In regard to the Jan. 22 Portland Press Herald with the photo on Page B1 of U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree and immigrants watching the inauguration on TV:

I find it a little disheartening for Rep. Pingree to boycott attending the inauguration of a U.S. president. Even more bothersome to me is the kind of message that she is showing to our newly arrived immigrants from other countries.

Most of these immigrants have come to the United States searching for something they couldn’t get from their own countries of origin: free and (hopefully) peaceful transitions of leadership being one of them. For Rep. Pingree to use a photo-taking opportunity with these people sends a wrong message. I believe it, perhaps unknowingly on her part, evokes fear and uncertainty in many of them.

I certainly believe in boycotts. However, if, as a U.S. representative, Ms. Pingree thinks she is doing these immigrants a favor by getting in the news to prove that we don’t have to support a newly elected official, or, at the very least, give them a chance to prove themselves, then I’m offended by her.

If, by chance, some of those pictured are here illegally, then shame on Rep. Pingree. If they are here legally, under some type of status or visa, then I find the example of this representative deplorable.

Jay Lawrence

South Portland

Copy the Story Link