Sunday, January 17, 2016
Make citizenship classes mandatory for refugees
Recently, the ASSAULT of women in Germany by refugees during the New Year celebration dominated the news. I was not surprised at all, considering the background of those refugees. They came from countries where genders are segregated, and some women are covered from head to toe. Now they enter a free country, where men and women attend the same classes in school, and that working and socializing together are the norms. What a culture shock.
To prevent embarrassing situations and more, each country that receives refugees or immigrants should mandate a cultural education for each newcomer.
One of the best experiences I had after I arrived in the United States in 1948 was enrollment at the Americanization School in Washington, D.C., for one semester.
My classmates came from 79 countries. We concentrated on learning English, American history, the Constitution and American culture.
After that semester, my classmates and I became more appreciative of the United States, its laws and its culture. Everything we learned was a “discovery,” especially the Constitution, which made the foundation of American life. Knowing about the four freedoms of religion, speech, fear, and want, unheard of in our native countries, touched the core of our experience. It was beautiful.
I hope our lawmakers will consider this and make that one semester of “Americanization” mandatory and free to each immigrant immediately on arrival. Such educational experience may even change the minds of those would-be terrorists. It will be worth the effort and the cost.
Rashid Abdu, M.D., Youngstown
City should not use water funds for development
AVindicator article of Jan 6 identified that a developer is trying to block a state auditor’s request to obtain documents related to grant money given to the developer from the city’s water/wastewater fund. Huh?
Apparently, over the last five years, Youngstown City Council has used monies from the city water/wastewater surplus and given grants for various projects totaling upwards of $3 million.
Ignorantly, I thought that my waste/sewer bill funded the service, maintenance, repair, and water/wastewater projects. Amazingly, it also includes giving grant money to a rich developer.
I understand city council’s desire to revitalize the city and promote/fun “good-for-the-city” projects, but funding should come from tax monies, not utility payments. City council must have known that using money from the water/wastewater surplus was (is) wrong or they wouldn’t have had attorneys see if it was at least legal. What would the Ohio Public Utilities Commission say about this practice?
Mahoning Valley Sanitary District customers’ water rates went up 15 percent in 2015 and are scheduled to increase yearly through 2019.
But, rate increases won’t stop there. The city (water/sewer customers) is on the hook for the $147 million/17-year Combined Sewer Overflow reduction project to decrease wastewater overflows into Mill Creek Park lakes. The city has known for decades that this CSO reduction project was coming, and taking money from the water/wastewater fund for developers and “good-for-the-city” projects is irresponsible at best.
Joe Parsons, Youngstown
‘Evil corporations’ control too many congressmen
Since we are a sov- ereign nation and a nation of voters, taxpayers, workers and consumers, how do we assure that these individuals come under the “of, by and for the people” category? Well, I have a couple suggestions.
#1. Repeal the Supreme Court decision that gives corporations the power to buy elections.
#2. Abolish the Electoral College; go by the popular vote.
A lot more things can be done to bring American jobs back to the U.S. Vote this bunch of tea-party yes people out of office, and maybe workers can regain their dignity and raise their families.
Corporations led by the cruel and evil Chamber of Commerce pretty much dictate to the American public what they can do. With intimidation, they refuse to regulate foreign imports of food, medicine and other products.
As for food, how about the garbage that’s sent here from China? For instance, take talapia, a fish that is raised on raw sewage and garlic that has been grown in human feces. This is what Republican-backed deregulation gets you.
The people who control Congress now have to be shown the door because they are on the side of these evil corporations, and if left unchecked we just might be wearing masks all over America just like they do in China.
You have got to get out and vote for the people who have “your” interests at heart, not the interests of the Chinese, Mexicans or Vietnamese.
Bud McKelvey, Hermitage, Pa.
Exit ‘cotton-candy’ world
The 2016 presidential campaign is like no other in all my voting years.
The candidates’ performance at the debates has been unprofessional, disappointing and at times mean-spirited.
I’m hoping our next president has the “fighting spirit” that our ancestors had when they fought and died for the freedom and lifestyle we continue to enjoy.
We need a person with vision, wisdom and a sense of direction, and as an attention getter one who can give a kick in the back seat of anyone who dares to threaten the peace and safety of our country and its people.
We need someone who can charm with a smile, but has the bark and bite of a junkyard dog protecting its territory.
For years I’ve felt our government was careless, too trusting, and overly generous to the needs of others and countries, while the needs of our people were being overlooked.
Our country has serious problems and the coming election is extremely important. I agree with those who believe “people who live in a cotton-candy world know sweetness; people who live in the real world know reality.”
Choose your world. Then vote wisely.
Mary Lou Jurina, Youngstown