Views on ‘values’

Re “ ‘The general welfare,’ ” editorial, Dec. 28

The Times calls building a fence on the southern U.S. border a simplistic solution. I would like to ask The Times, six years after 9/11, how can we call ourselves safe when we don’t know who is entering the country? If millions of penniless illegal immigrants can walk across our borders annually, why can’t well-trained and financed terrorists do the same?

According to a July 2007 census report, there are about 54 million Americans ages 16 to 64 who aren’t in the labor force. This includes 23 million less-educated adults who, for a variety of reasons, don’t have a job. There are 14 million people actively seeking employment who can’t find a full-time job in today’s economy, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Does The Times advocate that these millions of unemployed Americans compete for jobs with millions of employed illegal immigrants? Which group of these individuals goes to the back of the line?

Michael Scott

Glendora

Your editorials on American values have been excellent. I do have a quibble with some of your education views. No idea should be so threatening that it cannot even be discussed -- even in a classroom. Every child should be able to ask about human origins and the beginning of the universe. While nothing should be taught as “gospel,” evolution and intelligent design should be presented as theories, and students can decide for themselves what to accept. All human knowledge is valid and should be explored for a full education. Just because some ideas border on religious beliefs doesn’t mean they should be forbidden to be discussed in a classroom.

Religions are a part of the American experience. It’s ridiculous to pretend that they do not exist. Perhaps if our schools taught more about various beliefs, we would have fewer wars with others who have different beliefs.

Rosemary Patterson

Los Angeles