Immigration effort shows mercy

How refreshing to read of a local pastor, Mike McClenahan, meeting with our president “to discuss the moral urgency of passing immigration reform.” (“An immigration chat with Obama,” Op-Ed, Dec. 6.) In the upside-down world of tea party politics where the religious right has joined an unholy alliance with immigrant-bashing conservatives, it is heartening to read of an evangelical Christian spokesman who openly endorses the biblical imperative expressed in the Old Testament Book of Deuteronomy (10:19): “You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.”

This ancient text presages the experience of Mary and Joseph, who were welcomed as Palestinian immigrants in Egypt when they escaped from Bethlehem by night to save their baby, Jesus — whose birth we celebrate Dec. 25.

Thanks to Pastor McClenahan and President Obama for acting on the imperatives from both the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament by showing mercy to those who are strangers among us. This, indeed, is a tangible expression of the “Good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.”

Emery J. Cummins

San Diego

World has changed since biblical times

Regarding “An immigration chat with Obama,” those times and words of Christ were long ago, when the world was not organized and borders not really defined. They were times when the world population was a lot smaller and everyone could take care of their own needs.

Today we see an overpopulated world, where people can’t take care of their own needs in their own countries and instead of getting together and trying to fix the problems there, they turn to America for help.

I am a Hispanic who went to Catholic schools and learned the word of God. My parents also taught me to respect others and the rule of law. Therefore, I am against this amnesty and rewarding those who broke our laws and the teachings of the church.

Ana Zuniga-Maus

San Diego

Motorcyclists in need of justice

I read about the BMW driver who was given probation after “deliberately” running over two people on a motorcycle, causing “major injuries” (“Driver gets 4 years’ probation in bridge incident,” Dec. 4).

Phillip Eggers, who has a history of burglary and theft, was speeding and swerving through traffic with his girlfriend’s 3-year-old son in the back and “deliberately” ran into the motorcycle. His attorney called it an “unfortunate accident.”

I cannot accept this as justice for someone convicted of endangering a child, along with the other convictions. Motorcycle riders are exposed to all forms of poor driving habits (texting, distracted, road rage, tailgating, cigarette butts being flicked) but have little recourse. What we expect is some form of justice for those who perpetrate crimes against us.

Joseph Gratteau

University City

People have choices on Thanksgiving Day

Boycott Thanksgiving shopping (Letters, Dec. 3)? In the past, I have worked at a fast-food place (very busy) and a grocery store (more rolls!), and my cousin this year worked at a casino. We went to Starbucks at 2 p.m. Thanksgiving Day.