Passage of Prop. 187

I cannot believe that Prop. 187 passed. To what depths will we descend to find a scapegoat for the problems of our economy? It only leads me to ask, what is next? How about concentration camps for all illegal aliens, and secret police to rout out all who are undesirable. Do all of you think that this is the “final solution” to the immigrant problem in this state?

California, your ignorance is showing.

EDWARD M. FLORES

Altadena

The people of California have overwhelmingly approved Prop. 187. It is time for the “no on 187” citizens to accept reality, initiate the will of the people and join forces to make 187 work. To complete what 187 started, our borders must be secure, illegal aliens immediately deported, and the process for legal immigration streamlined, organized and made fair and available equally to all people of all nations. Politicians who still oppose 187 will have short political careers. Organizations that mount legal battles will only increase the cost to the taxpayers that approved this measure.

Unconstitutional? If anti-187 people were concerned about the law of the land, then they should define illegal immigration. Racist and anti-Latino? What about claiming illegal acts as justifiable if they are committed by “their own,” and for “their own cause”? Have they forgotten about the people of the rest of the world that would also like to immigrate to the United States, but don’t have the geographical advantage that the people of Mexico are exploiting?

SCOTT MANDELL

Tarzana

“America! America! God shed his grace on thee. And crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea.” Except California.

Prop. 187 is not what America is all about.

J. MARTY

Fullerton

There is a saying that out of every bad comes a good. Prop. 187 was bad from the beginning. It promoted so much division and ethnic hate--our state did not need this.

But my hope is that the passing of this proposition will be a wake-up call to all who were eligible to vote and didn’t. Your vote counted last Tuesday and you were too lazy. My hope is that all the students who demonstrated will take the voting privilege seriously and when eligible, get involved and vote. Expressing and voicing your opinion doesn’t stop in the street--you must voice it in the voting booth. Don’t be discouraged and remember, there will be more elections. Be ready and “demonstrate” by exercising your voting privilege.

All you young people--your numbers are massive and there is power in numbers. The “brown” campaign did not end with Kathleen--it’s up to us now.

ANGELA RANGEL CALDERA

La Habra

I laughed aloud this morning when I read your exit poll story (Nov. 9). To hear The Times tell it, only a minority of voters elected Pete Wilson and passed Prop. 187. Perhaps you’re in denial, so I’ll help you out. This is a democracy, and the people have spoken. The voters run this country, not the media. Therefore, why don’t you stop propagandizing, and start reporting objectively.

KEVIN JACKSON

Ontario

Re “They Kept Coming,” On California, by Peter H. King, Nov. 9:

Yes, Mr. King, they kept coming--and that is the problem precisely. They kept coming, and coming, and coming illegally to the detriment and drain of all who are here legally.

MIRIAM ELPERS

Simi Valley

Last Wednesday, in all seriousness, my neighbor at our industrial complex asked, “What are you going to do for employees now that 187 has passed?” It took me a minute to comprehend his meaning, since he has never spoken with any of my employees, except for my foreman, who has a decided Mexican accent. My foreman, who has worked for me for 17 years, has been a legal resident for over 20 years. My other five employees are legal immigrants or U.S. citizens, but because they are of Mexican heritage, my neighbor thinks they are illegal. Such will be the case for brown-skinned people in California--they will all be suspect. Germany had Jews for scapegoats. California has Mexicans.

As an employer I must verify documentation before hiring an applicant. In all my 17 years of employing people and examining documentation, I have only once seen identification that appeared to be phony. It was a Social Security card with a typed number on it. I told the applicant that the card was no good. He replied, “That is what the lady at the window gave me,” and he proceeded to show me more paperwork from the Compton SSA office. The government forces employers to be detectives and quasi-immigration officers. Prop. 187 passes that unpleasant task to teachers and doctors.

It is a sad day when anger and fear make people vote for something bad in order to send a message. I just hope Californians haven’t cut off their noses to spite their faces.

CHRISTINE A. BREAN

Gardena

Once again the California voters have exercised their democratic right--one-person, one-vote. The result has been an overwhelming and resounding “yes” on Prop. 187. And once again the state and federal courts are intent on nullifying the majority rule. What’s going on here? The people have spoken. Illegal means “unlawful.” Don’t people get it?

