Pulling back the welcome mat

Re “Tourist trap,” Opinion, Feb. 19

Eric Lucas is right. The American Embassy in Warsaw has, for the last several years, repeatedly denied a U.S. visa to my brother-in-law, a citizen of Poland. Adding insult, embassy officials have questioned his loyalty to Poland and his ability to earn a living. (He has supported himself at the same job for well over a decade.) Last time I checked, Poland was one of the few, if not the only, country in Europe that continues to support the American adventure in Iraq by contributing soldiers and equipment. It seems that it’s OK for Poles to die for the American cause but not OK for them to come for a visit.

Les Zador

Encino

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Lucas hit the nail on the head regarding tourism and the U.S. The government does well to protect America from terrorism, but it fails when it limits foreign tourists. Hundreds of thousands of jobs in California and the rest of the U.S. are related to tourism. Restaurants, theme parks, tour companies and even national forests all derive at least part of their revenue from visiting foreigners.

The government needs to get its act together and make it easier for visitors to come here. This will create thousands of jobs and increase tax revenue. We should not let a paranoid fear of terrorism keep foreign travelers with their money out of the U.S., thereby damaging our economy.

Frank Waller

Anaheim

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I’ve been in a long-distance monogamous relationship with a Mexican citizen for almost 15 years. In the ‘90s, we applied three times for a tourist visa for my partner to just visit me here in Los Angeles.

The application was refused each time. We gave up. I visit Mexico, and together, we’ve gone to Costa Rica and Canada.

Why not just get married? you ask. That would be nice, but we’re gay.

Rodney Hoffman

Montecito Heights

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Two words about Lucas’ claim that “the United States is a crass, greedy and rude host” to tourists: Sept. 11. The fact that “to visit the U.S., the visa process involves going in person to a U.S. Embassy or consulate for an interview” is to be lauded, not scorned. How easily we forget.

Steve Kanold

Palm Springs