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Letters, 5/30: Need to fix immigration

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Tuesday, May 30, 2006 - 12:10:40 am CDT

People in our central and Midwest states don’t fully understand the problem with illegal immigration into our country. They need to take a trip to the border states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California and Florida and see for themselves.

We need to tell our political and religious leaders to start taking care of our people who are already U.S. citizens and not someone who is here illegally.

Mexico is getting all the money instead of the taxes paid to our country. They want our money, but they want their people to be here instead. Our taxes go up to pay for their medical problems and schools, and we have to build more and more jails. What part of illegal don’t you understand?

Also the employers who hire them, what part of against the law don’t they understand? Let’s not just fine them but make them pay all the federal and state taxes they cheated the government out of.

This illegal immigration problem is far bigger than the citizens of this country realize, and our government needs to fix this now before we have retaliation, discrimination and eventually a civil uprising.

Keith Hatfield, Clatonia

Pray your way to health

On the Lincoln Journal Star front page on May 23 is a color chart of “20 cheap ways to improve your health.”

I want you to know that there is an omission in your chart … the power of prayer and of spiritual understanding. If it were understood that we are the sons and daughters of God, created in His image, and reflecting His goodness and perfection, there would be no need for the 20 material means you list for preventive steps to improving health economically.

Reliance on God for health and happiness is free to all. There is no better bargain anywhere!

Anabeth Cox, Lincoln

Sneaking under the law

Today I read on MSN.com that District Judge Kristine Cecava of Cheyenne County has given a convicted child molester 10 years probation rather than the prison sentence he would normally get (and deserves) because “she worried that Richard W. Thompson, 50, would be especially imperiled by prison dangers” since the poor fellow is only 5 feet 1 inch tall.

Judge Cecava cautioned the petite molester, whose short stature apparently didn’t keep him from preying on children, and said, “I truly hope that my bet on you being OK out in society is not misplaced.” Yeah, innocent children all over Nebraska and the United States (not to mention the world) are comforted by Cecava’s “bet.”

Tiny pedophiles are probably already making their way to the state whose motto is “Equality Before the Law.” In fact, if you’re short enough, you can actually sneak under the law. It’s sad that this travesty is probably the only impression most people will have of the Nebraska justice system.

Mental note to myself — don’t move my family to or go anywhere near Nebraska. In fact — you can bet on it.

Cheryl Swaim, King, N.C.

Fiction, fact entangled

In “The Da Vinci Code,” Dan Brown openly states that his book is “part fact/part fiction.” He cleverly weaves his many “facts” with much “fiction” to make it interesting reading, and it is up to the reader to determine what is fact and what is fiction. Unfortunately many uninformed readers will wrongfully believe that much of the fiction is fact — hence the problem/deception.

Ask yourself this: Would you be offended if Dan Brown wrote a fact/fiction book about your mother? In this book he documents many facts about your mother — her name, date of birth, who she married, who her children were, etc. etc. … but then he starts adding fiction to make it more interesting reading by stating that your mother got hooked on drugs, became a prostitute, had several abortions, etc. … all lies but justified by saying “it’s just fiction.”

Is this “harmless fiction”? You decide.

Bernard J. Kouma, Lincoln


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Julie wrote on May 30, 2006 12:34 am:
" Mr. Kourna, If they said that about my mother, I would know it's indeed fiction. She was married to my Father for 45 years. Truth be told I'd probably burst out laughing at that fictional story. For I know its just that Fiction, an Imagined, or created story by the writer. Would I be offended? Not at all and I know my mother would think it was hilarious as well. Fictionalized stories can be thought provoking think the Da Vinci code does this marvelously, am I offended by the weaving of fact and fiction. No, I can look at this book and movie and am Intelligent enough to separate the two. "

Jen wrote on May 30, 2006 3:56 am:
" Sad but true, Cheryl. I'm more than embarassed by the national (as well as international) recognition given to Nebraska, based on the choices made by an obviously incompetent "judge". The not-so-honorable Cecava deserves to be a victim of her own injustices. How embarassing to all of us here in Nebraska that such an inexcusable "thing" (I don't even have the words for what Cecava did!) could legally occur before our eyes. "

Lisa wrote on May 30, 2006 7:32 am:
" Right on "Keith from Clatonia"! Did you read the Lincoln Journal Star, editoral endorsing Hagel's amnesty bill? I believe someone is out of touch with their readers! "

