You know how the saying goes: There are Americans all over the world — some just haven’t come home yet.
As the Biden administration debates the details of how the U.S. will admit 100,000 Ukrainian refugees, it’s important for these newcomers to have a pathway to citizenship. With other immigration initiatives like the America’s Children Act stalled in Congress, this is an excellent opportunity to remind the country of the strength that immigrants bring in the long term. Let’s not waste it.
Nearly 7 in 10 Americans favor admitting thousands of Ukrainian refugees. The contributions they and their descendants make will be incalculably more valuable than any monetary constraint we have in their resettlement. And our state can do something to help.
State Rep. Tom Demmer, Republican deputy leader for the House, has already introduced a bill that would provide $20 million to the Department of Human Services for the resettlement of Ukrainian refugees. Another bill, introduced by state Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, allows for the creation of a program for resettling Ukrainian refugees. These bills are worth supporting.
It makes sense to be outraged at the images coming from Ukraine. Now it’s time to act.
— Alexander Dean, Chicago
Enough of the photos and words. Each day, each hour, each minute, each second, these Ukrainians are fighting for their lives. They are sacrificing their lives for freedom. They do not need words from us telling them that we admire their courage. They are only asking for the equipment to carry out their fight. They do not need words.
Why is our president calling names and debating if or when or how much equipment to send? The Ukrainians do not have time on their side. Load the equipment on ships and planes today. If the Ukrainians are finally defeated and there is a wholesale slaughter, do we want history to ask, “Why didn’t America lead, organize and give the Ukrainians the tools necessary?”
Let us stop the slaughter, help drive out the invaders and have Vladimir Putin wonder what we and NATO and the European Union will do. Putin is not going to use his nuclear arsenal because he knows that the retaliation would be such that he would be known in history as the man who destroyed Russia over a country about the size of Texas.
Russia should be given a timeline for a cease-fire, a withdrawal from Ukraine and a bill to restore Ukraine. We need to organize the free world and let Russia and China know that this is not the way any nation can act without consequences.
Let America lead as it did in World War I and World War II. Call this whatever one wishes — this is same pattern as Adolf Hitler marching into Poland. History has asked, “Why didn’t the world stop him at Poland?”
During elections, when we hear or see reports we do not like, some cry “fake news.” However real “fake news” occurs when the government decides what the public sees and hears.
Our news media, under protection of the First Amendment, gives us many views. Some reporters risk their lives and die to give us real news. They are the essential component of democracy and freedom. They should not be denigrated by charging their efforts as fake news.
They should be praised, applauded and protected.
Historians tell us that England had the resources to fight on indefinitely in the Colonies but lost the support of their own people. We already see this to some degree in Russia’s war on Ukraine. It would be so wonderful if the Russian people stopped Vladimir Putin’s war.
— Richard Nolan, Park Ridge
While reading the March 25 newspaper, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Madeleine Albright had strong ties to Chicago and our community (“Remembering Albright’s Chicago days”). Maybe sometime in the not-too-distant future, a Chicago public school can strengthen those ties by adopting the name of our nation’s first female secretary of state.
— William Dodd Brown, Chicago
A couple of weeks ago, we were on Michigan Avenue. We went into a store to buy a baptismal present for our granddaughter, and we found a wonderful little necklace. The clerk boxed it up and put it in a bag. But then she put the store’s bag in another bag, a plain white bag. The store has a trademark color for its boxes and bags. If you see that color, you know where it’s from. But the clerk understood, and we understood when she did it, that you don’t walk on Michigan Avenue with a bag that color.
The next day, our son was standing on an “L” platform, a busy one, when somebody came up and punched him in the face at 9 a.m. for no reason. Nobody came to help him, and when our son took the person’s picture, the person punched him again. The police were able to apprehend the person, which was great, but whether there will be any consequences for him, who knows.
I don’t understand what’s going on in Chicago. But the Chicago City Council spent a lot of its time last year arguing about what to call Lake Shore Drive.
There’s something wrong with Chicago. But it doesn’t seem like the people in charge understand that fact — or have any idea what to do about it.
— Patrick J. Allen, River Forest
Bringing the Democratic National Convention to Chicago is as likely as the Summer Olympics going to Houston. The editorial is absolutely correct that no one is going to come visit until violent crime is brought under control (“Bring on the Democratic National Convention,” April 1).
The situation is only going to worsen if our mayor and City Council continue to spend their time and money on diversions such as gasoline lotteries and arguments over what to call Lake Shore Drive.