The opponents of Prop. 187 have made this a racial issue. Their doctors, attorneys and educators are making big money off of illegal immigrants at the expense of the California taxpayer. I operated a polling booth on Election Day. It was quite refreshing to see new citizens (Russians, Hispanics, Africans) voting for the first time. To give illegals a safe, comfortable haven here is a slap in the face to all of the new citizens who have paid the price to go through the legal immigration system.

JAMES HARKCOM

Long Beach

There are many economic reasonings attached to Prop. 187 and now that it has been approved, the residents of California must abide with one of the messages it has sent to illegal immigrant workers: Raise your rates.

All maids, gardeners, nannies and other laborers who are working at or below minimum wage and without any employment-related benefits should charge their lawbreaking employers the kind of compensation that legal residents and citizens would demand for the same work. After all, the way to afford private health and education services is by earning income levels that can bear the expenses. Are Californians ready for the other side of the coin?

LUCIA M. CONFORTI

Los Angeles

I’ve been in L.A. for seven years now. I’m an illegal from France. I didn’t think 187 would pass. So, now . . .

They’ll still let me pay my rent. They’ll let me pay my taxes. They’ll cut off social services that I never used in seven years and didn’t even know about.

I don’t know if they will let me give my blood anymore. I go every two months to a blood donor center. It seems they don’t accept illegals’ blood, but I’ll try.

STEPHANN DAFRIC

Beverly Hills

How depressing to see so many of my fellow Hispanics rail against the “racism” of Prop. 187, while simultaneously upholding the supposed interests of la raza . This is the newest and most dangerous American entitlement: having it both ways.

FRANK O. GATELL-GUTIERREZ

Santa Monica

In reference to “Unflagging Controversy” (Nov. 10), wherein Mariela Flores was quoted as justifying carrying of Mexican flags while demonstrating against Prop. 187:

I’m trying very hard to understand. What is in her background that makes her think I was put on this Earth to work hard, strive to improve myself primarily at my own expense, just to provide the illegals with welfare and to provide free education to her and other students in their formative years so they can demonstrate by waving the flag of a foreign nation and carry signs criticizing the policy decision of taxpayers. Is it her religious leaders? Is it her liberal teachers?

If she has such pride in her parent nation, she should go there to collect her free education as well as all other welfare benefits that the California taxpayers are currently providing.

JACK H. FLEMING

Marina del Rey

In regards to Prop. 187, as an American, I am ashamed. My husband, who voted against Prop. 187, said that the best ad he’d seen in favor of Prop. 187 were the news photos of the demonstrations against it, showing dozens of Mexican flags.

The Irish march and drink green beer on St. Patrick’s Day. The Germans organize oompah bands and Oktoberfests. The Italians gave us pizza and pasta and Italian opera. Resurgent Native American cultures add vitality and color to American mainstream culture. Everybody fawns over the British royals when they visit. How is any of this different from the ties to a mother country that Hispanics cherish?

My children’s ancestors did not come over on the Mayflower. Some came because of the potato famine in Ireland. Some came during the reign of Britain’s Queen Victoria. Some came from the kaiser’s Germany, before mustard gas floated over trenches hiding future relatives from France. And darned if some didn’t meet the boat. At some time during this country’s history, every single group that contributed to the makeup of my children was vilified by those already established, declared “idiots” or “drains on the public treasury” or simply “savage.”

As a Christian, I am appalled at the ferocious lack of charity and understanding. Please show me an example when we, as individuals or as a state or as a country, have been impoverished by helping someone else!

CECELIA E. HENDERSON

Cypress

I believe commentators such as Gus Frias (“America Isn’t Colored White,” Commentary, Nov. 10) have got it all wrong, and they do the very people they support no great service. His reckless use of language referring to the proponents of Prop. 187 as “white Europeans” out against “dark-skinned . . . immigrants” and references to the “immoral . . . conspiracies of these confused (white) lunatics” serves no worthwhile purpose and is not reflected in the dialogue from Prop. 187 supporters.

In fact, scores of children will not be thrown out of school, nor will our neighborhoods be threatened by the diseased. Prop. 187 has, however, sent a message to the world that California can only welcome legal immigration because that is all that we can afford. I don’t argue with Frias’ concept of public education being a “God-given right,” but until God starts paying for it, the California taxpayer must say, “Sorry.”

JIM BLIXT

Newport Beach