With reference to the Feb. 23 letter “Immigrants should have sponsors,” I have a first-hand experience with immigration sponsorship.
My parents immigrated separately to this country from Germany in 1925. I have the ship log that shows my father’s name and other vital information, but primarily his sponsor’s name and address. No sponsor, no admittance. When did this get eliminated?
I have always recommended three tests for admittance to our country: 1.) that the person be able to speak our language; 2.) that the person show proof of a means of support; and 3.) that the person pass a rigorous background check.
GEORGE J. EISTETTER
River Road
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City council just trying to do its job
I was very impressed with the fair and accurate airing given both sides of the Kroger controversy in the Feb. 15 editorial, “No justification.”
However, you lost me when you got to the end and said city council would look like “a group of pusillanimous slimeballs” should they approve the development. The lack of civility in politics from The White House down to One Government Center is wearing a bit thin.
The First Amendment has given us one of our most valuable freedoms, but its use in the last several years has often become an abuse. Elected officials when giving their best efforts in public service don’t deserve to be called slimeballs in an attempt to influence their votes. Anyone who would do such a thing risks being placed in that ignominious category himself.
THOMAS L. SCHLACHTER
Holland
Trump doesn’t deserve chance
I am continually baffled by The Blade’s editorial content as it relates to our President.
Day after day, Donald Trump spews forth inaccurate and demeaning statements that are verifiably false and reflective of the thought process of a preadolescent bully. Whenever anything is said by anybody that is contrary to his personal views, he lambastes the statements as fake news and condemns the sources as being totally false, incompetent, and failing, including such entities as the New York Times, the Washington Post, and all the major networks.
As I am sure your editorial department is aware, he unmercifully criticizes the broadcast news networks, the newspaper press, the judiciary, and anybody else who disagrees with him.
Isn’t it time that your newspaper takes an honest look at what is happening and confronts the fact that we have someone in the White House who is continually proving by his words and actions that he is perhaps not the person who should be steering the ship of state?
Instead, you editorialize by quoting Loretta Lynn, who says “give the poor man a chance” (Feb. 21, “Give Trump a chance).
Isn’t it time that you quote some of the many experienced and competent leaders of both political parties who have relied on their intellect and experience to question pronouncements and decisions made by this President?
DAVID KOHLER
Lambertville, Mich.
First Published February 28, 2017, 5:00 a.m.
