Consider welcoming immigrants to U.S.

I agree completely with Kalissa Madison's letter ('Jobs lure immigrants to the United States,” Sept. 10).

We need to recognize that we are a nation of immigrants. For most of us, our ancestors came from a different country. Very true for me, as my forebears all came from Europe. I think this is true for most of the people in the United States. The only people I know of who didn't choose to come to America were the African slaves, and they came in chains.

If you have Native American blood in your veins, your people were bullied and often killed by Caucasian settlers who came here, took over the Native Americans' land and brought some terrible diseases with them - smallpox, for instance.

Instead of complaining about immigrants coming to America, look back to the years when California encouraged the migration of Mexicans because they were cheap labor to work in the fields and orchards, to till the land and pick the produce. These were jobs many Americans didn't like to do or want to do, and still don't.

Let us think about welcoming immigrants instead of demeaning them.

Bobbie Paxton

Iowa City