Re: A Theology of Immigration" by Father Daniel Groody: Living in the San Diego area for over 30 years I have been a witness to an incredible dilemma. Both the Mexican and United States governments are at fault! The _interruptions_ included below are too common events.
Hopefully, either Kerry or Bush will address this "death trap" and issue some sort of ID that will allow all immigrants from our southern borders to enter the USA in a sane and safe manner!
INTERRUPTION: _A speeding van just plowed into a school building near Route 8. Its illegal alien passengers—those who didn't die at the scene—fled into the night. The driver was unknown_.
The border history—the Catholic ethic—the grief of poverty—the $8 lettuce—the alleged millions in taxes that undocumented aliens pay (the LA Times—AP—October 19, 2004—"LA lawmakers want illegal alien business men to pay $39 million/year in taxes")—the Irish connection, which I do not consider relative unless those Irish did not speak English—those risky jobs that fly in the face of our all-seeing OSHA, which has no regard to nations of origin—was an interesting read..
INTERRUPTION_: An Hispanic woman has been dropped off at the emergency entrance of a nearby hospital—she is already having a baby and a twin is on the way. She does not speak English and no one knows her prenatal history!_
The ending to this article was too sudden. Its author directed our attention to ND's outreach program.
Does the "Theology of Immigration" offer possible solutions to our border problems?
_Vic Tallarida '52
San Diego California_
The Mexicans are coming. The Mexicans are coming. That is the good news. The bad news is we are going to try and help them. Please, they don't need our help. We need their help. You see, we have a problem with reproducing, which is job one. Our universities, which have been taken over by the feminists, are teaching our daughters that having a career is better than being a mother. What is not taught but only learned later when it is too late, replacing growing grandchildren with a declining career is not a good deal. So come on, be a mother and if that is not possible, be a father. Your grandchildren will thank you.
_Tom Wich '63
Clarendon Hills, Illinois_
Like many of your readers, I was struck by Roberto Suro's rather cold-blooded, but entirely accurate, analysis of the demographic shift between the "Anglo" and Hispanic populations in this country over the past few decades. As the author points out, the Hispanic population increase is well understood in the light of immigration policies since the mid-1960s, but the decline in the number of "Anglos' has been the subject of much debate. To me, here we have a striking example of a racial minority that ultimately became the victim of its own best intentions. In their zeal to fashion a Welfare State that would redress all the world's wrongs, "Anglos" learned, albeit too late, that they would not be able to pay for it. The result is graphically described in "Americanos Nuevos." Indeed, if current predictions bear out, Americans of European descent will be a minority by mid-century in the land whose creation was the product of their own unique genius.
Perhaps it is time for the University to erect a Center for the Study of the Decline of the Euro-American Civiliation so other cultures can learn how not to make similar mistakes in the future.
_John Ries
Menlo Park, California_
I strongly applaud _Notre Dame Magazine_ (Autumn 2004) for its theme of _Americanos Nuevos_. The collection of articles on the Latino population worked wonderfully together to illustrate the crucial role that is Notre Dame's to play in one of the greatest stories of the life of this country in the 21st century.
Latinos are the future workforce of this country, but more importantly they are also the future of our Church.
To be sure, with establishment in 1999 of the Institute for Latino Studies, the University of Notre Dame has taken a large step toward meeting the needs of both the country and the Catholic church, but more will need to be done. As both Father Virgilio Elizondo and Father Dan Groody noted, Notre Dame has the opportunity to do for the children of these new immigrants what she did for the children of the Irish immigrants from which we draw so much of our identity.
_Arthur R. Valesquez '60
Chicago, Illinois_
We wanted to thank you for publishing the insightful series of articles under the cover "Americanos Nuevos." At the same time we also want to point out that Hispanics have been a part of the United States since its inception. For example, Notre Dame was recruitiing Hispanic students from the Southwest as early as the late 1800s.
We believe that Hispanics should have a natural home at the University of Notre Dame. Your series of articles has moved the Notre Dame family forward in understanding and respecting our cultural differences while pointing the way to building upon the many things we hold in common.
_John Beckham '88
Regional coordinator on behalf of Hispanic Alumni of Notre Dame_
Things wrong with _Rudy_ article
Re: Emily Paladino's article: "What's wrong with _Rudy_": Not to nitpick, but there is an error in the article about errors in the movie. The ND-Penn State game, scenes of which are featured in the movie, was played in 1992, not 1993, as Ms. Paladino writes. I had the pleasure of attending that game, which was a classic. But I'm not sure if I'm in the movie.
