Letters to the editor for Aug. 6
Nation changed since Lincoln’s days
Jason Silverman says in his Aug. 7 column the GOP has lost its way on immigration because of its “tone” but does not say how in actuality. He lightly dismisses the fact that we live in a vastly different world than Abraham Lincoln and that immigration means something altogether different now. He brushes off the concerns of crime, jobs, borders and the rule of law as if they are irrelevant to the issue. He does not even consider the problem of immigration of our enemies.
He cites, but fails to grasp the pragmatism of, Lincoln’s immigration view. The nation needed workers. He would import them. There is nothing wrong with this but Lincoln recognized that the immigrant should have something to offer his new nation. The Democratic view is something different. The immigrant is seen as a source of votes, and who, duly offered entitlements, whether he is a citizen or not or here legally or not, will be all but guaranteed to vote Democratic. I suspect the pragmatic Lincoln would have balked at this notion, especially when understood in light of the fact that joblessness is the current problem, not the surplus of jobs that Lincoln was countering. Certainly his pragmatism would not have extended to buying votes from illegal aliens.
Further, I cannot tell from the article if Silverman actually looked at the GOP platform on immigration, because it reads much the same as Lincoln’s. It acknowledges that immigration is good for the nation. It agrees that at times it is a tool for providing sanctuary. The clincher of course, is that it also demands that immigration be conducted by the rule of law, that our borders are recognized as borders and that those who break the laws of our nation and ignore our borders will be treated as criminals.
I suspect that Lincoln would not approve of the tone and demeanor of Donald Trump (nor do I), but there is little in the Republican platform on immigration with which Lincoln could have found fault. In this regard it seems to me that Silverman is confusing the unpleasantness of Trump with the practical approach to immigration offered by the GOP. He also seems to conflate Mr. Lincoln’s better nature with the calculated and exploitive view of immigration outside of the law as proposed by the Democrats. That is a bridge too far, Dr. Silverman.
George Barron
Rock Hill
Nation has always honored God
We recently celebrated our nation’s 240th birthday, so let’s reflect on why we are such a great and respected country.
It’s because we have always honored God. Those patriots who signed our Declaration of Independence repeatedly mentioned therein a dependence on Almighty God because they were believers and asked for his help.
Sad to say, these laws that promote love and respect for God and for others are being slowly destroyed. Many things that were considered wrong in our country are now allowed. Activist judges and the Supreme Court have removed prayer, Bible reading and any reference to God from our public schools. The taking of a human life through abortion is now legal, and since 1973 over 50 million babies have been killed.
Recently our Supreme Court ruled that same sex-marriage is legal. Immediately, President Barack Obama lit up the White House with the rainbow colors of the LGBT movement, thereby celebrating sin and defying God. Now the transgender bathroom stupidity movement has started and the charade goes on. Read Romans 1.
Where is the church in all of this? Are Christians speaking and voting their convictions?
Our country is ripe for judgment as we reap what we sow.
However, God’s word says the healing of a nation begins with repentance and revival in the Christian community.
James Shull
Rock Hill
This story was originally published August 14, 2016 at 9:20 PM with the headline "Letters to the editor for Aug. 6."