Letter: Another sad chapter in American history

Wednesday, April 5, 2006 | 7:20 a.m.

Regarding Tom Teepen's March 31 column, "Another word for anti-immigration policy: Anti-American":

It wasn't easy to figure out which side of the immigration issue Teepen was on - at least at first reading. He starts out by citing several startling examples of racism against American citizens that indicate some people in his city of Atlanta would prefer to hire Hispanics (legal or otherwise, I presume) for day labor than hiring African-Americans who also need work.

Another sad commentary is the other illuminating example given of a car wash operator who discharged African-American car polishers and hired Hispanic ones to improve his business because, to quote, "... white women didn't like to see all those black men." That is, indeed, "anti-American!"

I wonder if the implications of what this really says about the supposed "racism" directed toward "undocumented workers" are fully understood. If non-native-born people in this country can be excused for exercising their "civil rights" by organizing massive protests against our immigration laws, then, at least, they are spared the indignity and bodily harm of having to face fire hoses and guard dogs. Such was not the case in the 1960s for native-born citizens - who obviously are still not fully accepted, across the board, as such, with any sort of preference as having legitimate rights.

If nothing else, Mr. Teepen's commentary might better explain why Americans are as willing to depend on foreign labor as they are on foreign oil.

Betty Reynolds, Las Vegas