The Lewiston mayor’s recent comments on Somali immigrants to that city and, more specifically, the culture of those immigrants certainly resonate with many of us.

I am proud to say that I am the grandson of Italian immigrants who came to this country a little more than 100 years ago. None of my grandparents was educated (in a formal sense), but they appreciated what this country could offer to them and made the most of those opportunities.

Additional Photos

Community advocate Nimo Yonis leads a protest chant last week against Lewiston Mayor Robert Macdonald, who said in an interview that Somali immigrants to the city should “accept our culture and leave your culture at the door.” 2012 File Photo/The Associated Press

My grandfather was a barber for several decades and ran his own small business. He was able to live the American dream and provide for his family because of his dedication and hard work.

Growing up in the 1950s and ’60s, I recall that the Italian culture that my grandparents brought to this country remained with them. They still spoke the Italian language with one another and with their peers, they still celebrated Italian holidays. This never prevented them from embacing the greatness of their adopted country nor their wish that their descendants could live better lives than they did.

Nor did it prevent them from assimilating into and becoming part of the fabric of our society. I benefited from their hard work, their belief in this country and the culture that they passed along to me and shared with their fellow Americans.

I am confident that 100 years from now, the descendants of Somali immigrants to Maine will be able to point back to their assimilation into American society, just as I can today. And I am also confident that they will have shared their culture with others, bettering all of us in the process.

Vin DiCara

Brunswick

Tax debate must explore legitimacy of spending

A recent letter suggested that debating taxes without knowing what they pay for makes no sense (“Debating taxes requires knowing what they pay for,” Sept. 28).

This is true. However, knowing and accepting what taxes pay for without knowing and respecting the powers and purposes for which government is legitimately authorized to raise and expend taxes makes no sense either.

Contrary to class warfare propaganda, the wealthy already pay disproportionately higher amounts in taxes. They also contribute a greater amount to the economy in the form of goods and services purchased, which also generates tax revenue. Today, for some curious reason, people who earn wealth are vilified; politicians who enrich themselves at taxpayers’ expense are celebrated.

History has shown that when taxes are applied disproportionately and punitively, revenues decline for the reason that it is instinctive to minimize or cease activities that result in consequences; activities that in this case would otherwise create revenue.

Though a problem, taxes are not the problem; they are a symptom. Spending is the problem, and therefore a full debate must also compare government spending to its legitimate authority. Is spending within government’s jurisdiction? If not, it should be phased out. Is tax money expended for legitimate purposes being used efficiently and effectively?

On the federal level, for example, if we eliminate all spending that is outside Congress’ jurisdiction, we could balance the budget, lower taxes and start paying down the federal debt.

The catch is, once you’ve put cream in the coffee, it is very difficult to remove.

Gary C. Foster

Gray

Insults to leader amount to abuse of freedom of speech

Respect for the office of president of the United States benefits the nation and our international status. It is the highest elected office in the world. The office, and its occupant, deserve good manners. The correct address is “President Barack Obama” or “President Obama,” not “Obama.”

Many citizens take full advantage of freedom of speech; many who abuse it apparently do not have the intellectual or intelligent apparatus to filter their venomous words.

The hideous bumper sticker mentioned in Leonard Pitts’ recent column is an example of this (“Racism is more subtle, but remains alive and well in 2012,” Sept. 26).

Others scream for their nine seconds in the headlights! Joe Wilson, Geoff Davis, Lynn Westmoreland, all congressmen from Southern states, and others in public office who have voiced their massive and insulting hate against President Obama have given approval of the bumper sticker mentioned above.

Those who remember Alex Haley’s “Roots” may recall this line: “It doesn’t matter what they calls us. We knows who we is!”

President Obama is a gentle man and a gentleman, as described with his encounter with Jacob, the young boy who wanted to know about the feel of the president’s hair.

Thank you, Leonard Pitts, for reminding us of the power and influence of the office of president of the United States and the disciplined dignity of the current occupant.

Anne Grande

Parsonsfield

By whining, conservatives embrace status as victims

Conservatives must stop whining.

Much has been said about the objectivity of the media or the lack of it. Allegedly, the president’s miscues are buried in some obscure place in the newspaper while Mitt Romney’s faux pas are headlined on all the major media outlets.

Rush Limbaugh and the like are constantly pointing these issues out. The typical response from Republicans is usually mild sanctimony or, in some cases, the reaction is outrage.

I get a sense we conservatives think we are entitled to some inside insights from above and the good will prevail in the end. After all, the heathenish crowd on the other side of the aisle believes in wicked things like abortion and other similar evil notions.

The truth is we conservatives will be huddled in the fetal position on the Wednesday after the election because all we did was whine and kvetch about these injustices instead of trying to do something about them.

Come on! Do something! Work harder! If the Republicans lose, then so be it, but stop acting like the very thing that the president is making hay with in his commercials. Stop acting like victims!

Ervin Mullett

Bath

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