THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, September 12, 1994 TAG: 9409100022
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A8 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 34 lines
Charles Joyner expressed his outrage at Clinton's closed-door rule for refugees (letter, Sept. 1). Mr. Joyner believes it is our obligation to ``keep the borders open and allow the great American Dream to live.''
If only it were that simple! The problem is that the largest number of immigrants who have been surging into our country are not in a position to take advantage of the ``incredible opportunity to achieve economic independence'' that Mr. Joyner believes exists for them here.
It's hard enough these days for English-speaking graduates of U.S. high schools to find decent jobs; but for impoverished, uneducated, unskilled immigrants who can't speak the language, the situation is devastating.
In order to survive, many turn to crime. Once-peaceful Miami is churning with armed-gang activity; the streets of New York are a jungle; and the Vietnamese areas of Orange County, Calif., are a war zone.
President Clinton had no choice but to close our borders.
Unless we can instigate a system whereby philanthropic citizens take these people under their wing, educate them, teach them the language, find them jobs and oversee their adjustment and integration, a continuing influx of refugees into the United States could cause the American Dream to become the American Nightmare.
LOIS ARQUETTE
Kill Devil Hills, N.C., Sept. 2, 1994 by CNB