_James Brennan '89_
You are correct. I have watched the movie many times and I have not noticed the items you pointed out. I even own the soundtrack, which is very good.
There is something "wrong" with your article on "What's Wrong with _Rudy_" though. We did not play Penn State in 1993. The last time we played Penn State was in 1992, what some people refer to as the Snow Bowl, which we won when Rick Mirer threw a 2-point conversion pass to (I think) Reggie Brooks. I believe Jerome Bettis caught the touchdown pass immediately prior to that.
You have a great magazine but I would not expect anything less since you are led by a '74 grad.
_Michael Bindner '74
Indianapolis, Indiana_
We can sing
I just finished reading the essay "The Singing One" by Sue Marquette Poremba. What a beautiful and moving piece. Thank you.
_Chloe Fieriemail_
"The Singing One" by Sue Marquette Poremba in your autumn issue brought tears of sadness and joy!
We just heard the Notre Dame Folk Choir in August 1994 at our daughter, Ellen's '98, freshmen orientation Mass at the JACC.
The music was sacred and holy and touched our hearts and souls, and transformed the JACC basketball arena into a spiritual and holy place.
Since that first encounter we have heard the Notre Dame Folk Choir sing at the Basilica on Sundays at 11:45 many times, watching hears and souls being touched and tears streaming down cheeks as everyone sings the "Notre Dame Our Mother" holding hands in real community.
Yes, we can sing, and Notre Dame is leading the revivial and rejuvenation of the Church, both on campus and across the country in raised voices of praise to God. God bless the Folk Choir and their music ministry!
_Edie '70SMC and Richard L. Gibney '68
Waco, Texas_
Sister Drexel
I greatly enjoyed reading the piece on Katharine Drexel in the Autumn 2004 issue. As I read it, I recalled that Cardinal O'Hara, CSC, singled out her work for special praise in his first sermon as Archbishop of Philadelphia, in 1952, while she was still living.
_Mary L. O'Hara, CSJ_
While reading Anthony Walton's article about the unlikely saint, Sister Katharine Drexel, I wondered if he realized the connection Notre Dame has had to one of the schools on the Navajo reservation that she founded. Father John Gerber, CSC, from Notre Dame spent some time teaching at Saint Michael's Indian School outside Window Rock, Arizona, in the early '70s. In 1972, he was followed by Jerry Kammer '71, in 1973 by Alana McGrattan '73M.A. and myself, and in '74 by a brother of a football player at Notre Dame. From what I understand, before Saint Catherine's in Santa Fe closed, there were quite a few recent ND graduates who taught there.
_Michael Loughrey '73
Albuquerque, New Mexico_
After reading Jessica Martinez' "A Child's Garden of Verses," I thought—yes, her classroom children are the same as American children in many respects. But then I wondered how many female Muslim university graduates are teaching Bangladeshi children?
_Raymond M. Brach
Notre Dame professor emeritus
South Bend, Indiana_
Tariq Ramadan
(Editor's note: _Muslim scholar Tariq Ramadan, whose work visa was revoked in summer 2004 by the U.S. government, resigned his Notre Dame faculty position in December 2004, citing the stress on him and his family due to the uncertainty of their situation.)_
Notre Dame has been shameful in their continued support for Tariq Ramadan after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revoked his visa under the U.S. Patriot Act. While the Autumn 2004 _Notre Dame Magazine_ was correct that none of the accusations against Tariq have been substantiated this does not change the fact that several foreign governments have investigated Tariq for suspected ties to terrorism to include Al-Qa'ida. While these investigations did not result in any convictions they also did not exonerate Tariq.
We, as Americans, would like to maintain that a person is innocent unless proven guilty, however, this does not apply to non-Americans who want to come to our country and who have suspected ties to terrorists. According to our laws they do not get to come to the United States, and Notre Dame should recognize that this is a good and necessary law. The University should commend DHS for proceeding cautiously and refusing to let Tariq into the country. In addition, the University owes the nation an apology for showing such disregard for our security.
_Anne von Luhrte '89 EE
Vienna, Virginia_
I just read your article announcing the hiring of Tariq Ramadan by Notre Dame to teach students on Islam, conflict and peace building. True irony.
I guess that I should be shocked that Notre Dame has hired a person who has been reported in the media as follows:
"Late last year, in a television debate with French government minister Nicolas Sarkozy, Ramadan refused to condemn "lapidation"—the stoning of adulterous women, a punishment that is carried out under strict interpretations of the Koran."
I guess I should be shocked. But I am not. Notre Dame is no longer a Catholic University. Let us pray that Notre Dame reverses its scandalous decision.