This is in response to N. Rodriguez’ Letter to the Editor in which she disagrees with my points of view.
I applaud her right to disagree and to voice her opinions. In the interest of keeping this to a contained and succinct response, I offer some websites that provide answers to several of her concerns: 1. Opioid Crisis: The governmental account of nationwide drug deaths shows roughly 64,000 people died from drug overdoses in 2016.
This includes deaths from both pharmaceutical opioids that were prescribed and illicit drugs. Pharmaceutical companies who over produce drugs and physicians who over prescribe them be brought to justice as they are as guilty and complicit for these deaths as the drug cartels. Please read: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/opioid-addictionepidemic– in-6-charts/ 2. The costs relating to unlawful immigrants partially confirms Rodriguez’ point of view; but, keep in mind that it also includes costs related to public accessible services paid by local and state taxes, i.e. roads, fire/police, schools, etc.
For an in-depth cost analysis I offer the following and let you decide: http://www.heritage.org/immigration/report/ the-fiscal-cost-unlawful-immigrants-and-amnesty-the-ustaxpayer 3. Abortion is a choice that should be left up to the individual and their personal or religious beliefs.
I believe women should have access to birth control as long as men have access to Viagara. Unwanted pregnancies should be regarded as a private matter and not an issue that should be governed.
When the government ceases to kill by lethal injection, then abortion should follow suit. Killing is killing in either case. Our consciences should be our guides.
4. Funds sent abroad to support their families are not only from unlawful immigrants: https://www.finder.com/international-day-of-family-remittances Friday, June 16, 2017 Mexico tops the list of more money sent south of the border than any other country, with $25.68 billion recorded by the World Bank in 2015. Mexico is followed by China ($16.23 billion), India ($11.74 billion), the Philippines ($9.65 billion), and Vietnam ($7.32 billion).
Despite this, Mexican immigrants send on average $4,178 per person each year to Mexico. This is less than the average amount sent to any of the other top remittance recipient countries, with the second highest, China, sitting at $11,025 per person per year.
I venture to say that funds sent to support families abroad is far better than having them starve or make a “run for the border”. These costs are minimal given the options.
5. The issue regarding the religious rights. Not all persons living in the US are Christians or Jewish who believe in the same God.
The First Amendment to the Constitutions states: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press or the right of the people peacefully to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
The second paragraph of the United States Declaration of Independence starts as follows: “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. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”
This does not mean that we are to worship the same creator.
“A creator deity or creator god (often called the Creator) is a deity or god responsible for the creation of the Earth, world, and universe. In monotheism, the single God is often also the creator. A number of monolastristic religions separate a secondary creator from a primary transcendent being, identified as a primary creator.”
My views are different from yours; but, no less important. We are guaranteed our inalienable right to these views.
Until we have a dictatorship, I will hold on to the premise that we live in the land of free and the home of the brave.
Many lives have been lost in battle to protect these rights which we hold sacred.
Arguing that we should be of like minds having the same opinion is akin to having a prefrontal leucotomy which would render me passive and unresponsive.
I respect your opinions.
Dora Sanchez Harlingen