ET wrote on May 30, 2006 8:03 am:
" Bernard, my wife is an author, and has already been slandered in a couple of 'news outlets' over her writing - people that simply did not like her writing and/or simply just wanted to be mean-spirited towards a book they just did not like. And they plastered plenty of 'fiction' about the author, (including veiled threats) on their messageboards that will eventually make its way into Google and then be easily found forever. Do we like it? No. And is there anything we can do about it? No. Is it time to move on and live life? Yes. All of you that have become so bent out of shape about this book need to let it go. I found it amusing in a really absurd way that your faith was so easily shaken over a book, and instead tried to silence those you don't agree with, rather than simply defend your positions and beliefs and turn this debacle into an opportunity to spread your faith. Instead, most of you have made yourselves look like jerks. Methinks far too many 'Christians' nowadays are a bunch of wannebes who should be spending more time reading and studying their own 'instruction manual' - the Bible, because I get the feeling most of the Christians have never even read a small portion of it, let alone the whole thing. It's easier to just run in the streets screaming about Jesus and enjoy all of the attention. "

Josh wrote on May 30, 2006 8:56 am:
" Bernard- it is harmless fiction, thanks for asking. Anybody whose faith is weak enough to be affected by a Tom Hanks movie really needs to take a long hard look at their faith to see where the problem really lies, but please- don't blame it on a movie- this is fictional, it is an interesting thriller/mystery and people really need to lighten up. "

Gary wrote on May 30, 2006 9:09 am:
" Cheryl, don't avoid Nebraska...I think you'll find that everyone other than "judge" Cecava wants to see this guy rot in jail for as long as possible. Your outrage is shared by more than you know, especially in this state. "

Jason wrote on May 30, 2006 9:14 am:
" Yes, it is just harmless fiction. Get over it. "

Joe Vocht wrote on May 30, 2006 9:33 am:
" Keith...what part of smokescreen don't you understand? The whole business of immigration was recently brought up by cnn's fat faced ,paternalistic. lou dobbs as a way of helping the corrupt white house from faceing real issues like the illegal wars!!! By the way, about 12 years ago NY had amnesty for all illegal aliens...guess who showed up? Mostly Irish,English,Italians and Jews who sneaked in from Canada. Want to build a fence around Canada too?? Stop looking at the working class as the enemy and set your vitriol for the empty suits who blather platitudes anf fan the war fires, but never go to war themselves. "

Allen T. wrote on May 30, 2006 10:01 am:
" Most Christians I know aren't having their faith "shaken" by the Da Vinci Code. Rather, they are having their faith insulted by the Da Vinci Code...it's something different entirely. Christians aren't blaming their lack of faith on the movie...they are pitting their actual faith against a book that even the author has claimed to be entirely true until forced to back down from that position because fo numerous historical fallicies. Its fictional nature does nothing to detract from the outright insult that this book is. ET: Bernard says know where in his letter that his faith was shaken. When Christians have spoken their beliefs here...specifically about their faith, they have been castigated for being "freaks" and asked to take their message somewhere else. They are told to stop complaining..."It's just a fiction." Me thinks you would consider Christians, no matter what they did, jerks. Julie: I'm glad to see that you and your mother have such a health sense of humour. What if the book disparaged blacks instead...or Jews? It's still fictional, but it attacks a group of people...does your "have a sense of humour" theory hold up? Should we all just ignore it...go see the movie, in fact, because it is just a fiction? The only reason this movie is ok, is because it attacks the Christian (and Jewish too actually) faith, instead of some other faith, creed, nationality, race, sex, etc. "

John wrote on May 30, 2006 10:14 am:
" Bernard, and others who have made this point, Jesus is an historical figure. A much better analogy would be to ask yourself this: Would you be offended if Dan Brown wrote a fact/fiction book about another historical figure, like George Washington. At that point, it's harmless fiction. And for you to blame Dan Brown for his "deception" that uninformed readers will wrongfully believe that much of the fiction is fact, is ignorant at best on your part. It's their own fault if they are, as you put it, uninformed. "

Lindsay wrote on May 30, 2006 11:33 am:
" Ms. Cox - For some people prayer can be an excellent attribute to a healthy lifestyle, but you can't argue that the 20 ways listed weren't either! I think a combonation of some, if not all is the best possible way. Maybe I'm jaded, but I think that God leaves it up to us to take care of ourselves, and to only ask for help when we truly need it. "

Amazed wrote on May 30, 2006 11:40 am:
" Cheryl, I don't know why you'd base your travels or vacation plans upon a single individual. This is an unfortunate and extremely rare incident. Please don't place the rest of us law-abiding, common sense Nebraskans in one basket. If you've never been here, I would certainly encourage you to visit our beautiful state! As for whether a detention facility is safe for a vertically-challenged individual, I have this to offer: I was employed as a corrections officer for an adult county facility for a number of years. I was in my 30's, female and stood 5'0". No one ever told me that because of my height (or lack thereof), I shouldn't have been in a jail facility. Where was The Honorable (and I use that term EXTREMELY loosely) Judge Cecava then?? "

