Issue of Illegality Drives License Opposition

No longer can I restrain myself. “A Boycott Is Best Served Up Cold,” by Angelica Salas (Commentary, Dec. 14), has done it for me. I, along with my parents, were “legal” immigrants to the U.S. We applied for permanent resident visas and waited our turn and eventually became naturalized citizens. The current discussion of granting driver’s licenses to “immigrants” continues to revolve around politically correct terminology, which continually omits the word “illegal” (as in “did not follow the law to be admitted”) when describing the persons who are seeking this driving privilege in California.

In Salas’ apology for the fizzled boycott by these illegal immigrants, only once does she refer to this specific group, and then with the politically correct euphemism, “undocumented.”

Enough already. If they are here legally they automatically receive and enjoy all the benefits and perks of being legal residents, including obtaining driver’s licenses. If they are here illegally, not respecting this nation’s laws, not willing to get in line and wait their turn to emigrate, they have no right to clamor for those privileges to which they are not entitled.

It is well past time for The Times and all the other entities weighing in on this subject to speak the truth and describe these particular groups by the correct and proper terminology.

Alicja Brzechwa-White

Los Angeles

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Re “Latino License Protest Hits Schools,” Dec. 13: Perhaps illegal immigrant students and the school-age sons and daughters of illegal immigrants in California should permanently boycott schools. This would drastically reduce spending for public education and ease the overcrowding in our schools. Then maybe, just maybe, the schools might be able to set about their original purpose: educating the next generation of American citizens.

Kieley D. Jackson

Studio City

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Let’s see if I’ve gotten this right. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has rescinded the law allowing undocumented persons to obtain a legal driver’s license. And this is supposed to make me feel safer on the road? No license means no test of knowledge of the law or competency to drive. It also means no ability to purchase insurance. So to all the legal drivers out there, be sure to increase your uninsured motorist insurance.

Trudi Silvers

Los Angeles