Letters to the editor for Sunday, June 9, 2013

Pressure needed to kill driver-privilege cards

I have been away for awhile (one and a half years) handling personal business and was shocked to hear about Nevada lawmakers approving a legal driver’s license for illegal aliens. I couldn’t help but feel violated by this, since as an American, I am required to abide by all local, state and federal laws or face repercussions for not doing so, but illegal aliens are not being held to the same standards. They are here illegally and have been driving about illegally and are going to be rewarded. What kind of horse pucky is this?

I have decided to rebel against this new law by asking people via the Internet not to visit Nevada until Gov. Sandoval calls for an emergency session to repeal the law and to also add an E-Verify measure that clears all present and future employees and for our legislature to also pass laws that call for mandatory jail time with no bail for anyone found guilty of knowingly hiring an undocumented worker. I am also asking them to spread the word and for them to use Nevada as an example for all illegal alien friendly state governments to learn by. I am sure I will get lots of support for this cause. And Gov. Sandoval, the wheels are already in motion. You are the only person that can stop the wheels from turning.

James R. Parker

Reno

Why should all of us fund Safe Grad Night?

My hat goes off to all the people on the Safe Grad Night Committee. To organize such an event must have been a daunting task. My question though is: Throughout the year you were getting the word out that you have half the money for this party. The seniors and their parents did not care about it, why should the community care and pick up 50 percent of the bill? If you were planning a $40,000 party and only had $20,000, then by all means just have a $20,000 party. It is called getting what you put into it. It won’t scar these children and it would be a great life lesson for them. You always seem to get the money you need from the community and the seniors and their parents are banking on that. Why should they raise funds, just have someone else ask the community for it. I know there are hard working seniors and their parents that have worked their rear ends off to make that night special. By no means am I talking about you. But those that do volunteer no what I am talking about. For next year, maybe some seniors can use this as there senior project. How to fund raise.

Stan Heinrichs

Carson City

Fee keeps immigrants from being citizens

Literate adults are the key to a skilled workforce, a strong economy, safe and healthy communities and happy, productive families. As Director of a local English as a Second language program, we provide — at no cost — ESL, GED and citizenship test preparation. Tutors are matched with adults that speak any language. A large number of adult students who joined my program are now able to obtain jobs, receive higher-paying jobs, get off food stamps and other aide, communicate without interpreters. It is beyond my comprehension why government and educational officials prevent and deter the adult immigrants from obtaining citizenship and GED diplomas which, as you know, are needed to obtain jobs.

A few years ago, the fee to obtain United States citizenship doubled. By January 2014, we are requiring students who need a GED to first learn how to use computers in order to complete the GED application and exam.

My ESL program helped 118 adults to become U.S. Citizens because they were able to pay the past fee of $385 fee to apply. However, I have 51 people who are ready to take the test but cannot afford to pay the current fee of $685.

Would someone please tell me why we are keeping back the immigrants in Nevada who are capable of taking a citizenship preparation class and are ready to take the exam? Furthermore, why are we holding back all people who did not graduate high school and need a GED to obtain a job?

Florence G. Phillips

Carson City

God’s existence forms basis of West’s tenets

I have noticed a common theme in letters from those who would criticize Judeo-Christian beliefs, the opinion that “the Bible is not the word of God.” The apostle Paul had something to say about this in a letter to Timothy (New Testament, 2 Timothy 3:16-17); “All scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” The Greek word translated “inspired” is “theopneustos,” which literally means “god-breathed,” and forms the foundation of the idea of a God-inspired scripture. God inspired the thoughts and ideas in chosen men to present His message to the world.

Does God exist? I would certainly hope so because the existence of the God of the Bible forms the very basis of modern Western civilization, and especially that of the United States of America. Our Declaration of Independence states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.”

These “certain unalienable rights” depend on the existence of the Creator. If He does not exist, neither do these rights, and our “civilization” is but a sham. It is, instead, a thinly-veiled cover for tyranny and eventual anarchy. Only he with the biggest weapon will be able to claim “superior rights” over all others. Please wisely consider what you wish for.

Warren Hibbard

Minden