— Conrad Reynolds, Chicago
You know how the saying goes: There are Americans all over the world — some just haven’t come home yet. As the Biden administration debates the details of how the U.S. will admit 100,000 Ukrainian refugees, it’s important for these newcomers to have a pathway to citizenship. With other immigration initiatives like the America’s Children Act stalled in Congress, this is an excellent opportunity to remind the country of the strength that immigrants bring in the long term. Let’s not waste it. Nearly 7 in 10 Americans favor admitting thousands of Ukrainian refugees. The contributions they and their descendants make will be incalculably more valuable than any monetary constraint we have in their resettlement. And our state can do something to help. State Rep. Tom Demmer, Republican deputy leader for the House, has already introduced a bill that would provide $20 million to the Department of Human Services for the resettlement of Ukrainian refugees. Another bill, introduced by state Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, allows for the creation of a program for resettling Ukrainian refugees. These bills are worth supporting. It makes sense to be outraged at the images coming from Ukraine. Now it’s time to act. — Alexander Dean, Chicago Enough of the photos and words. Each day, each hour, each minute, each second, these Ukrainians are fighting for their lives. They are sacrificing their lives for freedom. They do not need words from us telling them that we admire their courage. They are only asking for the equipment to carry out their fight. They do not need words. Why is our president calling names and debating if or when or how much equipment to send? The Ukrainians do not have time on their side. Load the equipment on ships and planes today. If the Ukrainians are finally defeated and there is a wholesale slaughter, do we want history to ask, “Why didn’t America lead, organize and give the Ukrainians the tools necessary?” Let us stop the slaughter, help drive out the invaders and have Vladimir Putin wonder what we and NATO and the European Union will do. Putin is not going to use his nuclear arsenal because he knows that the retaliation would be such that he would be known in history as the man who destroyed Russia over a country about the size of Texas. Russia should be given a timeline for a cease-fire, a withdrawal from Ukraine and a bill to restore Ukraine. We need to organize the free world and let Russia and China know that this is not the way any nation can act without consequences. Let America lead as it did in World War I and World War II. Call this whatever one wishes — this is same pattern as Adolf Hitler marching into Poland. History has asked, “Why didn’t the world stop him at Poland?” During elections, when we hear or see reports we do not like, some cry “fake news.” However real “fake news” occurs when the government decides what the public sees and hears. Our news media, under protection of the First Amendment, gives us many views. Some reporters risk their lives and die to give us real news. They are the essential component of democracy and freedom. They should not be denigrated by charging their efforts as fake news. They should be praised, applauded and protected. Historians tell us that England had the resources to fight on indefinitely in the Colonies but lost the support of their own people. We already see this to some degree in Russia’s war on Ukraine. It would be so wonderful if the Russian people stopped Vladimir Putin’s war. — Richard Nolan, Park Ridge While reading the March 25 newspaper, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Madeleine Albright had strong ties to Chicago and our community (“Remembering Albright’s Chicago days”). Maybe sometime in the not-too-distant future, a Chicago public school can strengthen those ties by adopting the name of our nation’s first female secretary of state. — William Dodd Brown, Chicago A couple of weeks ago, we were on Michigan Avenue. We went into a store to buy a baptismal present for our granddaughter, and we found a wonderful little necklace. The clerk boxed it up and put it in a bag. But then she put the store’s bag in another bag, a plain white bag. The store has a trademark color for its boxes and bags. If you see that color, you know where it’s from. But the clerk understood, and we understood when she did it, that you don’t walk on Michigan Avenue with a bag that color. The next day, our son was standing on an “L” platform, a busy one, when somebody came up and punched him in the face at 9 a.m. for no reason. Nobody came to help him, and when our son took the person’s picture, the person punched him again. The police were able to apprehend the person, which was great, but whether there will be any consequences for him, who knows. I don’t understand what’s going on in Chicago. But the Chicago City Council spent a lot of its time last year arguing about what to call Lake Shore Drive. There’s something wrong with Chicago. But it doesn’t seem like the people in charge understand that fact — or have any idea what to do about it. — Patrick J. Allen, River Forest Bringing the Democratic National Convention to Chicago is as likely as the Summer Olympics going to Houston. The editorial is absolutely correct that no one is going to come visit until violent crime is brought under control (“Bring on the Democratic National Convention,” April 1). The situation is only going to worsen if our mayor and City Council continue to spend their time and money on diversions such as gasoline lotteries and arguments over what to call Lake Shore Drive. — Conrad Reynolds, Chicago