Dan wrote on May 30, 2006 12:20 pm:
" I remember a Star Trek movie about Kirk, Spook and McCoy looking for God at the center of the Galaxy. I don’t remember the movie being protested and shacking peoples faith. "

peb wrote on May 30, 2006 12:53 pm:
" This is from Dan Brown's website Q & A section: "HOW MUCH OF THIS NOVEL IS TRUE? The Da Vinci Code is a novel and therefore a work of fiction. While the book's characters and their actions are obviously not real, the artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals depicted in this novel all exist (for example, Leonardo Da Vinci's paintings, the Gnostic Gospels, Hieros Gamos, etc.). These real elements are interpreted and debated by fictional characters. While it is my belief that some of the theories discussed by these characters may have merit, each individual reader must explore these characters' viewpoints and come to his or her own interpretations. My hope in writing this novel was that the story would serve as a catalyst and a springboard for people to discuss the important topics of faith, religion, and history." "

Mikey wrote on May 30, 2006 2:49 pm:
" Personally, I don't believe anything coming from Dan Brown. I don't even trust the content on his website. Brown is a modern day heretic. Don't believe anything that comes out of his mouth or from his pen. "

Lily wrote on May 30, 2006 9:43 pm:
" It always amazes me the amount of free publicity folks are willing to give these authors, producers, etc. They sure do love it! It's just a book/ movie folks. Chill. Don't read it/ watch it if you don't want to. That's the nice thing about America. You don't have to if you don't want to. "

Jill wrote on May 31, 2006 12:47 pm:
" Everyone keeps talking about Christians being insulted by the Da Vinci Code, but it is overwhealmingly the Catholic Church who has this problem with the book/movie. I am Christian and I was not insulted by the book. My Christian church is not offended by the book, nor are a host of other denominations. Some churches are having discussion sessions about the book with their congregation, not forbiding them to read it. Christians aren't insulted, just Catholics are insulted. For a religion that makes a point in believing that all non-Catholic forms of Christianity are unacceptable to God, Catholics sure were quick to include other denominations in this protest. "

rich wrote on May 31, 2006 3:42 pm:
" yes - illigal immigration has really helped here in california - it has closed 70 plus hospitals - there is a 7 plus hr wait in arizona - this is the future of nebraska - "

Kevin wrote on June 1, 2006 11:16 am:
" You are right, Rich. Illegal immigration has done extensive damage to the once-great state of California. This place is teeming with these individuals and the public schools, hospitals and complete infrastructure of the state is crumbling. Gangs and gang graffiti are so common in Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties that all three counties now look like Mexican barrios. Very third-world. Fresno and Bakersfield are following this trend. Is this the kind of trash you want to keep pouring into Nebraska? I think not. I saw enough sandblasted graffiti on the I-80 sound walls while driving thru south Omaha to let me know that the disease is starting to spread thru the city. Very sad stuff. "

Daniel Struve wrote on June 1, 2006 12:10 pm:
" Lou is a hero. We are not racists!!! "

rich wrote on June 3, 2006 8:41 pm:
" isn't it interesting that so many people respond to this illigal immigration problem and live in california - they are trying to tell you people something - better start to listen - i remember L.A. in the 60s - it really makes you sick that our country could fall into such a state so fast - the aircraft industry is really hurting - the FAAs hands are tied - in the SAE update ( mounthly publication for engineers) the PAMA (professional aviation maintenance association) says that a training program for maintenance technicians should be created now - no such program exists and none is slated for the future - currently workers do not speak the langage nor can they read the maintenance manuals - i finally quit working in the aircraft industry - i was going to move back to NE - but why - all you got to do is enforce current laws and come down on the meat packers and recall those elected officials that sell out the people for personal gain - i would like to know what the excuse is - there are 3 different ways to recall these people - it's not that hard - "

Eric wrote on June 4, 2006 5:51 pm:
" Christians ARE insulted by the book and movie, not just the Catholics. The Bible tells us that: "We are warned that if we add to or take from the Book of the Holy Scriptures the plagues mentioned therein will be added to us and our names taken from the book of life." W Christians live by faith. "

Jack wrote on June 4, 2006 6:20 pm:
" I agree with Rich. The illegal immigration problem is a mess. Its everywhere. I moved back from Indianapolis as the murders and gangs are something else. Wasn't that way in the '60 either. Just look at todays news of the seven family members murdered. It will get no better with the younger generations who only care about their greedy selves. Your Casinos will bear that out. Think we better clean up our own house before we try to clean up Iraq and all the other countries. "