LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (05/07/06)

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Illegal immigrants and U.S. law

Dear Editor:

Columns in the April 16 issue of The Ukrainian Weekly on illegal immigration all but exonerate aliens who reside here illegally, thus breaking American law. Although thoughtfully written, the writers mute why we are a sovereign nation with immigration law. We don't want to become like Mexico, a vast plantation system, although that is where we are going. To harbor or assist illegal aliens also violates the law, although you wouldn't know that listening to George W. Bush. Every time he opens his big mouth the border-jumper numbers triple, anticipating a fast break to citizenship.

As many as 20 million illegals here made a conscious decision to illegally occupy the United States. The cost to American taxpayers in terms of social services, beaten-down wages and lower standards of living is staggering, according to NumbersUSA, an immigration control group.

The "one-time only" 1986 amnesty took on 2.7 million illegals. There were six more amnesties under President Bill Clinton. No more!

Meanwhile the elephant in the room is legal immigration, which takes on 1 million new aliens a year. If President Bush and the Senate have their way, under work visas we'll see 35 million new aliens (who, in turn, bring along families under visas) over the next 10 years.

A half century ago, Dwight D. Eisenhower heard that crime and labor strife were spiralling in the Southwest. A million illegals were invading annually. He sent Gen. Joseph May Swing down to Texas. Feds working with local police and militias cleaned out the entire Southwest of illegals and that lasted a decade. This is never mentioned in the current media spotlight.

The question is: Does America have the will to survive? What sin is this nation's, that our leaders get away with opening the gates? Americans are starting to arise from their sofas, beer in hand, looking out beyond the TV set to see their front yards crawling with aliens. Sound crass? The Republican Party under King George is torn between amoral business interests and national security.

Punish parasitic businesses involved in this human trafficking. Deport the illegals. It may be our last chance to save this great republic.

Peter B. Hrycenko
Allentown, Pa.

The pain of a family of immigrants

Dear Editor:

My name is Igor Karnaoukh, and The Ukrainian Weekly wrote numerous articles about me and my family. I would like to thank you on behalf of my family for publishing such beautiful and informative articles in our defense.

We hope that these articles will not only win justice for us, but also help every other human being who was struck by the same misfortune.

Also, we hope that these articles will rouse the Ukrainian community to stand up for each other so these things will not happen anymore.

We are very glad that you understand our pain and the pain of countless other immigrants. Thank you.

Igor Karnaoukh
Ternopil, Ukraine

More on Chicago and its people

Dear Editor:

It was great to read Andrew Fedynsky's recent column featuring Chicago ("Chicago, my kind of town," March 26), and in particular the Ukrainian Village section which can boast of a real ethnic neighborhood. The "Ukrainian Village" is a vibrant, cultural area that is alive and well and in a highly desirable part of Chicago. As a former resident, I always look forward to returning to Chicago Avenue and revisiting the shops, churches and the streets that are still visibly Ukrainian in flavor and spirit.

It was also wonderful to know that several notable people have come out of the old 'hood, including Kateryna Yushchenko. However, Mr. Fedynsky overlooked and should have also mentioned another great luminary who was born and raised in the Ukrainian Chicago neighborhood and that is, of course, award-winning fiction writer Irene Zabytko. Her novel about Chornobyl, "The Sky Unwashed," is still a must-read and appears on several reading lists in schools and colleges throughout the country. And most interestingly, her second book, "When Luba Leaves Home," is a collection of stories about the Ukrainian Village in Chicago set in the late 1960s. Readers will no doubt recognize several landmarks that Mr. Fedynsky mentioned in his article.

It's also interesting to note that Ms. Zabytko, in addition to her reputation as a stellar American fiction writer who writes about Ukrainian themes, has conducted her own "Luba Walking Tours" in Chicago's Ukrainian Village. My husband and I, as well as several of our friends and even a book club or two, were treated to Ms. Zabytko taking us on a walking tour there. It was fabulous to hear the author (in person!) read sections from her book where the stories take place and tell us how she came to write her book.

Her tours have received marvelous local press in the Chicago Tribune, WBEZ-Radio (NPR, Chicago), The Chicago Reader and other places, and we hope that Ms. Zabytko will continue to lead more walking tours in the near future.

It really brings in interested folks from everywhere who are fascinated and thrilled to know about our special Ukrainian world in Chicago, and we have Ms. Zabytko to thank for that through her great books and her connection as someone who was born and raised in Chicago's Ukrainian Village.

Nadia Fralinger
Orlando, Fla.

We welcome your opinion

The Ukrainian Weekly welcomes letters to the editor and commentaries on a variety of topics of concern to the Ukrainian American and Ukrainian Canadian communities. Opinions expressed by columnists, commentators and letter-writers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of either The Weekly editorial staff or its publisher, the Ukrainian National Association.

Letters should be typed and signed (anonymous letters are not published). Letters are accepted also via e-mail at staff@ukrweekly.com. The daytime phone number and address of the letter-writer must be given for verification purposes. Please note that a daytime phone number is essential in order for editors to contact letter-writers regarding clarifications or questions.

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