I’m beginning to think Courier-Herald staff writers simply make up things to write about that will cause the most activity in the pages of Views.

Let me quote Mr. Brian Beckley’s column “Freedom for all, all who are here” (May 12): “Personally, I think anyone should be allowed into America.” Does this included drug smugglers? How about people with ties to radical Muslim extremists? Or perhaps members of foreign mafia? Let’s just open up the borders and we can sing “Kumbaya” as one happy global family!

I personally love immigrants and I want them to immigrate here legally, as my great-grandparents did. They need to learn American history (the nonrevised version, please). If they desire to become citizens, they obviously love what this republic stands for and the freedoms it provides the individual. As a result, they need to know what rights are protected, how this nation was founded, who were the founders, what did they stand for and what did they stand against. Why would Mr. Beckley not want to afford them this opportunity?

I was going to pull in another couple quotes from Mr. Beckley, but after reading his column again, I see that it is hardly worth my time. It is terribly riddled with misrepresentation of facts regarding Constitutional protections; his understanding of the powers bestowed on the states in relation to the federal government are lacking; and the manner in which he “grudgingly” accepts the need for some checks on the border betray his radical progressive views.

I think it is sad that Mr. Beckley feels compelled to use our Mexican brethren as a means to create further divisiveness in this country. Quite frankly, Mr. Beckley owes the community of immigrants who came to our country from Mexico an apology. It is deplorable of him to try to further a sense of alienation among them so that he is able to further his progressive bent.

I understand that this newspaper arrives on my driveway without charge, but The Courier-Herald should be better than this.

Chad Druffel

Bonney Lake