannot have a criminal record. The ruling means that they can apply for a work permit that is good for two years, and then, depending upon their record, may be renewed. They seem to fit Smith’s criteria for a “good American”: Work hard, study, obey the law, respect the police.
Smith’s shorthand description of these people as “illegal aliens” serves his political purposes, but did not properly inform us of whom he was speaking. Nor did he help us understand his blanket statement that “Obama wrongly feels that most Hispanics wish to bend the law.” On what basis did he make that statement? And, I am not sure what he means by the statement, “To U.S. Asians, American exceptionalism should be evidenced in their lives.” Has he not made the case that Asians came to this country with the work and moral ethics that each of us would wish defined our culture?
Smith’s “Commentary” did not deserve publication. In an incoherent manner, he misrepresented and distorted information in a manner that suited to his political agenda, but failed to inform.
ED HOMSEY
Greece
