Plaudits for Immigrant’s Honesty

Re “Ballad of the Poor Samaritan,” Aug. 2: Hooray for the honesty of Ascension Franco Gonzales, who demonstrated integrity instead of jeopardizing his future. Money that falls from another’s possession is not money from God; it is owned by the individual or entity that earned it. Franco did the right thing. He has been an example of honesty and integrity to millions of people. His single act of honesty will have a greater influence on society than he will ever know. Franco understands that no money can buy peace of mind--as a credit card company advertises: “Priceless.”

I can only imagine a hundred years from now that his great-great-grandchildren will be telling the story of how their great-great-grandfather demonstrated honesty and integrity by returning money that wasn’t his. By his example many generations have learned honesty, integrity and hard work. They will not call him an idiot; they will hail him as a great person with high morals. Hooray for Franco’s parents, who instilled in their children right from wrong. Hooray for Franco, who is truly a hero of honesty. I can only hope that my children will remember the morals that we have taught them when faced with a similar situation.

John Neilson

Rancho Santa Margarita

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What a stark contrast of news brought to me by The Times’ front page Aug. 2.

An American citizen, white and rich, carted off to jail in handcuffs for allegedly hiding almost $4 billion for WorldCom (“Former Phone Execs Arrested”). Meanwhile, a couple of columns over, I read that an illegal immigrant returns $203,000 that falls into his lap from a passing armored truck.

This is for all Proposition 187 supporters: It’s time to stop blaming immigrants for all our woes. Take a hard, cold glare in the mirror and realize that the greatest threat to our society is ourselves.

Why was it that the best of what we want out of America--honesty, hard work, the ability to do the right thing when confronted with choices--was reflected in the actions of an illegal immigrant and not in the deeds of a corporate chief executive? I’d take an Ascension Franco Gonzales over a Scott Sullivan [former WorldCom chief financial officer] any day.

Joe Krulder

Lemon Grove

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Your story of the busboy returning the $203,000 in lost money amazes me. He is richer than he thinks and definitely more so than most of us.

Hiep Nguyen

Chino